I can’t choose a #1. I have a few:
1. You are there to minister to the congregation. Please leave all other goals or agendas at home (eg, to impress, to convert, to “show THEM the light,” to get free therapy, to vent, to curry favor… etc.)
2. Prepare, prepare, prepare.
3. Remember that it’s not about you.
4. Get out of the way and let God speak (see #2 and #3).
5. If you’re not a relational speaker, learn how to be. Work on it until you get it.
Now, pigeons, your turn.
6) Trust the Holy Spirit doing some work too.
(Doesn´t mean to forget about #2!!)
So what about your first date advice?
:::::being super-patient:::::
7. It’s all about relationships.
PB, What is a relational speaker?
Thanks!
[A relational speaker connects with the audience or congregation. The opposite of the relational speaker would be the person who seems to be lecturing, or condescending, or just not confident enough to forge a relationship with those listening. Scott Alexander’s book, The Relational Pulpit, is really good. – PB]
I don’t think I’ve ever been able to improve on my late mother’s advice: Stand up to be seen; Speak up to be heard; and Shut up to be appreciated!
I’m still working on that third one…… [Love it! – PB]
wow, all these are really good. my mentor gave me a book called “the art of pastoring: contemplative reflections” by william c. martin. out of print now, but TOTALLY worth tracking down. copyright 1994, CTS press, decatur, ga.
oh, and my mom *also* gave me advice: she made me swear I’d never be the stereotypical frumpy minister!!! trying to live up to my vow.
Appendix to # 1 – Remember whose needs should be being met…
In the midwest “She’s not doing well” is code for SHE’S DYING DROP EVERYTHING AND GO NOW!
Check your manuscripts for any “you”s that can be changed to “we”s.
And don’t talk about anything you do in bed. Even sleep. Really.
@ Joelle – so true!!!
My advice is: 1. The Holy Spirit always shows up, but She likes it when you’ve done your homework first. But since that one has mostly been taken, here’s a bonus:
2. If you are a manuscript preacher, make the font large enough and spaced out enough that you can “deliver” rather than “read” your sermon. I personally use 16pt. font, space-and-a-half between the lines, and pull my bottom margin up two inches (when I use a manuscript, which isn’t every week). This way, you can look up, connect with the congregation, and not lose your place.
I copied these and passed them along to an “old” preacher, who hasn’t quite mastered the personal connection aspect of his ministry. (After 30+ years and 6 parishes, I don’t know if it will help……………..)
Develop *really* thick skin for those “well-meaning” comments (e.g., ‘I really wanted a male but settled for you’ from the search committee member. Just buried his mama and now he loves me).
Here are a few gleaned from the past eleven years:
1. The wok of the church is infinite. There’s always one more thing that you can/should do. It never ends so…
2. Get out of town as often as possible. It doesn’t matter if the “town” is NYC or some small New England village.
3. Turn off the cell phone and stop checking e-mail for several hours a day. It will absorb you until you are just a ministry machine.
4. Remember that you are the only person in the congregation who can easily be replaced.
5. The path toward good preaching is an art form that never ends and requires constant work. If you are not naturally a great preacher, take classes, workshops. They do help and your congregation will love you for trying.
6. Being a minister is part vocation but also part “job” don’t forget this otherwise you’ll never be able to say “no.”
7. Love them even when they are unlovable.
One word: DOWNTIME. Set your day off and stick to it. Same with your vacation/retreat time and your prayer/study time and your ‘lie on the couch and watch TV time’ and your ‘read PB’s blog time’ and all the rest. Let no one and nothing cut into your time unless it’s a bona-fide emergency. In case of bona-fide emergency, minister…but take alternate downtime as soon as possible thereafter, for you will need it. For all the non-emergencies, God gives voicemail and email inboxes that will patiently wait for you, so use them. Without a full well and a charged battery, you are no good to yourself or anyone else.