The Performance Factor
Ben Patterson
Pastors must be pastors. But we must be people also.
—Ben Patterson I felt a little ashamed of myself for doing it, but not enough to stop myself. It was my day off; my wife and I had taken our usual long walk, had breakfast together, and stopped in a clothing store to do a little shopping. When I saw two church members in the shop, I quickly ducked behind a mannequin, and when they weren't looking, I slipped out of the store. I was tired; it was my day off; I didn't feel like extending any greetings. It wasn't pastoral of me, but it was honest. And it illustrates a struggle I face in the pastorate—trying to balance the tension between being the person I am and being that person called a "pastor." Other professions live with the same tension, but they can handle it more efficiently. In The Christian Century magazine, columnist Martin Marty once wrote about the schizo-like attitude of flight attendants. On airplanes we find attendants gracious, sometimes to the point of gushiness. They look us in the eye, give us a big smile, and extend plenty of hospitality. But when our flight lands and we spot these same attendants in the concourse or baggage claim area, they simply walk by, avert eye contact, and ignore us. Marty calls that "civil inattention." It's time for them to step out of the flight attendant role and be themselves. Pastors must be pastors. But we must be people also. Although we can't divide our roles as cleanly as does a flight attendant, we still must figure out why and how to live with this tension. Here are some insights that have helped me. There's More to Life Than Being Genuine
As a child of the 1960s, I wanted no part of the institutional baggage of the church. Even when I attended seminary, I intended to go into ...
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