It's finally over. After nearly a decade and a half of pastoral ministry, I'm done. No scandals, hurt feelings, burnout, or loss of faith. That season of life simply ended and I've moved on. I'm going back into teaching because "it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us" (Acts 15:28). I'm sorry I don't have something angry or juicy to report.
Below is my final stab at humor in assessing all these years in THE MINISTRY. I've always despised that term. Even worse is being called THE MINISTER. Last time I checked all Christians are ministers in the ministry (Ephesians 4:11-13). Anyhow ... here are the "Top Ten Reasons I'm Glad to Be Leaving Pastoral Ministry." I'll leave it to you to decide which are serious and which are jokes.
10. I really am annoyed by snoring when I'm speaking.
9. Now I can discover whether or not it is possible to worship God on the golf course.
8. I'm not really all that interested in Bertha's goiter.
7. In the real world, "We want change," doesn't mean "You make something happen without disturbing us."
6. I can finally watch King of the Hill guilt free.
5. Two words: Associational Meetings.
4. Now people will have to learn my name rather than just call me "Preacher."
3. Two more words: Christmas pageants.
2. People will feel at ease to be themselves when my occupation is divulged.
1. No one should be a professional when they're not a very good amateur.
5 comments:
That was funny - especially the one about having to learn your name.
See you later... uh... Reverend.
You can call me "Dude."
To be honest, it was for similar reasons that I decided not to make "the ministry" my occupation. I did not want to become totally disenchanted with the church, at least now I can pretend that everything is as it should be from time to time.
I figured I'd be best off with a career I have no doubts about, one where I expect people to act human, and not somehow be above that. Then I can keep up my reading and ranting (read: writing/blogging) on the side.
Hey, I'm hangin in but I loved your post. I left the "profession" (sic and sick) about 10 years ago for a 5 years stint. Came back to "plant" a church - it still requires lots of manure but you get to choose what kind you handle. AND you can live in the fantasy that this isn't your father's oldsmobile - you're going to do it different and better - at least for the first few years until you figure out that your way is just different, not all that much better.
But along the way God still shows up and does great things . . . often despite being in ministry.
Thanks for letting me get this off my chest.
Thanks for the comment JRN! Feel free to get stuff off your chest any old time.
I understand where you're coming from. I led a church plant back in '01. It was tremendously exciting at first. Eventually I realized I had no one to blame for church problems but me. Oops ... maybe it's not tradition that's the problem after all.
I also have the distinct feeling that perhaps God will call me back into pastoral ministry one day. Who knows? Perhaps He's teaching me to be humble and have a servant's heart first. Then again, maybe teaching high school is my calling. Only God knows and I trust where He's leading.
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