Angel In My Pocket (Part 7)

In this episode, Griffith faces the wrath of the board after his two congregants see him get the organ from the burlesque and playing for the performer.

ISSUE IT RAISES:

Do you ask permission or ask forgiveness?

Griffith's intentions were noble and well conceived to get the church a new organ, and rather than ask permission (which is indeed the mode of getting things done around his church) he goes ahead an secures the organ, intending to tell them later.

It's a tricky situation. Some churches are permission givers and some are permission seekers. I've served both kinds. The ones where permission is given usually function better with an understanding between the "powers that be" and the ones who need to execute some decisions as to what is permissible. There is just no way a committee can make every decision that needs to be made for church to function daily. We were talking today about limits that we had encountered in ministry. I functioned for years under the $25 dollar rule (anything above $25 had to be approved by the finance team 1 month in advance). It was extremely hard to do ministry there.

There are also those churches that want to know everything and make a decision on everything. I had a pastor once who had that philosophy ("Let the church be the church" was his saying which sounds good but that also meant that dumb decisions were their fault too-like ignoring the shifting population trends and refusing to move to where the church could be a more visible force in the community). This was a hard situation too.

Sometimes it's best to ask forgiveness for a decision--but you only get one or two of these and then you're done. I think we're beginning to see the beginning of the end for Griffith's ministry in this small Kansas town and it's a shame. It didn't have to be this way.

Angel In My Pocket (Part 6)

Continuing in the series ANGEL IN MY POCKET, Andy goes after the organ at the Burlesque show

Issues It Raises

Be Careful Where You Go and What You Do-Someone Is Always Watching

Griffith has heard that there is an organ available at the old burlesque house in another town 20 miles away ( seems harmless and no one would know him there) but little does he know that the two church matrons see his car there and assume the worst--even peeking in on him while he's trying it out and a "performer" is on stage.

In ministry you have to be careful where you go, what you do, what you say and much more. I can't tell you the times that my wife and I just thought we were away from the scene of ministry and could, for a moment, be normal people, when out of the blue someone we know or someone that knows someone we know pops up and we are reminded that we're never really "off the clock".

It's a shame thought that what Griffith will experience here in a bit is all too common. The old addage of "the benefit of the doubt" has given way to "guilty until proven innocent" by the associations people make in what they see first and understand later. He'll soon come to realize that appearances are judged first--not intentions. And that indeed is sad.

What say you about these things?

Angel In My Pocket (Part 5)

Channels-Code Word: Committees

In this scene Rev. Whitehead tries to get things moving on the boiler and the old organ. Mayor Sinclair tells hims to submit it in writing and through the proper channels. Anyone around church life knows--that means committees.

It seems that in the past churches were committee laden with everything from the flower committee to the linen committee. In some cases these areas became Kingdoms where the rule and reign was passed on generationally.

I'm thankful today that churches have found that using areas of interest and giftedness to get the work of the church done without always having to rely on the structure of committees. It has made decision making easier and quicker. Besides, who wants to serve on the Laundry committee anyway?

Your thoughts?

Angel In My Pocket (Part 4)

*Side note here--They sang "Lead Kindly Light" at my Dad's funeral. The music minister and congregation were as awkward on that day as Andy and the congregation here on this clip. It's just a funky song!

Issues it raises

Talking money is always an awkward situation

My dad was in full time ministry from 1937 until his retirement in 1982. I wasn't around much for the discussions about money-but I know from some of the documents that I found in his library that money was always an issue with the churches he served.

In 1967 he made less than 7,000 with a family of 7 (not unlike Andy Griffith here) and it was the source of great conflict among some of the members that they were paying that much for a minister. Mom and Dad always knew ways to cut corners and I'm convinced that our love of Salmon Patties came from the need to stretch the dollar and make a meal out of something cheaper.

The Greshams and the Sinclairs really had no idea of the need of Griffith's family--they were only looking at the business side of things. That has to be done, but it also has to be considered that being a minister costs the same as being a librarian, or a Doctor. People don't bring you bread and eggs anymore.

The final scene is funny to me. It didn't happen to me, but my sisters recount the tales of starting new schools and not knowing anyone. After 50 years 3 of my siblings live in the last area where Dad was a full-time. I guess they made some good friends.

** I know there are some of you reading these posts. You've told me. Quit lurking around and jump in on the discussion. Your insight into these clips is needed.

Angel In My Pocket (Part 3)

It's been a while since I visited the ANGEL IN MY POCKET series-but here is the third installment.

In this clip we see the Reverend and his family getting ready for Sunday morning and the scene in the church where Andy gives his sermon.

Issues It Raises
Sunday morning for a Minister's family is terrible!
The worst instrument in the town is sometimes in the church

Sunday Morning Is The Worst For Minister's Family

Andy and his wife frantically try to get their family together and looking nice for the first service at the church. It's not as bad these days where the minister's family is inspected for their clothes and demeanor on Sunday morning. But there are other current issues this touches on.

My Observations

Sunday morning is the loneliest time of the week for the spouse of the minister. I know from personal experience that my wife for the last 15 years has been the one to get the kids ready and to church while I go ahead to get things ready at church. It's as if at times she's been a single Mom with three kids.

