Good pastor or preacher?

I have been thinking at there seems to be so much emphasis placed on a minister's ability to lead worship. It's like that is the most important thing a minister can do. Now, don't get me wrong, I know it is the ministry of word and sacrament I am training for, so I am aware that the word is an important part of my role and I am happy with that. But there's so much more.

When I was at school, I was good friends with a minister who had a very good reputation for his preaching. He was very engaging, articulate, entertaining, willing to deal with difficult subjects etc, etc. I know he seemed to be one of the best preacher I had heard. But, once I got to know him through visiting my friend...well, what was preached in public and spoken about in private were quite different and I lost a lot of respect for him. He also did not see it as his role to do pastoral care at all. For me, that just showed little integrity of faith and life (though I wouldn't have thought of it quite that way back then).

The training seems to emphasise this too. Yes, we are to deal with all aspect of ministry (or as many as we can during the placements), but there are very specific targets set for the number of times we are to preach and take a whole service during each placement. There's no minimum numbers of pastoral encounters, leading meetings, funeral visits etc. Okay, so those are a bit harder to arrange, but I do have to wonder if there's no harm having a minimum of one or two per placement. That's not too onerous and should be doable. It means that supervisors and candidates would have to ensure it happened. The danger, I feel, with not having a specific target for non-preaching, is the emphasis is on preaching and the other aspects of ministry are not dealt with quite so pro-activity. Though, it may be I am slightly clouded by my own experience.

On a practical level, I know of many congregations where the minister is a brilliant pastor. They care very much and the congregation (and parish) know this. But they aren't brilliant when it comes to the preaching thing. I know the congregation will forgive that more readily than vice versa. I know I would (and have). I need to know my minister cares about the congregation, not that they are a great orator.

Does sort of put the willies up me knowing I seem to be good at preaching and leading worship. I pray I don't become a person who forgets the importance of the whole package (though, given I am thinking about this would indicate it wouldn't become an issue).

Hand up or Hand out?

The other day I was wearing my Riders for Health t-shirt and it was being admired. Great opening for me, as I was able to tell them all about Riders (I'm quite passionate about their work). One thing I was telling my friend about is their work that trains and employs locals to do the work they need done to ensure the transport solutions they provide are kept in as tip-top shape as possible.

They don't parachute people in who have some of the skills needed for training the health care workers or mechanics - they train locals. This increases the economic power of the people who work for them, as they have increased skills. Those people can them train others in mechanics, say. So, they whole system becomes self-supporting. The trickle-down effect of this to the rest of the communities in which Riders works must be amazing.

Much better, IMHO, than many NGOs who are reliant on gap-yearers or year-out people providing the skills. While I know much good and worthwhile work has been done this way, I can't help bu think it helps perpetuate the dependence culture. Yes, Riders still rely in aid to run, but they only send people out to where they work if that skill is not available locally and ensure local people are trained in that skill once identified. After all, who might work harder - the person who is part of the community, where their work directly affects if their cousin gets the medical treatment they need, or the person who is only going to be there short-term and once they've gone will have little to do with the community again?

I know this model is being changed by many charities, as they become increasingly aware that the social enterprise model is a much more effective model of doing their work. But I still see so many things where it's the (almost exclusively) white, middle class, well educated person going out to 'darkest Africa' to help those 'poor unfortunates'. Rarely have I known someone from a working class background doing this (I know it happens, but we tend to use gap years to earn money to get through uni, not as a wonderful thing on our CV!). In many ways, the videos I see, even in well known and respected NGOs websites, it just has the feel of colonialism to it...or do I read things very differently to others?

Take this Christian Aid video for their fundraising week (which starts today):

The work is empowering people. It's giving the people living in Bgap the tools and confidence to make their lives better. But why do we need the 'Christian Aid' supporters in the video? What do they contribute? If they are going out with specific skills to take to the area and the knowledge they learn is being brought back to lift the profile of Christian Aid where they live, great, I'm all for it. But if it's a bit of a publicity stunt (as I know other charities do to generous donors), then I get a bit twitchy. That said, the generous donor might see something that the charity which took them out might not tackle and set out their own charity to deal with that. That is, after all, how Riders was founded in the first place.

