BEFORE AND AFTER
You will find, Oswald, that the golden rule applies to ministers as well as to the rank and file of humanity. It is a sound principle upon which to base your treatment of your fellow-preachers as well as your fellow-men. But you will find that in the ministry it is often sadly neglected or forgotten. Men who are otherwise conscientious and scrupulous seem to have no compunction in their dealings with their predecessors and their successors in the work; otherwise rational, they will develop “quirks” of jealousy and presumption that would not be countenanced in any other profession, and that seem unbelievable to the humble layman who expects the minister to be Christ-like in all his dealings.
When the former pastor comes to town on a friendly little visit to people with whom he worked for years and whom he loves dearly, and comes in a spirit of good will and helpfulness to reinforce you and strengthen you all he can, sulk, Oswald, and ignore him. Some preachers do. Since you do not “run after” any one, it will be best to avoid him carefully. If he is in the service on Sunday, do not ask him to preach or sing; do not invite him to your home. Of course you are not jealous; you just feel he has enough to do at home without running into your territory.
If meeting and speaking with him is unavoidable, ask him if he writes to any of the people in that town; tell him that when you leave a place you quit it “cold” and that you never visit or have any communication with the people from that time on.
Tell him, in a brotherly way, of all the criticisms you have gathered up here and there, important and trivial, cutting or ridiculous, just or unjust, and firmly and kindly point out the mistakes he made, showing him how by your foresight and perspicacity you are managing much better.
A few good souls in your congregation and sundry of the townspeople will speak of the former pastor with good will and affection. You can meet this by answering with disparaging remarks concerning his character and attainments. Be quick to resent any compliment paid to the man or his work.
Discount and belittle his record and accomplishments. Spread anything you hear to his discredit.
But Oswald, my boy, when the man follows YOU it is so very different!
When you are leaving a church and your successor has been named, it will be well to see him in the beginning, or write him a letter, to tell him of the gigantic task found by you on the field when you first came, and of the heroic effort required to complete said task; of your high standing in the community; of your great success and popularity; of great favors shown you in every quarter; of your special training and fitness for that particular field, and that he cannot hope to “follow” you or attain to any measure of your standing and workmanship, or of the great esteem in which you are held by all the town. This will give the man the proper perspective on you and your work and will make him realize with humility that he is following a Very Important Man.
Go back to your old charge often. Run in— oh, every month or two; you know—pop in and out; for are they not your good friends? Why should you give them over to a stranger? A stranger of whom you think very little anyway. If he should stay ten years on the field you feel sure that the people will never love him as they love you. If he doesn’t like it, he can just try doing something about it and break his fool neck—you would enjoy the process and rather hope to see it come to pass.
You still have the pastorly feeling toward the people, so encourage them to bring their troubles to you. Then go to the new pastor and tell him what they told you and what you told them and what his attitude should be. Give him plenty of advice as to people and methods, for you certainly know the field better than he does, and he should appreciate a little help from One Who Knows.
It is astonishing how many preachers there are who will ask with avid interest concerning their successors: “How is Brown getting on? Is he getting anywhere? Does he get on with old brother What-a-Grump ? Are they paid up with him?” with a manner indicating that they expect to hear the very worst and to derive a certain relish from it. And pry, Oswald, pry. Run about collecting any information you can get (and there will be sources!) concerning your successor’s methods of work, his preaching ability i his mixing, his financial plans, his doctrines, (scent heresy, if you can, and cry out in horror!) his family affairs, and his personal habits. You can keep things going so that the man will never know a dull moment.
Point out his mistakes to his people and whisper to them what you would have done under the same circumstances. Give your successor some more advice.
Go back for funerals whether you are invited or not, and help with the arrangements. Since you know everybody so well your suggestions will be very welcome. Also solicit weddings. When an engagement is announced, appeal to the young people in this fashion: “Alice, I baptized you. Remember your promise, that I should marry you!” or “Gus, don’t forget I married your father and mother. I expect to get this wedding. Drive over to Spring City when you get ready to be married.”
Solicit meetings too. Although the pastor may have another man in mind, and have his plans made, get two or three of your closest friends to present your name at the business meeting as the man they wish to hold the next revival. The pastor, being a fine, consecrated man, will not mind, but will cheerfully and gladly set aside his plans and will welcome you although he did not have a word to say about the whole arrangement which was made secretly and which comes to him now as a great surprise.
When you hear of the growth of the church, the increased numbers, the great crowds of young people attending, the spiritual fervor, the sacrificial giving (although three or four years have elapsed since your leaving the community), be sure to take full credit for everything.
If possible, after you have resigned, live on the field. Then you can keep an eye on every little thing. You can be a wonderful help to the new pastor—calling on all the sick people, and on all of those not sick; giving him advice and criticism; helping him with plans and programs. You can quietly hold the loyalty of the people this way, too, and keep the man from becoming too popular and well established in his work.
If, by this time, you have not had your tail feathers all pulled out by your successor, you can further practice the golden rule by borrowing money from everybody in the congregation —various sums at various times. And when the wife has twins, or the car is wrecked because you misjudged an Arkansas curve, wire your former church—”Wife has twins”—or “Car is wrecked”—whichever catastrophe is true in your case—”Anything you can do for me will be appreciated.”
The sympathetic church will quickly make up a purse of two or three hundred dollars and send it to you with prayers and blessings. The pastor may be cool in his treatment of you the next time you meet, but what of it? You got the money!
Posted in CHAPTER FOUR
You may try to persuade yourself that this is an ordinary book — in order that you may find comfort in the persuasion - but you cannot do so and be fair to facts.