Letters of
Reference:
One of the auxiliary duties
of this pastor has been to write letters of
recommendation, or referrals, for members of the
congregation. In Hong Kong most of my referrals have
been for children and youth whose parents are seeking
to win admission for their offspring to prestigious
schools.
I have written referrals on
children as young as four and five years whose moms
and dads think a letter from the pastor will help win
placement in prestigious private and church-related
elementary schools; there are more frequent letters
requested for older grammar grade kids aiming for St.
Paul's or HKIS, two of our more revered secondary
schools in Hong Kong, or for private schools in the
U.S.; and the most letters are done for high school
students seeking placement in famous
universities.
There is this happy
coincidence that my referrals have ended up at
Harvard, Yale, Cambridge. This success rate says
little about my reference writing skills, but attests
that our kids in Community Church are mighty talented
and they are very privileged. I have never been asked
to write a letter in support of a scholarship
application!
In America, letters of
reference are going out of style, and even where they
are desired to affirm a good character, such referrals
are probably given little credence. Bureaucrats are
suspicious of the inflation inherent in personal
letters as they also suspect grades; instad, they look
for high test scores and practical evidence of talent
and leadership. If a kid has organised a high school
investment club which made a million bucks, it will
count for a hundred letters affirming good character
and moral outlook.
As I leave Community Church I
do not seek and will not carry any letter of reference
with me into a world which will surely be skeptical
that I pastored with any degree of success the highest
indoor congregation in the world! But who needs
letters since I don't expect to ever be candidating
for a job again.
Except! Except the Bible
tells us that we shall each need some referrals when
we stand before God at the last judgement. Regarding
that interview, I am light-hearted because my letters
of reference are living persons who demonstrate their
faith in Christ and evidence their commitment through
serving our church.
I have the references that
truly count: Christian friends dearly held in my
heart, who continue to serve our Christ at Community
Church and through the dispersion of our members
around the globe in many places. The time will come
when we shall meet in heaven and our shared memories
and affections will, I believe, serve as our letters
of reference for admission to God's mercies and
grace.
Pastor Gene
Preston