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Together, clergy wade into ministry’s gray areas
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| Working on boundary issues at the Central Area colloquy were: (Around table, starting at left) Cynthia Maybeck, pastor of Trinity Church in Northboro; Colin Leitch, Interim Pastor at the Islington Community Church in Westwood; Mark Seifried, Associate Pastor of United Congregational Church in Worcester; Linda Nicholas-Whitney of Worcester; Wanda Harris-Watkins, Pastor of the Pakachoag Church in Auburn; Jessica McArdle of Winchester; and Dale Hempen, Associate Conference Minister for the Southeast Area (back to camera). |
December, 2002
Should divorced Rev. Sally Dogood accept a Thanksgiving dinner invitation from a widower in her congregation?
Should Rev. Bill Youget accept a shut-in woman’s offer of an antique bookcase, which the minister had admired during a visit?
Should Sam maintain friendships at the church where he was a member for many years before attending seminary, and where he served as an Associate Pastor after graduation?
Should the pastor of St. Aloysius UCC give an 8th grade girl a ride home from confirmation class if asked to by the girl’s mother?
These were some of the scenarios Massachusetts Conference pastors wrestled with at five clergy colloquys, dedicated to boundary issues, which were held across the state in November.
The colloquies were the first to be held as part of the new Developing
and Sustaining Pastoral Excellence project being funded by a $1.5 million
Lilly Endowment grant.
They were designed to give pastors a chance to gather and discuss with
one another the types of boundary issues they routinely face.
The group also talked together about the fictional Rev. Bud Bizzy, who gave so much time to his ministry that he never had time for himself or his family.
Susan Dickerman, Associate Conference Minister for Leadership Development, said these issues are difficult for pastors because there are no hard and fast rules spelled out in the ministerial code.
“Many of these issues fall into the gray areas,” Dickerman said. “That
is why we all need to work them out together, with colleagues, who are
facing the same challenges.”
Clergy who attended said the events were very helpful for them.
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“It’s good to know that I’m not alone in wrestling with the problems of ministry,” wrote one pastor in his evaluation. “These case studies got to the heart of a lot of our problems.”
Several mentioned how much they appreciated the chance to work on these issues together, rather than being told by an “expert” how to handle them.
“When I was ordained, my area minister looked at me in front of the church and said ‘we walk together,’” said one pastor. “I feel that happening now more and more.”