Two Questions

I have been challenged by a fellow member of the Facebook group "Christian Bloggers Network" to blog on the following questions: What makes a great pastor/priest/minister? What makes a great church?

As a woman who is now formally in the process towards ordination, it occurs to me that I better know my answers to these two questions before I ever am called "Reverend" and hold the awesome responsibility of leading a parish. So here goes...

What makes a great pastor/priest/minister:

• Love of God and love of people
• Sense of humor
• Daily personal prayer life/devotional time/spiritual centering
• Commitment to serving God and the world
• Ability to admit/share/display the fact that s/he is just as human, searching, doubting, and spiritual as each member of the congregation
• Knowledge that s/he should be humble as an equal child of God to the parishioners, but also be able to claim the responsibility/power bestowed upon her/him at ordination
• Good boundary setting
• Listening skills--to people, and to the Spirit
• Courage to try new things and step out of her/his--and the congregation's--comfort zone, and the wisdom to know when it's just not working/ not the right time/ people aren't ready
• Enthusiasm
• Dedication to constantly be expanding knowledge, skills, and experience

What makes a great church:

• Love of God and each other
• Compassion
• Diversity of culture, socio-economic status, background, age, and point of view
• Acceptance that diversity will sometimes cause difficulties, and knowledge that it's worth it anyway
• Commitment to serving God, each other, and the world
• Listening to each other
• Enough money to keep the roof repaired, fund good programming, and give to others, but not so much that the church forgets Jesus' message
• Welcoming of newcomers without forgetting to acknowledge those who've been there "forever"
• Good cooks (wink, wink)
• Lots of prayer
• Enthusiasm
• Ability to be led...and to lead
• Dedication to constantly expanding knowledge, skills, and experiences

I encourage all of my readers who are in a church community to think about these questions yourselves. You may be surprised by your answers. Oh, and if you think I forgot something, please let me know!

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