I saw a fellow ministers wife confess last week that she parked in the Single Mom's parking slot at church; not on accident but because she felt like and had done so for some time.

It shouldnt' be that way- but it is.

The Worst Instrument In Town Is Sometimes In The Church

Andy laments the sound of the old organ ( and this would later be one of his issues) and wonders why a church of such reputation would not have replaced the organ. He later finds one at the local Burlesque show (but we'll save that for future posts)

My Observations

I've been around ministry long enough to see all kinds of things donated to the church. Old Pianos, organs, cars, trucks, you name it have been given to the church for the sake of the church getting some more use out of it. Sunday school rooms have been littered with old couches and throw away furniture that no one would have in their home--but they'd give it to the church.

I can't imagine how you begin to square that in your mind. And I'll just let my comments end there on that note.

Your thoughts?

Angel In My Pocket (Part 2)

I hope you'll take the time to watch the clip above. This is a classic movie and I love it!

In this installment:

• Don't Get Involved In Town Issues
• If Everyone Was The Same
• Be Careful What You Preach

Don't Get Involved In Town Issues

When Andy arrived in town he found the town square awash in fights and brawls and jumps right into the fray. In the midst of the fight he gets hit in the jaw and crawls back to his car.

My obeservations: When the minister comes to town, the congregation rarely wants you to get involved in their town/political disputes. I mean it--they want you to observe but don't have an opinion about it.

I once spoke out on an issue and you would have thought I said something heretical. You are there to be seen (and only heard on Sunday)--you're not really a citizen of this place. Honestly!

If Everyone Was The Same

In the opening scenes the mother-in-law asks Sam "Are you going to stay?". Sam answers back "If everyone was the same, there wouldn't be any work for a minister to do".

My observations: No observations here--just through the line was funny.

Be Careful What You Preach

Griffith agonizes over his first sermon--not wanting to preach those which he's given before. He's inspired to speak about the violence he saw in the town square. You can guess it--it's not going to go well. He gives a barn burning sermon and calls them out in the service.

My observations: You must always be true to who you are and what your call is, but when you get the "word" and want to share it with passion, you'd better consider the ramifications of sharing such truth. It will cause some pain.

Congregations rarely ( I do mean rarely) want a minister to really speak the truth. The truth hurts and especially if the minister is new, they just don't want to hear it! Many ministries have been cut short because a minister has spoken truth. Andy begins his ministry on the wrong foot because he spoke truth--and they didn't want it.

Ok--so what are your thoughts?

Angel In My Pocket (Part 1)

In this first installment of the ANGEL IN MY POCKET series, this clip brings up the issues of:

1. Ministry turnover
2. Minister's homelife
3. Coming to a new community--What You See Isn't Always What You Get

Ministry Turnover

In the opening scene, the previous Pastor is fighting with the "founding" families as they bicker over his "water heater" in the parsonage. As they fight, the pastor cringes and crumples into tears we are whisked away to the Bishopry where they state "Another pastor quit--7 pastors in 10 years". Although we laugh, that's not uncommon as minister turnover rates have continued on a path of 18 months and then out. Church life has a problem with sustaining long term relationships between pastors/parishoners.

Reasons for that: Expectations, unresolved congregational issues, inside factions, lack of mission/purpose for church, leadership and pay. Too much to comment on here--just some of my ideas.

Minster's Homelife

We meet Andy Griffith and his family as they are trying to manage life while he's awaiting assignment to a church. He's doing the best he can when the Assistant Bishop stands on the porch and overhears a family squabble. Shock... the minister's family isn't perfect

My observations: Yes, it is true, Minister's families do fight and do disagree and do have discipline problems. We are not perfect, nor do we project that we're perfect. I would think that in the 21st century we would have moved past this issue but alas we haven't. My children as still subject to the phrase "a minister's child should act better than that". Am I right?

Coming To A New Community

Griffith arrives to the town to see a nicely manicured and maintained town and to makes the quick observation of how nice things must be, but it is quickly interrupted by the town brawl on the square between the founding families.

My observations: Most ministers are never informed of the "back story" of a church or it's town. It takes a very inquisitive minister to find out the "real" stories of past hurts, regrets, infractions and relational disasters that have brought the church to it's current state. Would someone please just be honest with the guy when he comes and tell him all of the stories? This would save so much time and pain. Be honest with your junk--he can handle it! He won't run away.

That's all for this installment. What part do you resonate with?

Angel In My Pocket (Intro)

One of my all time favorite movies is the 1969 Universal Studios ANGEL IN MY POCKET, starring Andy Griffith and Lee Meriwether. It's the story of a Marine-turned local parish preacher as he takes on a wayward congregation (THE CHURCH OF THE REDEEMED) in Kansas. The back story is that this trouble churched has always been troubled (sound familiar?) by two founding families who have always fought for position in the church.

I love this movie not only because it's a classic, but also because it's too true. The stories are real--they actually happen in church life today.

So, for some 11 posts coming I will give you the clips from the movie (thanks to YOU TUBE) and discuss some of the issues that the movie raises. I'm hoping to start some discussion here on these issues.

DISCLAIMER: This movie is in no way an indication of where I currently serve. All names and situations are not indicative of here. However, in my 21 years of ministry, they certainly are more than represented in the churches I have served.

I look forward to this journey with you