[Magdalen] Opinion sought

[Jay Weigel]

Run. Run very fast. Do not look back. It's a trap, I tell  you, a trap!

On Mon, May 27, 2019 at 6:53 PM Grace Cangialosi <gracecan at gmail.com> wrote:

> LOL, Roger! I have a wonderful poster of Bishop Tutu wearing a dashiki,
> with arms outstretched, holding a Good News Bible, and saying exactly that:
> “I wonder what Bible are reading, when they say that religion and politics
> don’t mix!”
> A friend gave that to me when I left for seminary.
>
> > On May 27, 2019, at 6:08 PM, Roger Stokes via Magdalen <
> magdalen at herberthouse.org> wrote:
> >
> >> On 27/05/2019 22:24, Grace Cangialosi wrote:
> >> I’m curious about what folks think about a listing I saw recently for a
> church position. These were the things they were looking for in a priest.
> It’s a part-time position in a small rural church.
> >>
> >> Sermons should be informal, should not be read from notes and should
> not be preached from the pulpit, but from the floor.
> > This makes me think of the Corinthian church as commented on in 1
> Corinthians 3. They want sermons that are easily digestible from their
> friend at the front, not solid teaching to equip them as servants of Christ
> proclaiming the Gospel in their daily lives by their actions. I don't use
> notes in preaching but I have been doing it for a lot of years. When I was
> first ordained I had a full script. I would suggest that preaching without
> notes requires either the confidence that comes with experience or saying
> the same thing week after week.
> >> Sermons should usually follow the readings.
> > That I can accept - put them in context and give some exegesis as to
> what they meant to the people to whom they were originally addressed then
> apply that to the here and now.
> >> Sermons should not be political, nor should the congregation be
> lectured to.
> > Didn't Archbishop Tutu observe that when people criticise clergy for
> preaching politics he wonders what Bible they are reading? Politics is, by
> definition, about people and the Church is called to proclaim the Word of
> God to the current generation. The Gospel, which includes such things as
> care for others and promotion of the good for all people, do have political
> implications. these may not be popular with some but they are there.
> >> Sermons should be relevant to people’s lives and should preach the
> Gospel.
> > Doesn't that imply teaching people how the Gospel they say they accept
> should impact on their daily lives?
> >> Priest is not expected to visit, but should get to know parishioners
> and participate in community events the church is involved in. These
> include yard sales, fish fries, other charitable fund-raisers.
> > I admit I am not a fan of routine parish visiting. Visiting should have
> a purpose such as allowing soemone to express how they truly feel when they
> cannot say that to their friends of long-standing. Much pastoral care can
> be exercised by such friends from the church but the priest needs to know
> what is happening and have a general overview so they can spot any gaps
> that appear.
> >> There is one one-hour service on Sundays, no Christian education or
> formation.
> >
> > Doesn't that say it all?
> >
> > Roger
> >
>