Preacher Search
The most recent Christian Chronicle has an ad by a church that is looking for a preacher. “Evanglistic Pulpit Preacher Needed.”
Part of the ad says: “We are looking for a man who wants to be right not radical, a man of wisdom and understanding who truly believes the song ‘Just As I Am’ and permits the gospel to change people’s lives according to “THE faith once delivered to the Saints.” Change agents, misguided, or unlearned men who desire to forget the old hermeneutic pattern of, who is speaking, to whom is he speaking, and when is he speaking, or Command, Example, and Necessary Inference need not apply. We are seeking a man to continue these God inspired biblical traditions taught by men of faith like those listed above [G. C. Brewer, C. E. McGaughey, Rex Turner, Sr., John Henry Clay].”
Just this reflection: My guess is that if they find someone who really believes the song “Just As I Am,” he won’t get the job.
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Just a few more recent pictures:
Sheesh … better count me out on this job application. I just don’t think I would qualify for them.
And, thanks for reminding my how blessed I am to be where I am.
I think I know someone who would fill that position quite well.
On a brighter note, that sure looks like a sweet baby!
At least they’re upfront about all that nonsense. It would be bad to learn all that after you’ve dragged your whole family there for an interview.
I would be interested in knowing just how many responses they get to their ad.
“We are seeking a man to continue these God inspired biblical traditions taught by men…”
Interesting phrasing. In the past, it would have been a clear sign it was NOT written by anyone who claimed to be in the Churches of Christ.
Hi Mike
Love the picture of Reese. You and Diane never looked more contented. Jena looks like a model for a new moms magazine.What fun to love and spoil the grandbaby and then let Mom and Dad handle the rest. Grandchildren are God’s reward for raising teenagers. Wish I could be more positive about the ad for a pulpit minister. Isnt a demand for being right rather than Christlike what got us where we are today? Following God inspired Bibical traditions are right as long as they are those of Jesus, loving each other, looking for ways to cooperate and care for the walking wounded all around us. Not being so right that we make more of the walking wounded. Just asking.
….taught by men of faith
It changes the meaning.
Precious precious..what a doll!
That ad saddened me, and it was like reading a blast from the past….the 1950′s!
As an eyeguy, it does my heart good to see such a young one wearing UV protection. Maybe that one, at least, won’t get cataracts.
As to the ad, even Roman Catholics have their Pre-Vatican II, Latin Mass only thank you very much reactionaries.
Whatever.
“…a man who wants to be right…” I thought we were called to righteousness, not rightness. Big difference.
Preacher ads. Reading through them, it is obvious that preachers do not write these ads. An elder friend of mine was looking for a preacher and he sent me over his ad. I told him that only two kinds of preachers would answer his ad: a man with a superhero complex or a young buck who has never done it but still thinks he can do anything. I advised him to keep this little thought in mind while composing his ad: from one frog to another, here’s why you ought to come to our pond.
Anyway, most of the ads are nonsense written by elders / leaders who evidently do not have a clue as to what the life of a minister is all about.
Thankfully, there are exceptions.
Hmmm……..I wonder if Jesus could have gotten hired at that church? The cards are already stacked against him in that he doesn’t have any initials at the beginning of his name.
I think he also pretty much fit into the “change agent” category.
I’m sorry the wedding robe thingie pretty much knocked you out of the running for being considered for this position. Blame Steve and Kathy!
DU
Hooteewho this ain’t something from the 1950′s. It is alive a well today. And it is all around us. They still are more concerned with form than function and “getting things right.” I guess Jesus knew they would always be with us, because HE spoke clearly to them 2000 years ago when HE got on them about counting seeds. What we have to guard against is our own weakness to fall into these same traps. Anytime we start getting comfortable with who we are, and where we are, then that means we are probably making it all about “us.” That’s where all of this starts. It was never suppose to be about “us.” It is about loving one another, not loving ourselves and what we are comfortable with. So if somebody brands you a “change agent” just look at them and say, “thank you.”
Regarding the church that wants a preacher who “truly believes the song ‘Just As I Am.’” Hmmm. So they want a candidate who has one dark blot in his soul, who is tossed about with many a conflict and many a doubt, who has fightings and fears within and without, who is poor, wretched, and blind. Why, they want the apostle Paul! God bless them!
How does that old song go?
Just as I am without one plea,
but I was right; yes that was me.
