McKinley's Laws Of Ministry
January 1, 1998
The first synod convention I attended after
ordination was held in the ballroom of a magnificent hotel. At one point
in the gathering, the presiding officer recognized pastors celebrating their
twenty-fifth, thirtieth, fortieth, and fiftieth anniversaries of ordination. As they doddered to the front, I marveled: I had been alive for twenty-five
years; these guys (and they were all guys) had lasted for twenty-five
years as pastors. Some of them twice that! I have reason for remembering that moment. If my synod chooses to do that
same thing this year, I will be one of those doddering pastors. I've been
a parish pastor for twenty-five years. Scary thought. As a wizened sage, let me offer nine lessons parish ministry has taught me
that I never learned in seminary. Call them McKinley's Laws. Law 1:
The person who sticks his or her head into your office and says, "Do you
have a minute?" really wants at least an hour. Law 2:
Congregation council meetings will take longer and accomplish less than you
expect. Law 3:
Never estimate to your spouse how long a council meeting will last. The ones
you expect to be over in one hour will take three. The meetings you expect
to take three hours will take one. The council members who are most eager
to end the official meeting will then spend one hour huddled in small groups
in the parking lot. Law 4:
If you go to the church office dressed casually, an emergency will occur,
and you will wish you were wearing more "official" clothing. Law 5:
There are no miracle church cures. No program will instantly solve your problems
with stewardship, evangelism, or Christian education. Those who give 2.5
percent of their income will not become tithers next year, no matter what
you do. But ...
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