Sheltering Pastors
I've been hesitant to write about the purchase of a new parsonage. This is in my 'blog' section because it is more of my reflections that anything else.
When my family moved to our current appointment we went from a 3000 sq. ft. house into a 1350 sq. ft. house. I have a wife and four children in this small, cramped parsonage (which has 1 1/2 bathrooms). Now I know in many places in the world this would be considered a palace, but here, not so much.
The search process was interesting. It has taken almost five years to get this far. Last week the church voted to purchase a new parsonage and has even found one that meets our conference standards (or at least enough of them).
There was only one problem with the parsonage: location. The current (small) parsonage is in one of the best areas of the county. Wonderful people live in our neighborhood. The new proposed parsonage is not in a very good part of the county.
What I've realized is that for the past four years I have been sheltered from the type of people who live in my county and community. The county I live in is last in per capita income and first in the percentage of smokers. The people in my current neighborhood make pretty good money and I don't think any of them smoke. For the past four years these are the people I see each day. These are the people I meet on the streets of the neighborhood.
I've began to wonder if the placement of the parsonage can be a doorway to missional living and ministry for the pastor. The proposed parsonage, while not in a horrible area at all, still reflects a more accurate representation of the people of the county. Some of them don't make a lot of money. Some (perhaps many) of them smoke.
After four years I feel like I will finally living in the midst of the brokenness, issues and problems of this county. It causes me to wonder how many other pastors view the placement of the parsonage as an opportunity for missional ministry. Maybe we should start updating all those old tired parsonages with parsonages strategically placed for ministry in the community. I don't know what the future will bring, but I'm excited about the new opportunities.
Interesting
David,
An interesting way to view parsonage placement. As I think about that I am wondering about our families I am a second career pastor and I am always aware that while my family supports me, they were not called to ministry. If we locate our families in challenged areas, they certainly get an opportunity to live and learn in a missional field. But how do they feel about educational inequites that might affect their futures. I wonder how best to balance our need to be in mission, with my families needs and wants. It is at least something one would want to consider.
Not called
Hi,
I was brought up and trained under the "family not called to ministry" philosophy. I now believe that philosophy is a disservice. For one, we are all called to ministry. Second, being missional means that I will be used where God has placed me. If God has truly placed me in a local church, that is where ministry will take place and that also extends to my family.
Over the past year or so I have also been rethinking Jesus' words of his followers taking up their cross and following him. He says that those who want to save their life will loose it and those willing to loose their lives for his sake and the sake of the gospel will save it (Mark 8:34-35). The question I have to ask myself is, how am I willing to live that out? Or, how _am_ I living that out.
Believe me, I understand wanting to protect your family and give them the best you possibly can. I am a father of four and all four are in the local public school system (For better or worse). I have decided that there are times when I must die to some of my concerns and trust that God will take care of me _and_ my family.
I also believe this is a real issue for UMs. For a long time we have focused on the upper middle class and that population is shrinking. Maybe it is time to follow the lead of John Wesley, reach out to the poor and disenfranchised, and discover what it means to be willing to die in the process. What if that means we must die to our ideas of the American dream?