Greetings, Members and Friends of Second Congregational Church,
As a pastor, every now and again something happens that causes me to respond, “Whoa. I didn’t see THAT coming!” Seminary can’t possibly teach pastors-in-training everything there is to know about being the pastor of a church. I’ve been thinking about the valuable things I’ve learned over my career that weren’t taught in a classroom.
First: office machinery. When I was a rookie pastor, church bulletins and newsletters were printed on mimeograph machines (and that wonderful-smelling fluid!). From there came photocopiers and now machines that print directly from computers. There was a steep learning curve when it fell on me to print anything.
Second: church finance. Several of my seminary colleagues came from backgrounds that included some level of work in business and finance. Not me. I didn’t learn about church budgets, balance sheets and investments until I hit the ground running at my first two churches. As with the office machinery, I have been VERY blessed to work with people who do have expertise where I have a lack of skill and knowledge.
Third: disagreements between people. I’m not really sure how this fell through the cracks, because to paraphrase Jesus, “Where two or three are gathered, there will be four opinions.” Good people disagree because viewpoints differ. Good people disagree because of personality differences. Managing disagreements is actually part of life in general. It’s a skill (or a set of skills) that was not part of my training.
Fourth: leadership style. Everyone has a way of leading that is comfortable to them. Some are comfortable with a CEO-style of leading. Some are comfortable seeking to lead through consensus-building. It helps to know what works for you. It’s also important to know that some situations call for different leadership styles.
Fifth: the inevitability of change. For example, when we moved to Massachusetts in 1988, there were two area codes for the entire state. Now there are nine. There are many other things in our lives and our church that have changed since 1988. Change happens.
Sixth: how to run a meeting. This is also a skill, and whatever skills I have in this regard have come from watching others lead effective meetings. This church has many capable leaders.
Seventh: churches being better off together. Whether in the United Methodist Church (where I began) or the United Church of Christ, we have so much to gain by working together.
Finally: church-sanctioned outings take innumerable forms. I’ve done the following: smelt-dipping, salmon-snagging, star-gazing, church camping, homeless-feeding, tubing, bowling, skating, playing sports, attending sports, eating, playing board and card games, seeing movies, hay rides and catapulting, overnighting, retreating, visiting mosques, synagogues, and other churches, caroling, and playing hide-and-seek. And more.
What I actually DID learn at seminary ties it all together. When Christ is at the center, whatever is at hand can be a vehicle for deeper fellowship and greater service with and through one another. That is a blessing that God gives freely to all of us . . . no training required.
Grace and peace