A minister reflects on his resignation (and that of a colleague), and I’m reminded of the summer in between my first and second year in the MDiv program when it became very clear that there were churchgoers who were not so kind.
Although the vast majority of churchgoers, in my experience, are decent and kind, parishioners less charitably disposed can find ingenious ways to make a minister’s life miserable: criticism of everything from comportment and grooming to sermons, salary and administrative style. If you’re decisive, you’re an autocrat; if you seek to build consensus, you’re a weak leader. Late in my father’s very successful ministerial career, the board of elders in a large and affluent congregation demanded that he personally reimburse the church for the photocopies he made for church business.
Some congregants, intent on disruption, can be more devious, striking by indirection. In my case (and, as I understand it, at Riverside), dissident members leveled criticisms at the minister’s wife and family.
July 2nd, 2009 at 4:16 pm
You know, this is one of the times that I recognize how being an Unprogrammed Quaker–and thus having no set minister– has its benefits. A belief in “The Ministry of all Friends” has its drawbacks, but at least there’s no one designated leader upon whom to vent frustration.
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Yeah, it definitey seems like frustration and anger can be directed in one particular direction with those of us with ministers!