Unsolicited Advice

Dear Seminary Student,

Normally I am not one to offer unsolicited advice. Sure, I'm one to talk about my time in seminary when you mention a class or a paper or an issue but rarely do I give unsolicited advice. However I think I will today. I think I will offer a suggestion that may or may not help in the future. After all, I'm not really somebody special or well known or someone you name drop to people, at least those who wouldn't turn their noses up at you if you did. But I think I have something that might help you as you leave or prepare to leave seminary and enter the real world of ministry. I know...I know...you've been doing real world ministry while in seminary but when the safety of the community is removed and you are exposed in to the realness of the church you will understand what I mean.

I normally do not group things in three or simplify life to three things; yet, I offer you three things to you as you begin post seminary ministry: 1) Grace and Forgiveness 2) Humility 3) Love. I believe these things will sustain you in ministry. I believe these three things are important to any minister. I believe these things are important to any church and congregation. I believe the gospel is alive in these three things.

Grace and Forgiveness


You and your congregation are human. I know that surprises you like a teenager is surprised by how bad Justin Bieber's music is. But you are and so are they. Each of you will make mistakes during your ministry. Each of you will get angry at the other but you both deserve grace and forgiveness. Church is made up of people and people are bound to make a mistake, say ignorant things, cause some pain, and so are you.

You will make a mistake. If you're lucky you will make several mistakes. You will stumble and fall but with grace and forgiveness your congregation will help you back up. Likewise you will be able to walk beside your congregation helping them up with they stumble and fall. Ministry, like a lot of things in life, require us to forgive and show grace to others even when it seems impossible.

Grace and forgiveness help sustain a church through the rough patches. I believe that to be true. I believe that is what the gospels and epistles speak to you in many ways. I believe it will help sustain you as you minister. I believe it will help you move forward. I believe it will help you see others the way Christ sees them.

Humility


We're fortunate to be one of the few called by God to serve others through congregational ministry. It is a privilege to be allowed to stand beside others and invited into their special life moments. We fortunate because we have the privilege to get paid to minister to people. Our jobs are a gift given to us by the congregation. It is humbling to be allowed into the intimate spaces of people's lives. It is humbling given a responsibility to love all of those placed in our care. It is humbling to stand up on Sunday mornings and lead them in worship. Ministry is truly a humbling experience.

I understand that we may think we know everything. We leave seminary believing we've read everything on every possible situation that will arise in a church setting. You believe you have the answer to every problem. The truth is you don't. None of us do. If pastors and ministers were honest with you they would tell you they are learning as they go. Just like parenting, it is all learned with experience and not everything works the same way for every congregation.

Each congregation is unique and what worked for one may not work for another. Take your time learning about your church and your congregation. Always remain thankful they allow you to minister to them. If you are thankful they in turn will be thankful. Stay humble because in a flash it can all be gone. An instant you can  be digging a hole.

Love


Paul writes that the greatest of these is love. Love conquers all things, at least that's what Cory Matthews would have us believe (Boy Meets World).  Love is mentioned in the scriptures 697 times in some form. It seems Jesus summed the gospel up with: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself. Love is a big part of being a Christian so it would stand to reason that love be a big part of being a minster. Simply put, love your congregation.

Love them when they do good. Love them when they miss up. Love them when the frustrate you. Love them when they anger you. Love them no matter what.

Faith is an emotional part of our lives. We're tied to it in every way so in our humanness will sometimes do things that bring harm to others. Love them when they do. Love them when they come after you with pitchforks and torches. Love them when you preach. Love them when you sit beside them. Love them when you listen. Love them.

There is no guarantee they will love you. I believe if you love enough and show them that love through the way you minister to them they will love you in return. But there's no guarantee. This isn't late night infomercials. This is reality and this is church. Church is people and people can be fickle. You are still called to love them. You are still bound to them through your ordination. You are bound by your call to love them. You are bound to them as Christ is bound to you. Love them the best you know how.

That's my unsolicited advice. Give lots of grace and forgiveness. Show humility in all things. Give love until you cannot love anymore then love just a little more.