St. Antony’s Cave

Our Synod in convention resolved to establish a Specific Ministry Pastor Program with resolution 5-01b. This is how it was reported through my district. “This program allows for alternate programs to become ordained as a pastor. Members of both seminary faculties were involved in the drafting of this program and the program has the full blessing of both seminaries.” The report went on to say this will enable congregations to ordain youth pastors, music pastors, etc. Apparently, the word “minister” isn’t good enough any longer. (more…)

“Father Mackenzie writing the words for a sermon no one will hear.” So sang the Beatles in “Eleanor Rigby.” How often I’ve been able to identify with him. Particularly in the depths of Lent when it seemed liked I had preached this already, or in the dry seasons when sermonizing was torture, or in the interminable Sundays after Pentecost. There isn’t really much encouragement to preach is there? O there’s encouragement to preach dynamically, to preach entertainingly, to preach clearly, to preach somehow, someway, but there’s always and adverb attached. And that qualifier can grind away in my conscience till it has produced a fine gravel that constipates my mind before a blank sheet of paper and palpitates my heart before a glass-eyed congregation. “Is this dynamic?” “Is this entertaining?” “Is this informal?” “Am I being too theological, too preachy, too vague, too…” You know the questions that are really accusations. (more…)