We will be having dinner with Reese and her parents (Mark and Jennica or something like that) tonight. We will enjoy time being with the Cope’s, watching our 2 babies, and seeing who wins American Idol. (Matt and I don’t care about Idol. We are just watching it because Jenna and Kayci do. Wink-Wink
)
Josh Ross has been an “Idol-holic” since the beginning. He’s also a ‘change agent’ of churches. Very dangerous.
Doesn’t everybody refer to Jesus as J.C. Superstar? Now He can apply!
Mike, what are you doing looking through the preacher want ads? If you’re looking to make a move, I’m sure we could find a job for you here in Conway. Do you sing? (Oh, I forgot about “Mike Cope Sings the Classics.” Scratch that.) How about Junior High ministry? Do you do lock-ins?
As troubling as that ad is, what troubles me more is the obvious line that has been drawn by so many of our churches.
There is seldom any more “we” but now it is almost always “us” versus “them”. This is such a dangerous worldview and has led to so many people being hurt and wounded throughout the entire journey of faith.
Will we ever get to a point where we will just allow others to be where they are in their journey without feeling the need to judge and belittle others points of view?
The humor in this is that most any talk like this makes one seem like a far right conservative which is so very far from where I personally am in my journey.
I guess I am just tired of how easy it has gotten for me to say “look how wrong they are to think I’m wrong…”
That is a beautiful baby. Makes the Preacher ad what it is, irrelevant.
Beautiful Reese!
Glad you’re preparing her to be “California Beauty” with those shades while basking in the sun!
I wonder how well it would go over if Preachers got to advertise in he same way.
Preacher, with 10 years experience Married and two young sons looking for a congregation that desires to fulfill the Great commission of Going, Teaching, Baptizing, and Discipling. Their desire to fulfill this commission goes far and above simple lip service.
The congregation must have Elders who are spiritual Shepherds, spend hours a week in prayer and study and knows every member by name and the desires of their hearts.
Would be nice if the members of the Congregation were able to work out their own pettiness, but not required. Also would be a bonus if the congregation loved to pray together, and could sing real well.
If you believe that you are the right congregation for me to bring my family into and raise them up loving God and His children please send me your resume and a letter from your last three preachers at …
Thanks for putting the happy AFTER the sad.
(On an earlier note, if my sister continues to claim Yankee pride, please ask her to name 5 Yankees. Sheesh.)
If you are fortunate to have every thing right why would you want to change?
Your pictures cause me to sin (envy), so you will have to stop eating meat.
A friend of mine sent me this ad and I thought surely it was a joke, but wouldn’t you know that truth is stranger than fiction.
Our fears often drive our need to “super qualify” what we want.
I think any preacher or leader should study sociology along with theology to be able to deal with the strangeness that ministry often brings into play.
Peace.
I believe there must be some accountablity on the part of the Christian Chronicle, ACU, Harding, OCU, and others on what kind of churches that they let post on their sites. I have seen numerous churches that are looking for ministers every few months. Numerous churches that are crazy standards for ministers which leads to burnout. Churches that go through splits and look for ministers ever couple of months or years need to screened and checked for what is going at your church that we want to post your church again and sent our fresh grads out to your church. Warn fresh grads about churches like the post your talking about Mike. Warn ministry majors about words such as “change agents” “right kind” “right kind of faith” “right doctrine” “traditional” “etc.”
It is my prayer that in the future all churches will get rid of the labels and united as one. I believe with our generation it will happen. It is going to just take some time and patience.
“It’s Hard to be Humble”
Shouldn’t all preachers be change agents? If a sermon leaves everyone in the congregation unchanged, what was the point of preaching it?
I supposed Jesus could not apply due to being a known “change agent.”
Just as you are, but you must be like me
Believe in thy blood but not radically
And if your right then come to thee
O Man of men, please come, please come.
Just as you are, but you must be wise
To rid the church of change and compromise
To thee, whose hermeneutic is right in our eyes
O learned, non change agent, please come.
Just you are, come give it a try
Help us preach hell and tell sinners they’ll fry.
What? No Necessary Inference? You need not apply.
You misguided soul don’t come. Don’t come.
Just you are, poor, wretched, blind;
What are you crazy, are you out of your mind?
Your no G.C. or C.E., in fact you are dumb.
Keep preaching Christ, but don’t come.
Just you are, we wilt receive,
As long you line up with what we believe
and with Brewer, Turner, and McGaughey
Oh yeah, and John Henery … then come.
Just you are; send your applications
if you meet all the above conditions
and believe the inspired biblical traditions
Of men, of men, then come.
Amen Alex
Wow, what a cookie cutter job posting. Are they going to run a factory or pastor a flock? Oops…sorry about using the word pastor. I guess I’m out of the running.
