The Pastor Disconnect (Part 2)

I posted previously about the common frustration of many of the ministers I've talked to lately. This is the other side of the story.

If everyone could (or would want to) spend their entire life studying theology and thinking about God, pastors would not be necessary. Perhaps part of the nature of this vocation involves acting as a bridge from the trivial to the crucial. Perhaps part of this calling is to stand in that junction between what is and what could be.

In the comments on the last post, someone mentioned the possibility of seminaries offering classes on things like running consistory meetings. From time to time, I have also remarked that it would be nice to develop in seminary some of the necessary skills of the "trade." But when I really think about it, I would not have wanted to take classes in parlimentary procedure and building maintenance, even though I've had to do some of both of those things. And I certainly wouldn't want herds of ministers going forth with more "practical" training than grounding in theology, biblical studies, ethics, church history, liturgy, etc.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's better to have that disconnect, if the alternative is ministers who don't have a vision of how things could be more.

Also, in between complaints and demands and wondering whether any of it is worth anything, once in a while, when you're not too busy griping to see God moving in the mundane...

Really great things happen. People change. You start to realize in those moments that it really doesn't have much to do with what you do anyway. You just get to have a front-row seat. And that, quite frankly, is a pretty cool calling.