A new beginning

July 1. First official day of the new conference year. A chance to everyone to turn to Christ in new ways. How I wish people in the pews understood what an impact people have on their pastors!
I spent last weekend attending retirement celebrations. In each case, decades later, these fruitful ministers were giving tribute to the life-changing difference that lay people in their first churches had in shaping them as ministers. Sunday morning at Broad Street UMC was a beautiful picture. Don Shuman had the chance to conclude seven years of ministry at Broad Street along with people present from every church he has served across 40 years. Don talked about each of the churches and asked the people present to stand as he told about their ministry years. He especially lifted up the love and kindness of the first congregation he served. He told how their love and Christian example had shaped his ministry for every other church he had served since. He closed his farewell time with three hopes for Broad Street.
For the second piece of counsel, Don asked Rev. Jennifer Bingham, the new associate pastor at Broad Street, to join him at the pulpit. (Because Jennifer graduated from Duke Divinity School last December, she was available to start on staff here before the usual move date). When Jennifer stood beside him, Don put his arm around her and said to the Broad Street congregation: "This is Jennifer's first appointment. I am asking you to love her well. If you want to bless me, then do this: love Jennifer as much as my first congregation loved me because, I assure you, the way you treat her now will impact her ministry for years to come."
Everything in me wanted to stand up and start clapping. But Don had one more point to make and all attention was rightly riveted on Don. So I sat still. But his words could not be more true if they were in red letters in the Bible. The way a congregation loves (or doesn't love) the pastor makes a difference that affects every future congregation the pastor serves across time. First appointments are especially formative. But the impact at every stage makes a mark.
I celebrate the situations where pastors were sent off this week by receptive, appreciative congregations. These pastors know they have been enriched because people gave their gifts a chance, people improved on their suggestions, people forgave their mistakes. They will be better pastors in their new appointments because their congregations have been responsive and respectful, loving and supportive.
I have a heavy heart about other situations. Pastors have been wounded and that not only hurts the pastors, it leaves pain in the congregation. The pastor has been the target of unrelenting criticism. The pastor was blamed for the church's finances, the church's lack of growth, the church's lack of children, etc. etc. etc. I struggle. Does anyone really think that new people (or current members) want to attend a church with an atmosphere of constant criticism? Is there any effective way to communicate to people that tearing down the pastor tears down the church?
July 1 is the first day of the new conference year. May it be a year where Christlike love is the characteristic of all our congregations.