Rev Bill

I’ve seen"memes" on other blogs — and this morning read a "Pastoral Meme" at Apostle John’s blog.    So — I decided to tackle it myself.  So — here’s the Rev Bill edition of the Pastoral Meme.

1. When were you ordained?
1984

2. What was the first official act you did as an ordained minister?
I conducted a funeral the day after my ordination.

3. What were your most embarrassing moments in ministry?
That’s a hard one — I have so many of them! The one that comes to mind, though, is the time I fell asleep in the pulpit while conducting a funeral.  Another minister was making comments, and I guess I got bored (and my sleep apnea — which was not under control at that time — got the best of me) –   and when I woke up the other minister was sitting down and everyone was looking at me.  I don’t think he had been sitting more than a few seconds — but it was embarrassing!

4. What have been your best moments in ministry?
The moments of Pastoral Care — being able to somehow show God’s love to people who are hurting or in need in other ways. These eclipse all the positions I have held in local, Presbytery, Synod, or Denominational committees.

5. What weddings are your most memorable?
I performed a wedding in an open field a few years ago.  There were a lot of guests siting in metal chairs — the bide, groom and I standing under a metal awning — of course there were microphones and other electronic equipment. 

I noted that a black cloud was approaching as the bride came down the "aisle".  I thought maybe it would hold off until the ceremony was over — but no such luck!  Mid way through the ceremony the lightning started flashing — the thunder booming — and the rain pouring.   After struggling through the vows and exchanging of rings I stepped away from the microphone — looked at the bride and groom — and said "Y’all we’ve done all we have to do — you’re not going to get those unity candles lit and the soloist can wait and sing later.  What you say I just declare you man and wife and we go to the house?" They agreed — and we dashed to the house and joined all the other guests who had already run to the house!

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to top that wedding story!

The weddings I have helped perform for 2 of my nieces and 1 of my nephews have also been humbling and special!   

6.What baptisms are your most memorable?
I baptized a baby and her 3 year old sister one Sunday.  I carried the baby and the older sister walked beside me as I  "introduced them to the congregation" — and the baby started crying.  The older sister tugged at my robe and said "I think she wants Mommy."  I laughed — as did everyone else — and we returned her to "Mommy".

I don’t have children — but I have baptized 3 great nieces and 1 great nephew.  That is always fun — and humbling! 

7. What do you hate about ministry?
I stole this answer from Apostle John – but it holds true for me also –

The feeling that I am wasting my time and that I have never accomplished anything worthwhile.

8. What do you love about ministry?
The feeling that I am doing something worthwhile and am reaching people with God’s love through the Church I serve and the Reidsville Outreach Center I am the Director of.

9. What do you wish your parishioners would do for you?
Again — I stole this from John – but I like his answer:

Pray for me.

10. If you were not a minister, what would you be?
I’m not sure if I could be anything else — except as John answered:

A retired minister.

11. If you were not a member of your current denomination, which would you be?
Episcopal — I love the Book of Common Prayer and the liturgy. I have considered changing denominations, but am too devoted to the Presbyterian Church (and after 21 years have too much pension built up )

12. Who have been your mentors?
My Dad.  Shirley Guthrie — a former Theology professor at Columbia Theological Seminary who died 2 years ago.  And — like John – I learned a lot from and shared a lot with Tom Long  — a Homiletics professor at Columbia while I was a student there from whom I learned a lot about preaching and with whom I shared a love for the Atlanta Braves!

13. Who are your top 5 favorite bloggers and why?

Let’s see if I can limit it to 5!

1. Rob – my nephew and "blog daddy" who got me started in this blogging thing.  He and I don’t see eye to eye on everything — and sometimes our different perspectives play themselves out in comments on each other’s blogs — but I respect his opinions and enjoy his blog!

2. Apostle John I don’t know him personally — but he and I attended the same Seminary, are both ordained Presbyterian ministers,  and seem to agree on a lot of things.  I’d like to meet him some time!  Some of my more infamous moments in blogging have come from ideas he suggested first — like praying for Osama!  Of course, he and I have shared other things also — like our common "friend" RG! 

3.  Monastic Mumblings – I discovered this one after a wonderful prayer was posted after Hurricane Katrina — and have enjoyed the insights and prayers ever since.

4.  Adrian Warnock – I discovered Adrian early on in my blogging — and have followed him ever since.  I deeply appreciate the work he put into creating The Blogdom of God – and enjoy his wit and wisdom.  I never expect to win a "Warnie"   but will keep up with his blog! 

5.  Scrappleface — Scott Ott does a wonderful job at lampooning current events.  I find his sense of humor irreverent at times — but very funny most of the time!

OK — that’s 5.  I’ll cheat a little and add 2 groups of bloggers I contribute to — the Christian Carnival  and the GOD or NOT Carnival –  both wonderful gatherings of bloggers –the Christian Carnival a weekly collection of posts from a Christian perceptive and GOD or NOT a 2 week collection of posts from atheist ant heist perspectives.

14. What was it like the first time you were with someone who died?
It was very humbling.  Scary — but humbling and indeed holy ground.

15. What was it like the first time someone made sexual advances to you — their pastor?
I’ve never had that happen — or didn’t realize it.  Guess I’m not the type women (or men) flock to for that sort of thing.

16. If you were not the pastor, would you be a member of your congregation?
If I lived in that area — which I wouldn’t if I were not the pastor!

17. What is the best thing about your church?
The friendliness and the openness to reaching out to others.

18. Do you think of leaving your church and/or ministry?
I can see myself moving to another Church — but not getting out of the  ministry.

So — there you have it! My answers to the Apostle John’s Pastoral Meme!

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