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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
January 2002 |
No one asked me, but …
My turn to ask the questions!
By Bill Schwein
Last month I wrote that a district superintendent's day is spent answering questions. This month I'd like to ask a few of my own:
Why do Methodist leaders seem to spend more time searching The Discipline than reading the Bible? Surely that is not what Mr. Wesley had in mind when he called us "people of the Book."
How do they expect me to sing those praise songs projected on a screen if they don't show me the music?
Did Jesus interrupt the Sermon on the Mount to allow people to "greet one another?"
Who has the right to say, "it's my church?" -- a longtime member who only shows up when there is a vote to change worship times; or a new member who tithes? The preacher? Maybe God?
Aren't there really too many churches? It is reported that there are 626,226 churches and houses of worship in America. I think half of them are in my district. Wouldn't it make more sense to have one church with 120 members rather than 10 churches each with 12?
If Satan inflicted Job with boils, has he plagued us with boilers? Why else do they always break down on Saturday night? So many trustees' reports I've listened to mention, "needing to replace the church heating system." Maybe that's the kind of Igniting Ministry we really need.
I read some time ago that a television station in Evansville had cancelled its newscasts "in favor of entertainment programs and reruns." Didn't that happen in many of our churches a long time ago? What ever happened to the Good News?
Why don't you ever hear somebody in the church say,
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Please seat me in the front pew.
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It's a beautiful spring day, I think I'll go to church and skip playing golf.
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I'm sorry, we have too many volunteers to work with the junior high kids, you'll have to be a greeter.
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I want my minister to live in a better house than I do.
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I hope we can sing those unfamiliar hymns more often.
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I wish the preacher would talk about money more than just one Sunday a year.
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I don't really care for our preacher, but I'm sure the bishop knows what he's doing. I believe that the Lord must've sent him to us, so I'm going to support and affirm him.
Why do most committees spend more time making plans to do ministry, or criticizing those who are trying to do ministry, than in actually doing ministry?
Why are there usually more people who feel they just have to say something in a meeting rather than those who really have something to say?
Should some of our pastors be reminded that PC stands for Personal Computer and not Pastoral Care? Sitting in front of a computer screen is no substitute for Personal Contact.
If the Wise Men were the original "seekers," what were they looking for? Bridge tournaments, support groups, exercise classes, bazaars, weight-loss workshops? I thought I read they were seeking Jesus.
Why isn't any of this stuff funny?
The Rev. Bill Schwein is a member of the South Indiana Cabinet and superintendent of Indianapolis East Dist.
Last updated on January 14, 2004