|
Friends United
Meeting |
 |
 |
Quaker Life
|
| Between Friends | Contents |
|
By Katie Terrell, Editor Joy was my best friend in elementary school. She came from a very religious family and often invited me to youth group activities at her Baptist Church. The Baptists taught me to memorize Scripture, took me roller skating and assured me (in the midst of shouts of praise) that when I was ready to be saved God would be waiting for me at the front of the church. In return, I invited Joy to come to meeting with me, which she politely declined. “I can’t go to church with you,” she said, “because we don’t believe in women preachers.” Trish Edwards-Konic, former editor of Quaker Life, was my pastor at the time. Before Joy’s statement it hadn’t dawned on me that one’s gender was a determining factor in many denominations’ consideration of who was qualified to preach the word of God. Growing up in a Friends Meeting, I was raised on the ministry of all believers: that God could, did and would minister through anyone, regardless of gender, age, race or class distinction. In this issue, the ministry of all believers is addressed from the perspective of the pastor. Some pastors feel called to encourage others to develop their ministry through participating in the sermon (“New Directions in Preaching and Worship,” p. 19); others believe that incorporating more silence in the worship service will provide space for that ministry (“Silence in a Pastoral Meeting,” pp. 11-13); and still others believe that often the answer is to simply get out of the way (“The Friends Pastor: A Different Animal,” p. 10). The highlight of this issue, for me, is our pastor appreciation section (pp. 20-25). Meetings were invited to pay tribute to the Spirit-led service of their pastors. Appreciation is expressed for everything from sermons that speak to one’s condition to involving youth to hosting “pasta with the pastor” nights. It truly is the best insight into the expectations we place on our pastors, the vast amount of projects they take on and how much we have to be thankful for. Jay Mosher (p. 25) wrote, “I believe these blessings are evidence that the Lord is pleased.” Even though Trish left her position as pastor of my meeting in the 1990s, her ministry to me continued. She kept in touch with my family, followed me on my spiritual journey via Christmas cards and e-mails and when I began my studies at the Earlham School of Religion reminded me that as a child I used to pretend to preach from behind the pulpit while my brothers and friends sat in the pews and our parents fellowshipped in another room. She encouraged me to apply for an open position at Friends United Meeting and mentored me during the year that we worked together, which led to my being her successor as editor of Quaker Life magazine. Her strong conviction that she was called to be a minister will live on in me as encouragement that I, too, can be called by God to do anything, even preach. |
10 The
Friends Pastor: 11 Silence in a Pastoral Meeting 14 Semi-Programmed Meetings: 16 An Unprogrammed Friend Regards Pastors and
Their Work 20 Pastor Appreciation _______________________________ 6 Sacred Moments 7 News from Friends United Meeting 19 Inspirations 26 Ask Tom 27 News 29 Reviews 30 Passages 36 Classifieds 42 Perspectives _______________________________ Ephesians 2:19-20 tells us that we are all members of God’s household with Jesus as the chief cornerstone. Later in Ephesians 4:11-12, we read that some are called to help prepare that household for works of service. Like the rock cairn pictured, those called can help guide us on our path. Among those called are pastors, to which we pay tribute this issue.
|