THE EXACTING PRICE OF MINISTRY
The pastorate demands high emotional investment--and sometimes you wonder if there's a return.
Kevin A. Miller
April 1, 1987
The following account is based on actual events.
The service had ended an hour ago, and Pastor Brian Wells had long since said good-by to the last departing worshipper, but here he was, still lingering in the cool of the narthex. He didn't know why, really; he'd already sent Carol and the boys home while he closed up, and he knew they'd be impatiently waiting to start Sunday dinner. He leaned forward against the tall panes of glass separating the sanctuary from the narthex, and gazed over the empty pews one more time.
The message had been strong that morning. At times his energies had been so focused that he'd seemed to enter what athletes call the zone, a feeling of effortlessness and euphoria when your concentration is most intense. He was tired now, but it was a good tired, and he wanted to savor it, like a basketball player after a big win.
As he looked across the sanctuary, Brian found it hard to believe he'd been at Community Church of Madison only eight months. He and Carol had fit right in. They'd been asked to dinner more evenings than not. Brian's eyes followed the smooth oak beams up and across the ceiling of the darkened sanctuary, and they seemed like great arms embracing him.
Well, Carol's waiting, he thought, and he started toward the door. He noticed a morning bulletin left on the floor near the coat rack. He leaned over and in one smooth swoop picked it up. It wasn't a bulletin after all, he realized as he looked at it, but some sort of leaflet.
Restore Community Church to Its History of Biblical Integrity! it said in flaming red. Remove Pastor Wells . . .
"Unh." Brian groaned reflexively, as if he'd been punched in the stomach.
Brian Wells is bent on imposing his liberal views on our church. His utter disregard ...
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