Letters: Pastoral drought, two ‘Christian nations,’ Pride Month

RE: Editorial: Are we entering a pastoral drought?

This article needed to be written, and I would even say the convention needs to do an official study on the issue.

I and some of my colleagues have been saying this for years. We have been seeing the shortage, we have been seeing the pastor stay in the position longer, and we have seen a younger generation—Millennial and Gen Z—take a different “look” at institutional church and her importance.

I have witnessed a continued shrinking of Christian Studies department–with degrees offered and/or faculty—among our Texas Baptist schools over the last few years. I have seen “specialization” degrees, such as a Bachelor of Arts in Youth Ministry, being pushed to students who may or may not want actually to be a youth pastor, with the understanding that youth ministry is the “entry point” to church work.

All of this and more is leading to the realization that, yes, we are entering a pastoral drought. The 300 open pastorates will increase when the Boomer pastors still hanging on finally do decide to retire. Gen X now represents the median age, and the Gen X pastors are not numerous enough to fill the gap in the numbers.

I do not see a quick fix, but it is a real problem. Thank you for finally bringing it out into the light for discussion.

Seth Pitman, pastor
First Baptist Church, Throckmorton

 

I just wanted to thank you for your editorial “Are we entering a pastoral drought?” Your insight that “the responsibility for this dry season [falls] on all of us” is something I hope every reader takes to heart. You are right. The truth about the pastoral dry season is complicated and uncomfortable.

Carson Reed at Abilene Christian University has insights on this topic as well.

I would add one more factor to the mix: Church members have forgotten how to love and respect their pastor. Love and respect go a long way to lighten the load for pastors, but many church members only see what the pastor can do for them, rather than what they can do for their pastor.

When my husband was on staff at First Baptist Church in San Angelo, one of our youth workers called one day and said: “I have an unexpected day off from work. What can I do to help you today?”

That kind of love and respect is far too scarce in most churches today.

Deanna Harrison, executive director
Pastors’ Hope Network
Tyler, Texas

 

RE: Voices: Two kinds of ‘Christian nation’—One is truly Christian

I have seen much love from American Christians. My brother had not attended church regularly in decades. After a severe hurricane, the only relief he received was from Samaritan’s Purse and Texas Baptist Men. He is now attending a small Baptist church in Ingleside.

Welcoming legal immigrants is certainly biblical, but supporting illegal immigration puts people’s lives at risk.

Broad generalizations based on anger are not helpful to advancing God’s word and are lies and sinful. You don’t rectify sin with more sin. We can all testify to this truth.

Mark Heard
Kerens, Texas

 

RE: Letter: Condemnation of Pride Month

The author of the recent letter “Condemnation of Pride Month” mentioned numerous biblical references where the Bible supposedly condemned those born LGBT. I didn’t notice any about Jesus commenting on the subject.

My mother was afflicted with a type of dementia the final decade of her life and was a resident of a nursing home in Texas seven years. She was quite devout about her beliefs, and we respected that.

She had long hair, and the staff of the nursing home wanted to cut it, so it could be kept clean. She refused, saying, “The Bible says a woman isn’t supposed to cut her hair.”

My son and I went to visit her, and he told her she should let the staff cut her hair. She repeated her objection to him, and he told her, “Grandmother, the Bible also says we aren’t supposed to eat pork.”

The next day, she let the staff cut her hair.

Most know the parable about the Good Samaritan. So far as I know, there aren’t many Samaritans in Texas, or Alabama where I live. If Jesus were here today, who might he use instead of the Good Samaritan? Someone born LGBT? A refugee? A poor person? A woman who had been raped and had an abortion? I think Jesus simply would point to someone considered “inferior” by the religious right.

Carl Hess
Ozark, Ala.