Ministry in an Age of Incivility

One insight from the Pastoral Excellence Program participants is that ministry is hard and getting harder.

One particular challenge clergy face is increased incivility, not only in the culture but within the churches they serve.

Lloyd Rediger, in his book Clergy Killers, provides insights into some possible reasons for this outbreak of incivility:

First, the Church does not lead society anymore; it mirrors it. Thus, with so much violence, abuse, and incivility in society, it is to be expected in the Church.

Second, there is a rising predisposition to demand comfort and security. With the Church reflecting society, church members will get angry to the point of retribution when their comfort zone is violated. Ironically, this is inimical to spiritual growth in that growth requires challenge rather than coddling.

Third, church operations have taken on a business model. Rather than mission, the Church runs as a business, posits Rediger. Even though not trained for this, the minister is expected to function as a manager and keep the customers/stockholders happy.

In Working the Angles: The Shape of Pastoral Integrity, Eugene Peterson identified this as “shopkeeper pastors”:

“The pastors of America have metamorphosed into a company of shopkeepers, and the shops they keep are churches. They are preoccupied with shopkeeper concerns—how to keep the customers happy, lure them away from competitors down the street, and package the goods so that the customers will lay out more money.”

Fourth, the role of the minister has lost respect. The minister’s role has become a people-pleasing one and congregational chaplain rather than a spiritual leader. As comfort has replaced spirituality, the minister’s expectations to provide for the needs of the people are unrealistic (Rediger, 18-29).

Yet, despite the difficulties clergy face daily, they are a delightful group of people to work with, at least those who exert agency and are eager to pursue opportunities to thrive in ministry.

As a group, they are optimistic in the face of their collective challenges, retain confidence in their calling, and are genuinely interested in the welfare of the Church and its members.

Finding ministry to be hard and harder? Join other clergy members in learning how to do ministry better through our Pastoral Excellence Program.

Israel Galindo is the Associate Dean for Lifelong Learning. He directs the Pastoral Excellence Program at the Center for Lifelong Learning, Columbia Theological Seminary.