| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 776.1 | sense of humor | TFH::KIRK | a simple song | Thu Dec 02 1993 12:57 | 8 |
| Number one thing I'd look for: a sense of humor.
Changing pastors is a very difficult thing. I'll be praying for you and your
parish. (Is that the Congregational Church in Shrewsbury?)
Peace,
Jim
|
| 776.2 | a few questions | CVG::THOMPSON | Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest? | Thu Dec 02 1993 13:03 | 16 |
|
Agree with Jim on a sense of humor. Absolute requirement. He should
especially be able to laugh at himself. A minister who takes himself
too seriously or as above humor is likely to be a problem.
I'd tend to expect that a search committee would have asked questions
alone the lines of their theology, definition of Christianity, etc and
found the answers in agreement with the majority of the church.
Hopefully you'll also get some of that from his sermon as well.
Questions I'd ask:
What does he see as the role of the minister? A parishioner? What is the
role of the church to and in the community?
Alfred
|
| 776.3 | | JUPITR::HILDEBRANT | I'm the NRA | Thu Dec 02 1993 13:34 | 10 |
| RE: .1
Jim,
The church location is Grafton, Ma.
RE: .1 & .2
Good idea on the sense of humor.....we all could use more of it!
Marc H.
|
| 776.4 | | CSC32::J_CHRISTIE | Inciting Peace | Thu Dec 02 1993 14:29 | 22 |
| What I would ask, given enough time:
Tell me about your call to the ministry. How has your understanding
of your call changed over time, if it has?
What would you cite as your particular gifts, talents, strengths and
weaknesses as a pastor and as a Christian?
Do you routinely take time exclusively for your family?
Of what importance in your ministry is the social gospel? (I can almost
guarantee you that a UCC candidate will know what this means, Marc.)
You'll doubtlessly pick up a lot from the candidate's resume and
statements of faith and mission.
Ask particularly about the areas that you believe need strengthening
in your church; youth ministry, music, family support, dealing with
addictions, cohesion in church leadership, etc..
Shalom,
Richard
|
| 776.5 | | JUPITR::HILDEBRANT | I'm the NRA | Thu Dec 02 1993 16:11 | 6 |
| RE: .4
THanks...O.K., I'll admit that I'm "new" to the UCC. What do you mean
by the social gospel?
Marc H.
|
| 776.6 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Friend will you be ready | Thu Dec 02 1993 16:33 | 25 |
| . Do you routinely take time exclusively for your family?
A key question. No church should question a pastor's desire to
do so (though I have seen them that do). One of the things I love
about my pastor is his commitment to his family, one of the most loving
and supportive I have encountered.
I'd also wonder about his commitment to evangelizing the community,
and discipling those who are, and his role in firing up the membership
to get involoved in this critical piece of any ministry.
I think someone mentioned the outreach to the young people, and I would
add also the outreach to the old folks either in their homes or in local
nursing homes regardless of church member ship.
|
| 776.7 | The social gospel | CSC32::J_CHRISTIE | Inciting Peace | Fri Dec 03 1993 00:12 | 15 |
| .5 Marc,
I would describe the social gospel as putting legs under your prayers
instead of expecting them to walk all by themselves. 8-)
In the best sense, the social gospel is exemplified in Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr., Albert Schweitzer, Rev. William Sloan Coffin,
Jim Douglass, Frs. Daniel and Philip Berrigan, Dorothy Day, Elizabeth
Fry, and Bishop Thomas Gumbelton.
Also, see topics 475 and 66.
Shalom,
Richard
|
| 776.8 | | JUPITR::HILDEBRANT | I'm the NRA | Fri Dec 03 1993 11:50 | 6 |
| re: .7
Well, in general I agree with the idea. I'm not sure that I agree
with all your choices, though.
Marc H.
|
| 776.9 | | CSC32::J_CHRISTIE | Inciting Peace | Fri Dec 03 1993 14:14 | 15 |
| .8 On the plus side, the social gospel prevents a church from
becoming hopelessly privatized and ingrown.
The social gospel may be as innocuous and unoffensive to our
sensibilities as running a food pantry, providing pastoral care
to a nursing home or hospital, or even volunteering at one of
the Ronald McDonald Houses.
It doesn't always have to be as dramatic and risky as the witness
of those mentioned in .7. A couple of local UCC pastors have
gone out on a lonely limb for the sake of the (whole) gospel.
Peace,
Richard
|
| 776.10 | | CSC32::J_CHRISTIE | Inciting Peace | Sat Dec 04 1993 01:34 | 5 |
| .0 Let us know what happens, if you will, Marc.
Shalom,
Richard
|
| 776.11 | | JUPITR::HILDEBRANT | I'm the NRA | Mon Dec 06 1993 11:21 | 9 |
| re: .10
Will do Richard. My first face to face meeting will be 12/11. The
"trial" sermon is on 12/12, followed by a congregational vote
later that morning.
Should be interesting......
Marc H.
|
| 776.12 | | JUPITR::HILDEBRANT | I'm the NRA | Mon Dec 13 1993 11:53 | 10 |
| Well, the congregation voted in the new minister. Finally, the church
can get refocused onto the future. Also, the interim pastor can
continue her advanced degree.
We also finished the re-hab of our new ( 1830's) parsonage...just in
time for the new minister. Thanks for the interesting comments I
received. They helped me when I talked to the minister and listened to
his sermon.
Marc H.
|