By Steven Norris
“May 30, 2004.” So reads the date on my ordination certificate. It bears the signatures of the ten individuals who served on my ordination council and affirmed the evidence of God’s call on my life. As I’ve reflected on the past twenty years of ordained ministry, I wanted to share a few observations that I’ve made about the Church and my ministry within it.
First, the Church is a lot more resilient than we realize. That statement was made recently by a fellow pastor, and I think he was exactly right. I have served three dramatically different congregations in those twenty years that continue strong ministries in their respective communities.
All three churches have been guided by pastors who, at the end of the day, are imperfect humans seeking to do the Lord’s work. Some of those individuals made wise choices and exhibited strong leadership, while others fell short in some areas. All three churches have lived through tumultuous times, seeking to be a faithful witness in war and peace, prosperity and want, unity and division.
It is dangerous for pastors to think that the success or failure of a church hinges entirely on his or her shoulders. That is not to minimize the importance of good leadership, but to say that churches are stronger than we realize. In many cases, churches are held together by faithful women and men who will never carry a title or position, but whose faithfulness in daily prayer, devotion, and service carry the church forward.
Second, I have found that most people want to do the right thing, even if they don’t always know what that is. A mentor once said this to me about a church he had served, and I have found it to be true of the communities I’ve pastored. Certainly, there are exceptions, but I have found that people of faith generally want to do the right thing.
Most churches want to be good neighbors, help others, and meet needs in the community. They want to protect the vulnerable, work for justice, and support missionaries. They really mean it when they pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” It can be difficult to discern what the right thing is, however, when there are more “grey areas” than we want to admit.
Third, I have found that people remember who you are more than they remember what you say. I have preached numerous sermons in 20 years. My hunch is that most of my congregations have forgotten the majority of them. However, they remember the time I sat in the hospital with them while their loved one was in surgery. They remember when I showed up with my guitar in the hospice room and we sang hymns. They remember me being with them as they walked the difficult road of marital issues or rebellious children.
As I think back over twenty years of ordained pastoral ministry, I realize how blessed I am to have served in this capacity. I also recognize how much love I have for God’s Church. She isn’t perfect, but I truly believe she is the best hope for our world.