When I was in seminary I had a this idea that I would work hard to learn about the Bible, improve my skills as a preacher, develop important leadership skills and then find a church where I could work hard to grow that church into something special.
Then I started full time vocational ministry. More specifically I became the pastor of a small church. Within the first couple of years I realized that my job wasn't so much growing a church as it was maintaining an organization. I was in the ministry maintenance field.
I feel like most of my time is spent figuring out ways to maintain the organization where I work and most Sundays are simply dog and pony shows where I shake my money-maker and hope we make enough scratch to pay our bills that week.
Good morning, God bless, make that money, see you next week.
8 comments:
Scott,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and frustrations.
I have a question for you: Are your and your church's financial troubles due to the poverty of the people in your church or to their lack of giving?
In other words, are you working in a low-income community in which people give what they have (despite not having much) or are you in a community that could give more but just doesn't?
Interesting that the ministry field is not so different from most other professions in this respect. We all seem to devour our education with a sort of idealistic glee, with the expectation of a glamorous career that includes new heights and widening boundaries. But reality soon sets in when we enter the real world and find out just how much momentum we are up against. There's so much to do and so much to learn on a daily basis, and so few who are really qualified to do these things.
SB,
I hear you..I am certain my career struggles are not unique to vocational clergy. I shouldn't complain too much..at least I am working
Matt,
Neither. The people in my church give very generously. We just don't have enough of them.
Scott,
Is it possible that you need a fresh start somewhere else?
If the church has become little more than an "organization," then perhaps it's time for the organization to die. If your ministry has become a "dog and pony show," then you really aren't helping. You're enabling a disfunctional congregation.
Obviously, I don't know your church or what's really going on, so I could be way out of line. But your writings make you seem frustrated with your current circumstances.
Where is your church in all of this? Who is ministering to you? Why is this your burden to bear? It's not your church.
It's noble to want to stick it out in a bad situation, but sometimes the most loving thing you can do is let a disfunctional thing die. The members of the congregation will find other churches and they'll be okay.
Four years ago I was frustrated to the brink of quitting the ministry until someone urged me to change churches. When I went somewhere else, I realized that I wasn't a fit for the church that I had been in for four years. I was sticking it out because I thought it was the right thing to do, but my idealism hurt my family and made me angry at God. A change of scenery made all of the difference.
Like I said, I only know what I pick up from reading your blog. Maybe I'm out of line, but I think you should consider it.
Matt,
I like the people where I am now...it's the never-ending economic triage and the competition for resources with other churches that wear on me.
Besides, given the current economic climate, a frustrating a job is better than no job.
"Competing" with other churches can be very straining. I think its time for churches to lower their flag and focus on reaching the community around them.
So many times our churches convert members of other churches...why can't we play on the same team?
Have you thought about partnering with other churches in areas where you can't do something, like a big outreach project, because of money?
The only thing about that is not having as much "control" in how the show is run. If you partner with people you know, that makes it easier.
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