A couple weeks ago I finished my first book of 2024, Search by Michelle Huneven. It was funny, well-written, and insightful. And it was complicated. The more I reflected, the clearer I could see how Huneven relays, without her knowing, insight into the crisis of clergy shortage we’re facing. If her book is any indication of the wider pattern, the future is dim.
I have been lurking free, but after this column I decided to subscribe. I have not read the book because I do not want to support the author in any way. I've been on 4 or 5 pastoral search committees and if I had been on her committee I'd be very upset to have her publish a book based on her experiences. Is it even ethical, even if the author claims it's fictionalized?
That being said, Are there are any denominations who have an ongoing program/classes that teaches people how they can be good parishioners. If not, why not? If books on the topic exist, I doubt the people who really need it would read them on their own, a denominational and congregational focus might be necessary to get the topic in front of people.
Also, many congregations lack clear guidelines as to how to respond to issues regarding the pastor. Do they talk directly to them, or is there another person who should receive feedback? No one, including the pastor, deserves to have every parishioner their supervisor. There has to be a better way.
I have not wanted to read this book after full time parenting outside of the parish for as long as I have and just now putting a baby toe back into the search process. I really appreciate your voice in this and the notion that maybe the author was also part of the problem. But don't we love to write ourselves as heroes? Oh yes.
I found reading this sort of healing to be honest, as someone who has navigated a lot of angles of the being a church member/leader. Not to mention the way that I can still feel a kind of guilt or failure over having given up without ever getting to the point of being an actual pastor. It's complicated, and these reflections are helpful.
I was raised Roman Catholic, where they don’t (I think? It’s been about 40 years) get to pick their priests. But this reminds me of my life in academia and the selection of deans and department chairs. All of which makes me wonder, Do we know how to do community in this country? Or is it just an problem with institutions, especially ones that’s are supposed to be about service? I think what you’re naming here is very important and powerful. And I don’t think it only applies to religion. I acknowledge that even in good communities there are struggles. But there’s something deeper here and I wish I had a clearer idea what it was.
I need to go back and look again, but it was my impression that the "writer writing about her experience" was the literary device framing the book. The narrator was just another character, not the actual writer. Did I miss something?
I have been lurking free, but after this column I decided to subscribe. I have not read the book because I do not want to support the author in any way. I've been on 4 or 5 pastoral search committees and if I had been on her committee I'd be very upset to have her publish a book based on her experiences. Is it even ethical, even if the author claims it's fictionalized?
That being said, Are there are any denominations who have an ongoing program/classes that teaches people how they can be good parishioners. If not, why not? If books on the topic exist, I doubt the people who really need it would read them on their own, a denominational and congregational focus might be necessary to get the topic in front of people.
Also, many congregations lack clear guidelines as to how to respond to issues regarding the pastor. Do they talk directly to them, or is there another person who should receive feedback? No one, including the pastor, deserves to have every parishioner their supervisor. There has to be a better way.
I have not wanted to read this book after full time parenting outside of the parish for as long as I have and just now putting a baby toe back into the search process. I really appreciate your voice in this and the notion that maybe the author was also part of the problem. But don't we love to write ourselves as heroes? Oh yes.
I found reading this sort of healing to be honest, as someone who has navigated a lot of angles of the being a church member/leader. Not to mention the way that I can still feel a kind of guilt or failure over having given up without ever getting to the point of being an actual pastor. It's complicated, and these reflections are helpful.
I was raised Roman Catholic, where they don’t (I think? It’s been about 40 years) get to pick their priests. But this reminds me of my life in academia and the selection of deans and department chairs. All of which makes me wonder, Do we know how to do community in this country? Or is it just an problem with institutions, especially ones that’s are supposed to be about service? I think what you’re naming here is very important and powerful. And I don’t think it only applies to religion. I acknowledge that even in good communities there are struggles. But there’s something deeper here and I wish I had a clearer idea what it was.
I need to go back and look again, but it was my impression that the "writer writing about her experience" was the literary device framing the book. The narrator was just another character, not the actual writer. Did I miss something?