Pastoral Resignations
Many of you have known for a little while that I recently accepted a position as a youth pastor. Leading up to that point, and since then, many people have encouraged me in this venture saying that it was right up my alley. People told me that knowing me and how I deal with various situations, it was only natural that I could end up as a pastor. As complimentary as that is, and I truly appreciate each compliment like that I heard, it seems to imply something I'm not crazy about. I'm not comfortable with this seemingly catholic notion that those people that are "religious" and adhering to fairly tight moral codes are natural people for the ministry. I personally don't see myself as outgoing, approachable, or particularly well spoken, characteristics that make the ministry a more natural fit for people on top of their religious convictions.
I say it's a catholic notion because the teaching of "priesthood of all believers" is one of the original notions of Protestantism and my own particular Mennonite/Anabaptist tradition. I had always hoped that my particular lifestyle was compatible in the outside world, and every time I hear those compliments, part of me interprets that as saying that my lifestyle is not compatible with any other world. Of course I realize that I am too analytical, and I am really bad at accepting compliments, but we all read implications into other people's words.
People, especially the youth who fall under my responsibility have higher expectations on me now. I've heard things like, "You're a pastor, you have to say that." I want to respond with, "No, that's the right answer to the question, it doesn't matter that I'm a pastor." Am I now expected to give the morally correct answer while everyone else is allowed not to? I hope not.

   [ posted by William @ 9:31 PM ]