Reaching outwith the walls

So, on Sunday I went to the linkage of my home church. I know, I was looking for somewhere where I wouldn't be know, but they are the sort of people who are supportive and understanding that I was there to be rather than do. One of the many reasons I love those people.

So, rather than have to sit through the same service twice, while Spot was busy at our home church, I went for a bit of a walk and picked up the few odds and sorts we needed. Although the street was quietish, there were a reasonable number of people around and, as 12 o'clock approached, the numbers were growing. I suspect there were more people worshipping the god of retail between 11 and 12 on Sunday than were in all the local churches combined.

Which made me think that's exactly where the church should be. Not in the old (quite often neo-Gothic) buildings where they don't want to go, but beside people, in the real world. Being where people are, rather than expecting people to be where the church is.

I know it's idealistic and, given I am called to parish ministry, not easy to do (though, where's there's a will, there's a way!). I also know people will argue that Jesus went to the synagogue to teach. True, but it wasn't just there - he also taught were people were.

So, should the church maybe even occasionally have a service at 11 o'clock on a Sunday morning where people are. To actually have a service at the 'normal' time where people are, not for it to be an add, evening or mid-week service. Yes, there would be opposition (from church as well as non-church people), but I could argue part of the Christian calling is to do the right thing and spread the gospel in the face of opposition. (Oh, good grief, it sounds like I am an evangelist and that is a bit too much of a loaded word for my liking!).

So, there's a challenge for me. And, I would say, the whole Kirk, as it faces the many issues it will have to deal with over the next few years. But as long as God is in all the Kirk does, everything should turn out well.

Where to worship?

So, now I've 'finished' with my first placement (though I know I will be processing what I've learnt for many years to come), the question of what to do on a Sunday arises.

I could go to my home church. Still at the back and enjoy. Or, I could try another church, even of a different denomination. It would be nice to go somewhere were I could just blend into the background and just worship. (I know worship is as much about being part of a community, but sometimes it's nice just to be, not to do).

Having looked at the range of options, it's not going to be easy finding somewhere that I am not know by someone (welcome to the world of ministry I hear people cry). To go somewhere else (and if they are welcoming - that most loaded of statements), would I be abusing their welcome in just being there to get anonymity?

So, I will see what Sunday brings.

So long

Sunday was my last day at Eagleside. Officially, the placement can continue until Pentecost, though it is to be 25 weeks from start to then. As I have only had 2 weeks off since the start, I have done that and some. Not that I am complaining - I have learnt a lot and the end of a month makes sense, as a natural break.

Now, I'm not one for a fuss, as anyone who knows me will attest to. However, I do acknowledge it is important for the congregation to be given  the chance to say goodbye. My supervisor didn't tell me anything was going to happen during the service. It was announced just after I'd finished reading the bible lessons for the service. I was presented with some flowers (with receipt!), which does make me wonder what a male candidate would have received...but that's just me (or is it, my mother-in-law did think it was pretty sexist).

Judging by the congregation's reaction, they did not know Sunday was my last Sunday and would miss me, which is both a huge complement and extremely humbling. Many wished me very well after the service and were very sincere in their interest for where I am going next and wanted me to visit occasionally (though, I'm not that sure that's a good idea for me, though there are many there who I would like to see supporting me come ordination).

The placement had had its ups and downs. I have grown, been challenged, observed, followed, been watched, questioned myself and developed. I firmly believe this placement has put me in a good steed for future, even things which I wouldn't do which are done there. Not all learning has to be from positives.

The best compliment I had come today. Well, it was two. One child wanting to tell me all about their sponsored walk (who says I can't relate to children) and a lady telling me I'll do well as who I put things and my voice really speak to the heart. I don't think she realised just how much that meant to me - it was so sincere and humbling.

After exams, the next experience, challenge and period of growth begins. I'm looking forward to it.