In getting to know a church, especially as a minister or prospective minister, you need to realize that things are deeper than you may think they are. Much deeper.
If it is an old church (meaning that the founders have passed away), then there are far more issues than you can ever know. The unattractive decoration you want to remove was placed there by someone to honor their deceased parents, and they will be hurt by its removal. The songs you think are out of date mean a lot to some of the people. The ritual at Easter (sunrise services or "greening the cross") looks odd to you, but their grandfathers did that tradition and they care about it.
The people themselves are deeper than you think. The older man who seems so forgetful was once chairman of the local school board. The older woman who seems like such a grump was once a vibrant young wife raising her children in that church, using the same furniture she clings to now. The young couple you just met were once in a new age cult and led training for the cultists before Christ called them. The middle-aged man who seems so pleasant is actually in deep financial trouble and cannot sleep at nights because of his fear of bankruptcy.
Too often, pastors look at a church and just see "a bunch of people" and "a lot of traditions" and want to make a new start. But there are no new starts in Christianity. Even a new church brings its own problems, as people come from their own backgrounds with their own expectations. You cannot serve a people you do not know and you cannot lead a church you do not understand.
A good pastor is a man who can measure deep waters.
If it is an old church (meaning that the founders have passed away), then there are far more issues than you can ever know. The unattractive decoration you want to remove was placed there by someone to honor their deceased parents, and they will be hurt by its removal. The songs you think are out of date mean a lot to some of the people. The ritual at Easter (sunrise services or "greening the cross") looks odd to you, but their grandfathers did that tradition and they care about it.
The people themselves are deeper than you think. The older man who seems so forgetful was once chairman of the local school board. The older woman who seems like such a grump was once a vibrant young wife raising her children in that church, using the same furniture she clings to now. The young couple you just met were once in a new age cult and led training for the cultists before Christ called them. The middle-aged man who seems so pleasant is actually in deep financial trouble and cannot sleep at nights because of his fear of bankruptcy.
Too often, pastors look at a church and just see "a bunch of people" and "a lot of traditions" and want to make a new start. But there are no new starts in Christianity. Even a new church brings its own problems, as people come from their own backgrounds with their own expectations. You cannot serve a people you do not know and you cannot lead a church you do not understand.
A good pastor is a man who can measure deep waters.