Luke 3:7-18

A week ago I announced that I had decided to take a different preaching tack

or direction during the remaining Sundays of December. I said I would

continue to examine the appointed texts, just as before, but I would do so in

search of a thought or theme that addresses Christian ministry; specifically,

the relationship between pastor and people as they minister together.

Last Sunday's Epistle Lesson from "Paul's Letter to the Philippians" was an

excellent place to begin. We took a closer look at "connectedness" within a

congregation. I suggested that a Christian community is more likely to last

until the end of time if it's members strive to become a "connected people,"

in Christ, rather than a people "cemented" by a few decades of history---as

marvelous a story as that history may be. And, I concluded that the focus of

any church, in any time, must be upon "living the faith" into each new

generation.

This morning's text from Luke's Gospel sparked a thought having to do with an

aspect of Christian ministry that is relevant to St. James at this particular

moment in time; namely, the "calling of a pastor". Can you imagine what it

would be like, if the candidate for senior pastor of St. James, submitted by

Bishop Olsen, recommended by the Call Committee, and endorsed by the Church

Council---was none other than John the Baptist? Right away you would know

that things were going to be different around here!---assuming the

congregation went along with it!

Housing for instance: No matter how much effort was put forth to find the

right house, in the right location, at the right price---the good Reverend

Baptizer would show up and announce, "I don't need a house. Just throw up a

shack or even a tent on the back acreage!"

Family dinner invites: Bachelor John would receive one dinner invitation

after another, show up for a well planned meal and announce, "Sorry, I only

eat locust and honey." 

Personal appearance: The long hair and scraggly beard would be difficult

enough to accept, but the coat of real camel's hair would look out of place

in Market Square and smell terrible---especially when wet with rain or snow.

Most troubling of all, however, would be his preaching. While John would be

comfortable in the pulpit, his first choice would be to stand just outside

the entryway doors of the church or even in the middle of Waukegan Road. He

would want to remind everyone, within earshot, that they are sinners in need

of repentance. The final straw would be when one day, immediately after

services, without bothering to shake a single hand, your Pastor John rushed

down the street to stand outside the doors of Christ Church or, heaven

forbid, rushed downtown to stand outside the doors of First Presbyterian

Church or the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit!

How long do you think it would take before Priscilla Kim, who will serve as

your President next year---how long do you think it would take before

Priscilla, began receiving telephone calls suggesting that the Reverend John

Baptizer might be happier somewhere else?

As unfair as it might seem to bring someone of distant biblical past into our

present "senior pastor search," doing so makes an important point. In the

spirit of the Advent Season, you must prepare yourselves for the likelihood

that any new pastor will show-up different than you expected. He or she might

even seem strange!

Believe me, there will be member concerns about the next new pastor---even if

he happens to be your favorite pastor from a former church of membership in

Connecticut or California. If the concerns are merely about "style," they

will quickly pass. If, on the other hand, the concerns are more sweeping and

have to do with substantial changes in the areas of worship, Sunday School,

stewardship, or evangelism---they will take longer to pass! 

Some of you have been around long enough to remember that I was and still am

quite different from my predecessor, Pastor Livingston---in style and, to

some degree, in substance. And, frankly speaking, we were both very different

from Pastor Hammer in every imaginable way. And yet, I believe that all three

pastors had a positive impact on this congregation and left our own distinct

and, I trust, lasting imprint. 

That Pastor Gazzolo and I are different is perhaps an understatement and yet,

we have served well together for nineteen years and you not only seem to

enjoy and appreciate our differences but celebrate them as well!

I vividly remember the first few months of my ministry here at St. James. The

Call Committee and Church Council made it clear before and after I accepted

the "call" that the congregation's top priorities were "youth ministry" and

"evangelism"---prospective member and inactive member evangelism. They

mentioned nothing else so I went about both "like there was no tomorrow!"

Evidently, because Pastor Livingston had been a very strong worship leader

the congregation felt certain that worship would somehow take care of itself.

Church Property had its "cleaning teams" to take care of the inside of our

small, first unit building and a cadre of men who were diligent about the

care of the outside. A number of young mothers had Christian Education well

in hand and very soon, Pastor Gazzolo arrived to lead her army of social

ministry advocates. Finally, while I knew that stewardship and finance would

need some of my attention, I trusted that, if I could grow the congregation,

strengthen participation in our "Youth programs," and promote family

fellowship---the financial support would be there. It always is---when

congregations see healthy growth and "connectedness."

Eight or ten years passed. Then, over a period of a few weeks, two "old time

members," who I greatly respected, came to me in my study, separately and

seriously, and told me that they wanted me to know how much they appreciated

all the work I had done---all that we had accomplished together, pastor and

congregation---but that, frankly speaking, my preaching didn't compare with

Ed Livingston's. Well, they might not have been quite that direct, but I got

the message! At first, my feelings were hurt but I suddenly realized that

while I had been working hard at what I do best and at the very tasks I had

been "called" to do, I was neglecting the proclamation of the "Good News." 

Recently I looked over some of my old sermons and I must say---you are to be

congratulated for putting up with such lousy preaching. My critics were

absolutely right! My first eight to ten years of sermons were not good and

they did not improve until that day, when I felt I had been given permission

to shift some of my time and energy away from youth ministry and evangelism

toward the proclamation of the "Good News Gospel." 

This is how I know that whatever the weaknesses of my successor you will be

patient and understanding as he goes about determining and addressing your

highest priorities until, one day, a new old-timer will come up to him and

say:

    "Pastor I appreciate all that you are doing so well in this and that area

of ministry but your ___________" (you fill in the blank---whatever that

pastor's shortfall; let's say)  your ability to connect in a personal way

with your members doesn't compare to that of Pastor Danielson."

Your new pastor will understand, as I did, that St. James' critics not only

have the best of intentions, but that they are most often right and, knowing

that, he will try his best to  make the necessary adjustments and changes.   

If pastors are thought to be examples of what it means to be "true servants

of God" we must accept that most pastors St. James might call will be more

prophetic than proper, more committed than correct, in short, more like John

the Baptist than like John or Jane Doe and, most importantly, you must expect

them to make a few mistakes along the way. 

A decade old poll tells us that members of the ELCA look for humility in

their pastors, more than any other human characteristic. And yet, at the same

time, members of the ELCA seek bold leadership---pastors willing to speak up

and out. It is difficult to find all that wrapped up in one, single

individual!

John the Baptist at least got the last part right.

      "So, with many other exhortations," he (John) proclaimed

the good news to the people." (Lk 3:18)

That single verse says to me, that after all is said and done, like John the

Baptist, a pastor must be prepared to "proclaim the good news to the people."

Furthermore, you can be absolutely sure that this is what any pastor, sent to

you by Bishop Olsen, will do! No matter what his appearance, or what he does

too little of or too much of, or what he does well or not at all.  He will

try to proclaim, to you, the Gospel Good News, as best he can. Count on it! A

pastor would have no other reason to be here for a day let alone the better

part of his or her ministry.  AMEN.