Friday, November 04, 2005

Pastor wants position

Pastor wanted

One of the toughest tasks a church faces is choosing a good minister. A member of an official board undergoing this painful process finally lost patience. He'd just witnessed the Pastoral Relations Committee reject applicant after applicant for some minor fault - real or imagined. It
was time for a bit of soul-searching on the part of the committee. So he stood up and read this letter purporting to be from another applicant.
Gentlemen:

Understanding your pulpit is vacant, I should like to apply for the position. I have many qualifications. I've been a preacher with much success and also had some success as a writer. Some say I'm a good organizer. I've been a leader most places I've been. I'm over 50 years of age and have never preached in one place for more than three years. In some places, I have left town after my work caused riots and disturbances. I must admit I have been in jail three or four times, but not because of any real wrongdoing. My health is not too good, though I still accomplish a great deal. The churches I have preached in have been small, though located in several large cities.

I've not gotten along well with religious leaders in the towns where I have preached. In fact, some have threatened me, and even attacked me physically. I am not too good at keeping records. I have been known to forget whom I have baptized. However, if you can use me, I promise to do my best for you.

The board member turned to the committee and said, "Well, what do you think? Shall we call him?" The good church folks were appalled! Consider a sickly, trouble-making, absent-minded ex-jailbird? Was the board member crazy? Who signed the application? Who had such colossal nerve?

The board member eyed them all keenly before he replied, "It's signed, 'The Apostle Paul.'"

1 comment:

C. Hedges said...

I was wondering about the pastorial candidate myself. "Can a church risk hiring someone who has been in jail?" I thought to myself.

However, from personal experience, I'd rather go to confession with a priest who has been through some rough points in his life. Those types of priests are more likely to give better advice than someone who has led a more sheltered life in an ivory tower.

Christ set the ultimate example by communing with the sinners, rather than the elites.

Chris
Random Chaos