 Elders, family and church leaders lift a prayer of affirmation on Mike Miller (with staff), installed as Lead Pastor of Living Hope Church, Elk Grove Village, IL, April 2024. by Michael Edgar Myers Founding Artistic Director Growing up where and when I did, we did not have pastors in our church.
We did, but we didn’t. Whereas “pastor” is a commonplace term today, in my youth its synonyms were wide-ranging with historical cultural importance (to be outlined at another time). We had “preachers” and “parsons,” “ministers” and “reverends” – especially Ministers and Revs – but, yes, we had us no pastors. We had us no “pastors” to pray. Yet, to borrow from Romeo’s adoration of Juliet (a Shakespearean connection we’ll occasionally adapt), “pastor” by any other name can still be a rose in a community. Or a thorn. These are among the thoughts that percolated over our prayer and coffee conversations during Pastor Appreciation Month. The occasion allowed us as Kingdom Impact Theater Ministries to reflect on clergy who have influenced our lives as we embark upon our 30th year of service.
0 Comments
 By Michael Edgar Myers Founding Artistic Director Among the many ironies of Christian faith and Biblical study is the volume of attention given to what Christians are against and the number of Scripture verses that prohibit behaviors. A high percentage of these negative viewpoints are among Christian church leaders, traditionally and currently. This negativity creates two consequences that undermine the true essence of the religion of Jesus.
The saddest effect of those consequences – by Christians -- is that they impede progress of Jesus’ mandate to make disciples of all nations, and teach them what He has commanded. Where this impact is most notable in the U.S. is among youth, people of color, and women.
|
Proudly powered by Weebly