BUILDING A COMPANY OF PASTORS
Here is the challenge. Most presbytery executives and COM chairs feel overwhelmed by the task before them. Budget cuts have reduced their staff. The anxiety of our age is causing a lot of fracturing and fault finding in our society. They spend a lot of time just putting out fires.
Most clergy would agree that we need to support each other, but the trust level among clergy is at a low point and the demands of the profession leave them reluctant to commit to one more energy-sapping meeting that holds little promise. So the task is to find a way to build a community among pastors that does several things at once.
- It cannot require a large expenditure of energy from already stressed presbytery staff.
- It must offer an opportunity to build genuine community.
- It must be enjoyable so as to lift the spirits of the tired and dispirited.
- It must be held at a time that is often flexible in a pastor’s schedule.
- It must be consistent with the faith that has shaped us.
EXPLORING POSSIBILITIES
While there is no easy solution to that challenge, let me offer you some ingredients that might look promising. First, I would suggest that we follow God’s advice to Moses, Exodus 18, and select some individuals that might assist in making this a reality. Look at your presbytery and identify three or four pastors that you think are held in respect and have some influence with others. Speak to them about the challenge and ask if they would be willing to issue the invitation to seven to ten pastors and follow it up with a personal phone call.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
It is best if the gathering not be during the day because that feels too much like a meeting. A home atmosphere would be excellent. Depending on the group, another possibility might be a Friday afternoon happy hour at a local restaurant at 4 p.m. What you want is to create relaxed social atmosphere. These are friends getting together to unwind and enjoy each other after a hard week’s work.
Food and beverage helps build the social atmosphere. However, if it is at a home, the food should be simple. Subways can make a simple but excellent meal. At least at the first meeting, the food and drink is provided. The arrangement allows for easy conversation and encourages easy exchange and visibility among all participants. Long rectangular tables are not good for conversation.
The agenda is clear from the beginning. You are seeking to nurture bonds of trust that enable pastors to encourage and support each other in ministry. You want to explore how a company of pastors might strengthen each other’s spirits and even discover how we might make a stronger witness to the need for community in the journey of faith.
While this might be easier to develop along the natural boundaries of denominational identity, there is some real value in exploring some ecumenical gatherings. If distance is a barrier to late afternoon or early evening meetings, one of the techno geeks might assist in setting up something like a google hangout or go to meeting connection.
In the next blog, I’m going to suggest an exercise that can allow this first meeting to break down some of the barriers and build community while being enjoyable.