Beautiful pics of baby Cope…Diane looks great too.
I believe Jesus was the first change agent that we should follow!
So, we all should be change agents!
Why don’t they hire the men they mention in the post if they like them so much?
They’re probably dead.
Nice ad. I think even if I agreed with all that, I would be afraid to apply for fear of being censored or canned.
Without one plea…but that thy blood was shed for me. I don’t think that fits “the old hermeneutic pattern”
“flee from evil”
I am so grateful to be worshipping at North Atlanta. I will be muttering that for the rest of the day.
The baby is just precious!
This ad really intrigues me. Is there a link to this ad on-line at Christian Chronicle? I am one of these who has to see it to believe it…call me “Thomas”.
That is just a strange assortment of preachers names to be dropping in an ad for employment.I have met McGaughey and Turner (who preached my grandmother’s funeral back in 1974), both who are now dead and know that Brewer died back in the 1950′s. I have met a lot of Christian preachers in my years and have read writings of many more, but have no recollection of a John Henry Clay…no disrespect intended to any of Clay’s admirers.
Who in their right minds would advertize for a preacher to emulate a few select preachers in the “brotherhood” from 50 years ago when there were other preachers of that time, equally “sound” with perhaps greater name recognition that were not mentioned? Who in their right minds would advertize for a preacher to emulate any man?It just doesn’t even sound logical to me. I’m not sure you could find preachers of today who even know who these men were! Do you think it was a joke or hoax to show how misguided some elderships can be?
If anyone has a link to this ad, I would love to read it firsthand. The more I have thought about this ad today, the more curious and scared I have become….Why would any preacher emulate anyone but Christ?
Thank goodness you had the great pictures of the beautiful Reese on the post to encourage me….because this ad has really freaked me out.
Yes, Jesus did pray for unity. However, he did NOT pray for unity without compromise.
I just love those pictures! What a sweet sweet baby!
When I read the ad in Christian Chronicle, my thought was although I thought the ad was poorly worded, the intent was they wanted a preacher whose foundation is Scripture, not one who takes his sermons from the writings of some popular author or the current “hot topic”. I took the names of the preachers mentioned to mean they were using those men as examples of the type preaching they wanted. If you ever heard any of them preach, you would know they quoted Scripture, not writings of men, not examples of what happened last week at Disneyworld or in the news. Let’s give the person who wrote this ad the benefit of the doubt and honor the convictions he was trying to convey.
Oh Beth how I wish you were right.
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34
Reese is a doll baby! Was she getting ready to go to a baseball game with those “shades” on? I know y’all must be having the best time with her. Keep those pics comin’—–
Are you referring to the ad on page 15 of the Chronicle? If so, my copy does not say the same thing that your’s does. It says, “We are looking for a man with an outgoing vibrant personality who wants to be right not radical, a man of wisdom and understanding who will endeavor to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, but still preach the whole counsel of God in love.” It starts out the same, but it has a completely different message than the one you quoted. It says nothing about change agents or hermeneutics. I have looked through the rest of my copy of the Christian Chronicle, but have not found anything else that is close to what you quoted in your post, Mike. Am I missing something or is it online instead of in the printed edition?
Interesting discussion. Thomas – a.k.a. bbeth – asked if there’s an online link to the ad. Generally speaking, you can find pdf versions of the most recent Chronicle by going to http://www.christianchronicle.org and clicking on PDF Back Issues on the left column. I just looked and the June issue is not available yet, but it should be soon. Just FYI. The ad in question is on Page 15, but I’d encourage you to take time to peruse all our ads.
It wasn’t more than three years ago that I was almost as paranoid and legalistic as that ad for a preacher. It began at Harding, worsened on the mission field and became a hard core of fundamentalism in New Mexico. Only after my ministry, faith and finances fell completely apart and I walked through the dark valley of agnosticism was I able to begin to see the blue sky of freedom in Christ again.
Now if only I can get back into missions and do some good this time….
One thing about the wording of the ad that grabbbed me is how dangerously similar it sounds to part of the Scripture Jesus quoted in Matthew 15:9–”Their teachings are but rules taught by men.”
I get it. Faith traditions are only valid if you wear robes or worship monkeys. Your road to progress depends on the trashing and destruction of “God inspired biblical traditions”, only to replace these traditions with your own uninspiring traditions. Not to mention the constant trashing of God fearing men not alive to defend themselves. Beth is right, even though you loathe the word. The ad is poorly worded. The intent is intentional, and apparently understood. If the ad is trashed on this site, mission accomplished.