I got this book a while back and I really really wanted to like it.
I love BBT’s voice and her preaching style… I was a BBT junkie, if you will. I even bought the Chautauqua CD’s to hear her sermons.
But there was something about this book that just put me off completely. It started when she picked out the church she wanted to serve in based on what it looked like, and just got worse and worse. Maybe that’s because our church isn’t a beautiful building, but nevertheless I was put off… then it seemed to me that her voice just got more weary and more whiney.
Now I’m sure sitting on that little farmette with her husband, llamas, goats and whatever seems a great relief after doing so much caring for all the people in her church, but maybe it calls out to seminaries to teach what being a priest is all about. One of my favorite movies is Tampopo, and in it there’s a line about how we all have a movie running in our heads about our lives (okay, maybe that isn’t the exact line, but throw an old dog a bone, will you?), and I think we have to fight hard to stop that movie reel and deal with the real in our lives. It seemed to me that BBT was trying to live into this movie about “Being a Priest”, sort of play acting, if you will.
MadPriest, I think has it right about the essentials of being a priest.
I stick to 3 jobs as defined by the Ordinal. Preside, teach, visit. I got rid of all jobs outside of the parish, including at deanery level and never attend meetings or courses unless my people will definitely benefit from my attendance. I got rid of my need to be in charge, even if I thought I could do a better job. There is no reason why the local church leadership should not come from members of the laity.
Keep in mind that all of this is said as a non-priest, so maybe I am just off base. I see that a lot of online people love this book in ways that I simply couldn’t. I think as a wake up call to understand what a call to serve can become, it is invaluable, and I’m sorry that this particular voice is heard more in the classsroom than in the church. But somehow I just expected more…
Well, Clumber, we do have a beautiful old church, but I would hate to think that a priest would choose to come to us because of the building.
I have not read BBT’s book, but it seems to me that the priesthood has to do with serving God’s people wherever he calls you and very little to do with buildings.
I agree, Mimi, but just like me (and I’m guessing you) priests have their strengths and their weaknesses, and I’m sure what attracts some is that she was strong enough to admit her weaknesses and faults. I find her other books to reflect a maturity and complexity of thought and heart and yet this book seemed to reflect another person completely .
Then again, maybe I’ve misread her. Nevertheless, I’m not sure I’ll spend my money on another book by her…
I tend to agree with you and MadPriest on the role of priest.
However, in our diocese, we tend to select good “company men” — they’re good at schmoozing, working the conferences and meetings, have a good, solid business background and a certain scholastic bent, and that is what they consider “pastoral.” Sit most of them down and they’ll spend all the time telling you which professionals in which field you should see, because that’s not what they do, or which books you should read. Ask about a fund-raising program or the annual stewardship campaign and voile they’re in their element.
Hi Mark,
Thanks for writing… I think there’s also been a certain change away from long term priests to a more moobile life. Thus, like a lot of American workers, a certain amount of time is spent on looking for the next job. Oh, maybe not overtly, but (and again, I ain’t no priest, so any of you + types let me have it if I’m way out there) subtly. Putting time into stuff that looks good. Mentally working on a resume.
Our previous priest used to be asked how long he thought he would be staying at our church and his standard answer was “As long as we’re growing”. Well I knew right away that as soon as something came up he’d be gone. That answer is a non-answer, as growth can be defined in so many ways. So how much time gets spent looking for the next priest? I wish the staffing of priests could be figured out in some rational way, but it seems like a process of magic and luck, with a delicate balance of headhunting and Holy Spirit.
Gotta go get some Kibbles and Bits and Coffee