Dr. Ron Crandall, at Asbury Theological Seminary, tells the story of a big mistake he made in a small member church early in his ministry - - he moved “the” table!

In his mind this table was in the wrong place, so being the “pastor in charge” he moved it. The next Sunday it was back where it was. He moved it again and it was replaced again. On the third move the “owner” of the table showed up in his doorway. He did not move” the” table again.

In “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” Stephen R. Covey talks about an “Emotional Bank Account.” Many times clergy in local churches write checks on their “Emotional Bank Account” that bounce like a rubber ball. That is exactly what Ron Crandall did.

He has no emotional assets with that small membership church therefore his “check” bounced!

Ron said that you need three to four years before you start moving the furniture. Friends that is a long time for a hard charging, class A personality type of pastor to bide their time and just love their people - - and not scoot the furniture around.

Upon ordination the Bishop says “Take thou the authority . . . ” and then we appoint clergy as “pastors in charge”.

“Authority” in a local church does not come from any appointing authority - - it comes, by permission, from the church members.

Have you ever watched an old hound dog take over a new yard or territory? They go around the perimeter and “mark it” - - so that every other dog that comes by knows that they are in someone else’s territory.

Have you ever watched, in horror, as some new clergy person comes into a local church and begins to “mark” their territory?

In their ego driven psyche that feel that they must show everyone that a new pastor is in the pulpit - - and this who I am!

Usually the first thing they will do is begin to “move the furniture around” or worse yet insists on “new furniture”.

They will first change the worship order and then start moving the pulpit furniture and then turn their vast knowledge loose on the rest of the structure. They make a lot of people mad, but more sad!

Then they will want to make staff changes – so that it will be “their” team.

They do not first check and see what their predecessor and the laity of the church had in place, that worked well, when they arrived. All they know is that they are now the “pastor in charge” and they must somehow - - shout out so all can hear “Here I am, look at me, I am in charge here!”

Clergy and Laity were surveyed on what they felt was the order of priority of their pastor. Pastors of course thought that their preaching was what they did best. Laity put that about fifth - - but they put first “loving the people.”

A vision for ministry in a local church must be a shared vision. If it is the pastor’s vision - - it will only last as long as the pastor does. Effective pastors know that their primary job is to hold the congregation to the shared vision. Not so much to be a vision caster as a vision keeper.

A loving and caring clergy will spend a lot of time in the first 12 to 24 months just loving his or her people. They will hold to the custom and tradition of the church and not move the furniture.

Once that emotional bank is full of deposits - - then you can begin to draw from the account. Remember though, that every time you draw from it you also have to continue making deposits.

By that time, if you are prudent and wise - - you will know who “owns” the furniture (Hint: It ain't you!)



A Jim Lane Commentary
January 23, 2004