Today marks six weeks at St. Columba Church in Ayr, so I have developed a little feel of what daily ministry is in this particular context.
My mornings consists of reading or writing at the manse and arriving at the church around 10:30 for more social reading or writing, coffee or tea, and some discussions with Fraser as to plans for the day or week. After lunch at home, I usually do visits in the afternoon. I’ll having meetings or gatherings at night every other evening or so.
Such is my life. In all, it certainly resembles John Pritchard’s portrayal in The Life and Work of a Priest. Though I’m only halfway through Pritchard’s book, his general understanding of ministry seems to jive with that of St. Columba. Pritchard emphasizes prayer and contemplation–rather difficult to do while in the crowded office–but it’s safe to say his understanding of ministry is more traditional. I’m going out on a limb here because I haven’t finished the book, but though it was published in 2007 I don’t anticipate much if any material on ministry and technology.
Contrast this with my friend Bruce, a PC(USA) pastor in San Fransisco. Check out his blog here: http://breyeschow.typepad.com/faithblog/ and the specific post to which I’m refering here: http://www.reyes-chow.com/2007/10/church-in-my-wo.html
Bruce writes that even before the end of a busy week he has had 5 coffee talks, met several new visitors via their blogs, spent 12 hours in a cafe, and read church members’ blogs and blogged 4 times himself.
He writes:
The purpose of this post is not to defend pastoral leadership in my context, but to give voice to a growing way mainline church has and can be done. While some can find the same energy and nourishment in more historical/traditional church contexts, I know I would not be a good pastor in that setting because it would be a bad fit or “call” if you will. We would be fools to think that in today’s world there is ONLY one legitimate or even ULTIMATE way to experience Christian community and thus only one true way of being a pastor. That is just crazy talk.
Reading Bruce’s blog while at St. Columba reading Pritchard’s book presents me with two ministry extremes and I’m left to consider my own call and how I might hope to use technology in it. As in all church decisions, context matters immensely. That said, I think I would thrive more in a church where emails, blogs, IMs, and coffee talks are integral to ministry.
P.S. I'm continuing to push my new blog which can be found here.


on Ministry of (Web) Presence