Death in the Pot
J. Gerald Harris
II Kings 4:38-41
As a 61-year-old pastor, I suspect and hope that I am through dealing with pulpit committees. No two pulpit committees in the whole world have ever operated the same way. They all operate differently. They all have weird ideas about how to call a pastor. I have discovered that it is important to read between the lines of what the pulpit committee says so you can know what it really means.
For example, when the pulpit committee says, ''Our church is in a delightful rural setting,'' what they actually mean is, ''No visitors will ever find it.''
When they tell you, ''The parsonage is conveniently located to the church,'' what they really mean is that, ''It's right next door so you'll never have a moment's quiet.''
When they tell you, ''We have 246 members on the roll,'' what they really mean is that their Sunday morning worship attendance is 20.
When they say, ''We really want to reach the unchurched in our area,'' what they really mean is, ''We want a pastor who will do all the soul winning.''
When they say, ''Our church members are extremely active in community affairs,'' what they really mean is, ''Good luck in finding any volunteers to teach Sunday School.''
When they say, ''We'd like a pastor who has a good work ethic,'' what they really mean is, ''You'll get one day off a month.''
When they say, ''We want to build a strong youth program,'' what they really mean is, ''Our last addition to the cradle roll was in 1959.''
And when they say, ''We'd like our pastor to be a family man,'' what they really mean is, ''We hope your children can help set up chairs and your spouse can type the bulletin.''
So, when you're talking to pastor search committees make sure that you are able to read between the lines. In my message for this occasion I hope you won't have to read between the lines. I pray that it will be clear and anointed by God, shared in the right spirit and in the right temperame ...
J. Gerald Harris
II Kings 4:38-41
As a 61-year-old pastor, I suspect and hope that I am through dealing with pulpit committees. No two pulpit committees in the whole world have ever operated the same way. They all operate differently. They all have weird ideas about how to call a pastor. I have discovered that it is important to read between the lines of what the pulpit committee says so you can know what it really means.
For example, when the pulpit committee says, ''Our church is in a delightful rural setting,'' what they actually mean is, ''No visitors will ever find it.''
When they tell you, ''The parsonage is conveniently located to the church,'' what they really mean is that, ''It's right next door so you'll never have a moment's quiet.''
When they tell you, ''We have 246 members on the roll,'' what they really mean is that their Sunday morning worship attendance is 20.
When they say, ''We really want to reach the unchurched in our area,'' what they really mean is, ''We want a pastor who will do all the soul winning.''
When they say, ''Our church members are extremely active in community affairs,'' what they really mean is, ''Good luck in finding any volunteers to teach Sunday School.''
When they say, ''We'd like a pastor who has a good work ethic,'' what they really mean is, ''You'll get one day off a month.''
When they say, ''We want to build a strong youth program,'' what they really mean is, ''Our last addition to the cradle roll was in 1959.''
And when they say, ''We'd like our pastor to be a family man,'' what they really mean is, ''We hope your children can help set up chairs and your spouse can type the bulletin.''
So, when you're talking to pastor search committees make sure that you are able to read between the lines. In my message for this occasion I hope you won't have to read between the lines. I pray that it will be clear and anointed by God, shared in the right spirit and in the right temperame ...
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