PASTORING WHEN YOU'RE OUT OF THE ACTION
Wendy S. Pratt
April 1, 1991
My physician put me through several months of tests before finally giving a diagnosis: "You have a little brain tumor." I was shocked. "Little" or not, I hadn't expected anything that major. But almost immediately after the shock came the worry so typical for pastors: What about my congregation? It's the beginning of Lent. I don't have time to be sick. We were in the midst of a major building renovation. How can I take time off? Will my illness cost us our momentum? For more than three years, I had been pastor of a small, integrated, urban church. We had grown, but our position was still precarious. Would we be able to survive this latest crisis? We did, in fact, survive. If anything, we grew stronger, learning to trust God and one another more. It was not easy, and many hazards along the way were unexpected. Several guidelines, however, emerged that may help other pastors and congregations who face a similar crisis. We journeyed through three treacherous periods: the time prior to surgery, the hospitalization and recovery, and the return to ministry. Each had its own challenges. Before leaving the church
Because my tumor was still small, I could wait to schedule surgery until after celebrating Easter with my people. This also allowed us time to prepare for my absence. Several principles helped us through the events to follow. Â Keep people informed. I gave up-to-date news to our ruling board, the session, through weeks of testing and waiting. I learned on a Friday of the possible pituitary tumor. At a special session meeting on Sunday, I told what I knew. I needed their support and prayers. I also wanted them armed with truth to squelch rumors that might arise. When the diagnosis was confirmed, I wrote an upbeat letter to the congregation. ...
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