Shepards Who Have Stayed
Leadership Forum
October 1, 1983
What does it take to minister effectively to one congregation for thirty years? Are there secrets that could enable thousands of pastors to dismiss forever the thought of packing up and moving on? How can lay leaders stop worrying about the next pulpit vacancy?
To discuss these questions, LEADERSHIP brought together four veterans who have served their present congregations for twenty-seven, twenty-nine, thirty-one, and forty-one years respectively:
Bartlett Hess, pastor of Ward Presbyterian Church, Livonia, Michigan, since 1956.
Jacob Eppinga, pastor of LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan, since 1954.
C. Philip Hinerman, pastor of Park Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, since 1952.
Wendell Boyer, soon-to-retire pastor of People's Church in Beloit, Wisconsin, where he began in 1942.
Leadership: When you came to your current pastorate-who was president of the United States, and what kind of car were you driving?
Bartlett Hess: Eisenhower was president, and we arrived in a 1950 Chevrolet.
Jake Eppinga: Eisenhower . . . and we came in a green '47 Studebaker. The first week I was there, I had the funeral of a rather well-to-do person, which meant the procession to the cemetery was mostly Cadillacs. We got about three blocks from the church when my old Studebaker, right behind the hearse, died. We had to push it into a side street and then continue. So my beginning at this church was hardly impressive.
Phil Hinerman: I've always driven Chevys, and in those days I could trade for a new one for $1,600. When I arrived in Minneapolis in the summer of 1952. Harry Truman was still in office.
Wendell Boyer: I came to Beloit on June 29, 1942, driving a '41 Studebaker, what we called a "double-date ...
Like the preview? To read this complete article
and 20,359 more in the archive—JOIN NOW!
Easily find high-quality, well-researched materials that provide a Christian perspective on topics ranging from headlines to history.
Start using this invaluable tool TODAY for preparing your Bible studies, presentations, class lectures, sermons, meetings, and more.
|
It's easy and quick to join:
Brought to You by Christianity Today Int'l |  |
|
| 
Find similar articles
E-mail this page
