Categories: uncategorized
Date: 16 September 2012 13:35:47
I have my first local preaching commitment in my new area (circuit) next weekend and I've been getting into the planning for it. This planning process has highlighted for me in a big way that I'm entering unknown territory. I'm going to have to learn the physical layout of the chapels and churches in the new area as well as getting to grips which have choirs and which don't, which use which hymn books, size of congregations and age mix amongst a host of other things.
I've realised that to some extent local preachers who transfer in are at somewhat of a disadvantage compared to others. Thinking back to when you first go on note, (that is first start the process of becoming a local preacher), you are given a mentor who you shadow and who helps you develop over the first few months. One of the invaluable things they do is give you the background on the different congregations you are visiting and a "feel" for them. There is no equivalent when you transfer in....if you're accredited and go on plan you simply get on with it asking the questions as you go along. Ok, so you do ask other local preachers who've been there for some of the info first if you can and this is really useful, not least for giving you an indication of what you need to ask the church itself in order to be as well prepared as you can be. However, the truth is that as somebody transferring into the area you may not have that network of other local preachers in the area to readily tap into.
I also realised that this will contrast in some ways with the experience of ministers who will be getting background knowledge of the circuit and churches they're being stationed into. They will again be armed with more knowledge. They may also, through staff meetings and so on be able to glean more information about other churches and chapels in the circuit they may be going to than the average local preacher will be able to get.
Thus, compared to either somebody new on note or a minister the local preacher who's transferred in will be much more going into unknown territory I think.
Some solutions I can think of might be:
1) A buddy system could be introduced for local preachers transferring in with another local preacher acting as a sort of mentor to answer the "how do they do things here?" type of questions.
2) The local preachers meeting could produce a brief handbook for LPs and others which indicates the average size and age of congregation, layout of the church (i.e. pews or not, pulpit or not - and if there is do they expect you to use it), song books they use, ability of/ willingness of organist to teach the congregation something new, if they have a music box what sort of selection of stuff is on it and so forth.
In the meantime this local preacher will just be asking lots and lots of questions and doing their research as best as they can as well as praying just that little bit harder than usual.