Religious Consumerism
This is a follow up article in the New York Times that drew my attention. Clergy burnout is a topic of conversation in my denomination even as we ask the laity to volunteer to do more and more. Some younger generations of clergy have taken “self care” to an extreme and forgotten that those that volunteer in their local congregation often work 40-60 hrs a week themselves. Congregational life may be their self care. So, here is a paragraph of the article. This is a must read for laity and clergy alike as it reflects on integrity, theology, and the mission of the Church.
Congregations Gone Wild
G. Jeffrey MacDonald | The New York Times | August 7, 2010The pastoral vocation is to help people grow spiritually, resist their lowest impulses and adopt higher, more compassionate ways. But churchgoers increasingly want pastors to soothe and entertain them. It’s apparent in the theater-style seating and giant projection screens in churches and in mission trips that involve more sightseeing than listening to the local people.