July 1 will mark not only my first day of retirement, but the 45th anniversary of life in full-time ministry. I have been thinking about those 45 years and the privilege I have had and the joys that have been mine.
I guess I ought to thank Terry (not his real name).
First Presbyterian Church had hired Terry to be youth director a year or so earlier. I had just graduated from the university and had decided to stay in town for another year or so as I decided what to do next.
It turns out that Terry was not a very good youth director, but I am not sure his ineffectiveness is what got him fired.
It may have been what Terry said one night after a church dinner that got him fired. The dinner had been really well attended. We had used almost every folding table and chair in the fellowship hall. After the dinner was over, we did what church people do. We rolled up our sleeves and began to fold the chairs and stack the tables on those carts that never work as well as they are supposed to work.
I remember the moment. One of the church members, successful in life and humble in attitude, invited Terry to join all the others folding chairs and hauling tables. That’s when he said it. “I don’t do chairs,” he said.
Of course, they didn’t fire Terry because he didn’t join the folding chair brigade that night after the church dinner. But not doing tables and chairs pretty much said what needed to be said about Terry’s understanding of ministry.
So they fired Terry, and I was in town trying to decide what to do. They offered me the job, and, well, 45 years later I guess we’ve heard the rest of the story to this point.
I suppose I ought to thank Terry. Had he grabbed a couple of folding chairs that night after the church dinner…
The soon to be retired pastor is supposed to keep his hands off the search for his successor. I think I’ve done pretty well so far. But PSC, might I suggest just one interview question: “Do you do chairs?”
I hope I have done my share of tables and chairs over the years. If so, my count of chairs folded and tables hauled may be nearly as important as sermons preached and weddings officiated.
Terry was not a very good youth director. They were wise to fire him. But, thanks, Terry. I was in town asking myself what to do next and God used your not doing chairs to answer the question.