Lack of Substance, Style, and Time
So it feels like here lately I have been unable to blog with any sense of quality or consistency. Social blogging has all but gone out the window. This is unfortunate in my estimation. Not so much because I think I have valuable or important things to say…it is more because blogging is something of a release. It is relational and conversational. It is a way to share common interests and to test ideas. It is a venue for reproof. Sometimes, it is just a place to screw around without all the pressure that comes with other roles, like husband, father, pastor etc.
As odd as it sounds, I think blogging makes me better at the other things I do, and yet I have no time for it. This just really sucks. I really should take a little time to do more of this, even if it is just stopping by blogs I used to comment on with regularity (but no longer) and engaging people. There are actually several blog conversations going on right now at different places that I wish to be a part of, but just can’t seem to squeeze it in. I alsowant to be better about putting up stuff here. I don’t know if it will happen. Eh.
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So lately I have been in a funk. I am ready to move on to my next call, yet the process for call is SLOW in the ELCA. I know it shouldn’t be rushed, and thank God we aren’t on an appointment system (sorry UMCers), but there has to be a happy medium. Does a church really need to reflect for a year or more before calling a new pastor? Uh, no. Not in most cases. I have interviews the next two weekends. We’ll see where they go. As of right now, there is very little available in our synod besides the large churches and very small churches. At the very minimum, every one will require a move.
I am worn out from church right now. Home hasn’t been a real barrel of laughs either. Seems that morale is low all the way around. I think that steps have been taken at the church that will have a good effect, including a transition pastor. If someone could simply come in to deal with transition stuff and all the anxiety that it produces, it will help me focus on simple things, like preaching, worship and visitation.
On the bright side, I get to be with D. all day today. She is lying next to me on a blanket flashing me her gums and wrestling with a piglet doll. She dropped her favorite toy in the van, and I forgot to grab it last night. It is a stuffed Frankenstein. She loves it. We call him Franky. As I am a massive monster movie fan, it is very endearing to see her play with him. We’ve been dancing around the office to The Nekromantix. It is about time for her to eat again, so I guess I will end here with I pic I took of her the other day snoozing with Franky.
Filed under: baby pics, call process, church life, transition
I think our issue is we could’ve used an interim specialist for the first year….to help “fix” minor things…just housekeeping really….but we employed a yet to be ordained person per an emotional attachment…and I realize now that it may very well have stunted our growth a little bit.
At the same time, if we could’ve gone from full time call pastor to the next….I think it would’ve been just as good…and who knows who has left due to anxiety over the unknown in the time that we’ve been in vacancy.
Do you think the supply or lack thereof available pastors dictates the wait of a congregation in vacancy…or do you think that everyone is made to wait xyz amount of time on purpose?
I’ve been active in my present church 30 years, on the call committee twice, on council twice, etc. I do see a need for an intentional interim pastor. After a “beloved” pastor, anyone is going to “fail.” After a pastor who just wasn’t the right fit, there can be unfortunate unrealistic expectations. After something bad, there needs to be healing, not just bandages.
But is the interim pastor good at that role, or is this a pastor who can’t do long term pastoring due to some personal lack of skills or drive or other reasons?
In my limited experience, there seems to be a time of standing still in the interim. That can be a time of losing members and can be dishartening.