Think about how most ministers are trained in seminary. They are trained -- we were trained! -- to do things. In particular, we were trained to execute certain skills -- preaching, teaching the Bible, offering pastoral care and counseling, and so forth. Ministers are trained to perform certain religious tasks on behalf of a congregation.

This "performative" model of ministry -- so called because it emphasizes performing certain activities -- served the church well for the last century or two. It was particularly effective when the larger culture was, if not Christian, at least highly supportive of church life. For many years, in fact, going to church was considered not simply normal but actually desirable, a mark of education, civility, and good moral standing. Further, and not all that long ago, the larger culture actually helped ministers tell the Christian story by teaching it in the public schools and showcasing it on televised Christmas and Easter specials and the like.

Curiously, while we all know those days are pretty much over, we haven't necessarily changed the way we think about professional ministry and often find ourselves surprised that we now live among a generation of Christians who a) no longer privilege going to church over other activities and b) do not know the Christian story very well. As a result, more and more of our people simply don't find the Christian story helpful in navigating their daily lives, and so increasingly wonder why they're spending their Sunday mornings in the pew.

Continue reading On the self-image of ministers

On the self-image of ministers by David Lose is reprinted from Alban Weekly (October 9, 2012).  This article first appeared in Renew 52: 50+ Ideas to Revitalize Your Congregation from Leaders under 50, a free e-book from the Vibrant Congregations Project at Luther Seminary.  Used with permission from the Alban Institute. All rights reserved. Alban Weekly is a free electronic newsletter sent once a week with timely and concise information on emerging trends and Alban's latest resources and upcoming events. Sign up at http://www.alban.org/weekly/.