I’ve served on two different call committees, and listening
to each candidate’s story taught me something about how people respond to God’s
call to serve in ministry. Being on the
nominating committee this year, however, has allowed me to see the call process
from a different perspective.
A new year at church typically means committees need new
members and councils need new officers. But
here’s the thing: we can only pick from
who’s available. This is not to say
that there isn't an abundance of wonderfully gifted people in our congregation. We are blessed with folks with a wide variety
of gifts. We have builders, farmers,
cooks, teachers, doctors, accountants, scientists, nurses, pharmacists,
custodians, secretaries, musicians, writers, speakers, just to name a few. The list goes on.
The nominating committee doesn’t assign people to open
positions. We ask. And that is where I’ve gained a new
appreciation, because sometimes they say no.
It surprises me, but it really shouldn’t.
Why do people refuse? Sometimes they believe they aren’t
qualified. They think that there has to
be someone else who could do a better job than they could do. They decide what they have to offer isn’t good
enough. But we can’t put someone on the
ballot who doesn’t say “yes,” no matter how highly regarded they are by the nominating
committee.
This is going to seem like quite a stretch at first, but
bear with me. Remember the scene from
the 1980 movie Airplane when Ted Striker
is summoned to the cockpit because both of the pilots have become
incapacitated?
Rumack : “Can you fly this plane,
and land it?”
Striker: “Surely you can’t be
serious.”
Rumack: “I am
serious…and don’t call me Shirley.”
Striker tries to give some excuses about not having the
right kind of experience to fly this type of aircraft, but the reality is there
isn’t anyone else on that plane at that
time that is better qualified.
What has that got to do with the church? When God wants
something done, God calls someone in that
place at that time to do it. The
bible is full of people who don’t appear to be the best candidates, but are
called for a specific purpose in spite of (or maybe precisely because of) their apparent shortcomings.
I’m not going to outline all the examples, but Mary has got
to be at the top of the list.
If God can use a teenage virgin to bear the Savior of the
world, God can use you.
I've got your blog on my Google Reader and here you are, with a topic that has been bugging me from another angle. I am currently secretary for two organizations. One of those jobs is a lot of work because the core group is mainly the officers and we push and pull a lot of good things for our community. The other job is just doing the minutes for one monthly meeting. Both positions will be over this coming summer. I love the work, but I need a break, and I need some time to pursue some of my own art work, after a busy year with lots of health challenge that may be behind me, God willing. Meanwhile, I am feeling called to run for my church council. Yikes. I have found that when I feel this type of call, I should listen to it. It has gotten me into some great volunteer jobs. But Yikes. And also, I've learned to just say NO when the call isn't there, so that statement is for you. So I have about two weeks at the most to ponder this. Our church usually has a few extra candidates for council, so I don't think they will be lacking for good people. I've been on council twice before, including as president, as well as being on almost every committee at one time or another, and on the call committee twice. And if I run and don't get enough votes, that's OK as well. What is intriguing to me is that we should be calling a new pastor within 6 months or less. So........with lots of personal reflection in this comment, I'll just give this advice to you: if you think that the person takes the invitation to run seriously and says NO, that may be what that person is being called to do at this time.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing another perspective with me. I understand that there are also valid reasons for saying "no" and respect those. Lord knows I've used them, too.
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