How would YOU be willing to serve…

    There’s a dictum that goes with church life. It says 20% of the people do 80% of the work. In most churches I have served, I would have to say that this is correct. Every pastor knows who the 20% are that will jump in and get the job done. It’s the other 80% that puzzle most pastors. We often wonder, “What keeps most people from getting involved more than just during the worship hour on Sunday mornings?” There is no clear cut answer to that question. However, through the years, here are some answers that pastors often hear:  

• I’m too busy at work.
• I’m too busy with the kids.
• I’m too busy at home.
• I’m too busy taking care of family.
• I don’t have any gifts or talents.
• I don’t feel called to serve.
• Nobody has asked me to do what I want to do.
• Nobody has asked me to do anything.
• It takes too much time.
• The meeting time is not convenient with my schedule.
• The meetings are boring and a waste of my time.   

   I could go on, but, perhaps, you begin to get the picture. If I haven’t listed the excuse that you are most likely to use, then please feel free to share it with me. I write about all these things because it is time to begin selecting officers and leaders for the coming year. The Committee on Lay Leadership is the only committee that is chaired by the pastor. I intend to ask the members of the committee to cast their nets wider this year. The 20% have been faithful. It’s time for the 80% to get involved.

     So, if you are contacted by a member of the Committee, don’t just offer an excuse that’s been heard before. Seriously think about what you are being asked to do. We will be praying and making some serious decisions. Your name won’t be simply thrown into the pot for consideration unless we truly think that you have the spiritual gifts and graces to succeed in what we ask you to do. We are going to ask you to pray about our request and we are going to let you and God struggle with what is the correct response to offer back to the Committee.

    In the next few weeks, the invitations to service will be offered. I hope you will respond in a prayer filled manner to the request that might come your way. 

 

Pastoral Disappointments

   As a pastor, there are certain things that disappoint me. One of them is the inability to be with a family when there has been a death. Throughout my 23 years in ministry it has happened only a small handful of times. As a pastor, the opportunity to minister to a family at the time of a death is a very sacred responsibility. However, there are those times when such ministry is not possible. Sometimes, I am away from the parish and cannot get back to be in ministry with the family.

   That is what I like about the United Methodist connexion. Even though I am not present, there are generally others present: former pastors or pastors from nearby churches– that can step into the void and minister in my absence. It doesn’t alleviate the almost guilt like feelings that I have of not being able to be present, but it does comfort me to know that there is still a minister present that can minister effectively in my absence.