CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – I expect ministers to give excellent sermons. I often find myself sitting in judgment from the pews. “That was good,” I might think. Or, “hmmm, they’re not such a good public speaker.”
I know exactly why I do that. First, because I speak for a living. I like to think I’m good at what I do. So I expect the clergy to come up to my level on Sunday. And, the minister at the church of my childhood was a tremendous preacher. The Reverend Richard Rush had the unique ability to make you think he was speaking just to you.
I should ask for forgiveness.
I have come to realize that giving the Sunday sermon is only one small part of being a pastor. I once heard a visiting pastor speak who had a weak and difficult to understand voice – a non-native English speaker. I struggled to hear and understand. Yet he had a unique background. He worked as a bible translator in Africa. His team, a group of linguistic scholars, translated the bible in tribal regions. He was an expert at introducing people to the Christian faith. I couldn’t get past how he spoke. I am poorer for it.
I’ve known other ministers who weren’t particularly good public speakers. But one was excellent at helping my family during my son’s injury. Another was a tremendous organizer; a leader in the days after the 9-11 attacks. I can think of another minister who is the perfect choice to officiate at my funeral (which I hope is many, many years away). But he’s also not the greatest orator.
God gives us varying roles for different circumstances. We don’t all have the same skill set. Only when we appreciate the varying gifts do we grow in our own faith.
Chris Conley
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