This just in from USA TODAY: “Americans’ View of Clergy Ethics Hit Three Decade Low”

"Trust me" he said.

Americans’ views of the “honesty and ethics” of clergy have hit a 32-year low, with just half rating their moral caliber as high or very high, according to Gallup’s annual Honesty and Ethics Ratings of Professions survey.

The reason for the decline from 56% last year to 50% in 2009 is “unclear,” according to a Gallup news release, which also noted that “now the clergy’s ratings are below where they were earlier this decade” at the height of the Catholic Church’s clergy abuse scandal. Read the whole article here.

Well, how should I, a member of the Clergy, take this news?

On one hand, “Oooh that hurts.”  But then on the other hand, “Who let the dogs out?”  Perception becomes reality.  If someone perceives something to be “true” even if it isn’t completely true, it still is true from their point of view.

As one speaking from the inside I can attest to the scruples or lack thereof of some members of the cloth.  But generalizations tend to lump all of us underneath a cloth that is hiding something.  Hiding things such as drug/alcohol abuse, pornographic addiction, sexual and financial misconduct and hiding from terrorists who dress in the role as deacons or elders.

Thank God I don’t wear a collar.  The abuse of priests has gotten the bulk of the bad press and deservedly so.  But us Protestant pastors have our bad apples too.  Unfortunately, I followed one such man into my present situation.  But that period has been healed over and we have moved on.  But let me be honest – the first few years here were “hell” for me as a pastor.

There is a real spiritual battle going on and many are wounded, and some leaders have fallen.  It can be a good thing when a “rookie pastor” realizes within five years after seminary that “the church thing” was not what he or she expected.  So they, being disillusioned, drop out.

It is too easy to sluff off this report of what people think of Clergy by saying, “Hey – we’re just human and make bad decisions.”  The dirty linen hanging on the line for all to see is not easily cleaned, pressed and put on for the pulpit.  So what has kept me from torpedoing my ministry?  Four things:

1. A good wife and a solid marriage.
2. Always meeting for prayer and support with other clergy.
3. A good sense of humor and lightheartedness.
4. Physical Exercise!

So, the next time I’m with you and we meet one of your friends and you say, “This is Rev. Dr. Pedersen” you may find their demeanor and the atmosphere in the room to change – especially if they believe the USA TODAY article.  So start out by introducing me like this: “I’d like you to meet Steve, a man with many good stories…”

People resist change for the following reasons:

• When the reason for the change is unclear. Ambiguity — whether it is about costs, equipment or jobs — can trigger negative reactions among users.

• When the proposed users have not been consulted about the change, and it is offered to them as an accomplished fact. People like to know what’s going on, especially if their jobs may be affected.

• When the change threatens to modify established patterns of working relationships between people.

• When communication about the change — timetables, personnel, monies, etc. — has not been sufficient.

• When the benefits and rewards for making the change are not seen as adequate for the trouble involved.

• When the change threatens jobs, power or status in an organization.

(—University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 4.uwm.edu/cuts/bench/change.htm.)

The Reformation came to Norway mainly as a result of the conversion of King Christian III of Denmark-Norway, following the example of many of the North German princes. In 1537 he established the Evangelical-Lutheran faith as the official religion of Norway and Denmark.

The ideas of the Renaissance and Reformation had at this time only reached a very small segment of Norwegian society. The Lutheran Reformation had been initiated some decades earlier by Martin Luther, the German reformer.
The King’s decision was based on political as well as personal grounds. A central political reason was his need to reinforce the already existing union between Denmark and Norway.

The Archbishop of Nidaros at the time, Olav Engelbrektsson, who had become a spokesman for national independence, fled the country in April 1537. His flight marked a turning point in Norwegian church history, and reinforced Norway’s political dependence on Denmark.

Of the three other Norwegian bishops at the time two were imprisoned, while one chose to become Lutheran superintendent (later, the office reverted to bishop). The majority of priests gradually conformed to the new situation, performing their pastoral duties according to the new ritual and doctrine.

Monasteries and convents were dissolved. Apart from cases of violence, when individuals refused to abandon their religious customs, the transition was peaceful.
A central part of the new confession was a simpler liturgy, more concentration on the preaching of the Christian message in the vernacular, in this case to a large degree Danish, and the singing of hymns. Religious symbols, ways of thinking and customs of Roman Catholic origin were forbidden.

By 1600 Lutheranism was formally established, and had taken over the church structure of the whole country. In the course of the 17th century the change was carried out at the popular level. However, in some areas people continued to express their belief in more or less Roman Catholic terms until the 19th century.

School suspends cub scout for camping utensil
A 6-year-old Delaware Cub Scout was suspended for carrying a camping utensil to school. First-grader Zachary Christie says he had planned to use the multi-tool—incorporating a knife, a spoon, and a fork—to eat his lunch. But under his school’s zero-tolerance policy, Christie was suspended and faced 45 days in a local reform school. “I think the rules are what is wrong,” said Christie, who was reinstated after a public outcry. “Not me.”

Sex offender arrested for attending church
A convicted sex offender from North Carolina has been arrested for attending church, because the church has a day-care center. State law bans sex offenders from coming within 300 feet of any child-care facility, but James Nichols, 31, says he was “floored” when police arrested him after he attended the church service. “Why am I being treated this way after trying to better myself?” asked Nichols.

What would you do if you were the Principal or the Pastor?

Tip O’Neill, the late speaker of the House of Representatives, once told a story about Henry Ford. Years ago, when Mr. Ford was in Ireland, three priests asked him to make a contribution to a hospital. He visited with them and told them he would give $15,000. The next day, it came up in the newspaper that Henry Ford was giving $50,000 to the project. The priests came back to Mr. Ford and apologized. They said, “We apologize. The article said you gave $50,000, but we are going to retract it tomorrow and say it is $15,000. We are sorry.”

Mr. Ford said, “No, no, I’ll give the other $35,000, making it $50,000. But I’ll do this provided you put an inscription over one of the doors of the hospital.” They said they would (and Tip O’Neill said it is actually there).

Henry Ford said, “The inscription must be this: ‘I was a stranger and you took me in.’”

This is curious news…

Bishops in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America requested more time to review ministry policy revisions that will formally open the ordination process to practicing homosexuals. The ministry policy revisions were voted on in August at the Churchwide Assembly. The ELCA’s chief legislative body approved a resolution allowing gays and lesbians in “life-long, monogamous, same gender relationships” to be ordained.

The assembly’s actions have prompted dozens of churches to reconsider their membership in the nation’s largest Lutheran denomination. Community Church of Joy, a megachurch in Glendale, Ariz., voted unanimously last month to cut ties with the ELCA, arguing that the denomination was heading in a direction that was not consistent to where God had called them.

Other conservative congregations are choosing to hold off on hasty actions, at least until next year.  More here.

In the city of Sheboygan there are three ELCA churches.  I wonder where they stand on the proposed changes for ordination? I had attended conferences three times at the ELCA mega church mentioned above.

And why are the Bishops slowing down the policy changes?  Perhaps, they may have heard from many upset congregations.  And congregations are slow in breaking away as well until they see if the bishops really implement the change. Zion waited 30 years before finally leaving after the denomination ordained people who questioned the Apostle Creed’s affirmation about Jesus, “he rose again from the dead.”

It is sad to see another historic denomination leave their biblical roots and let the world set their agenda.

Dr. Len Sweet observes:

“A. J. Jacobs is an American journalist and guinea pig who writes books based on plunge experiences. Once he joined Mensa and read all thirty-two volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica to see what it would be like to be “The Know-It-All: One Man’s Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World (2004). In another plunge experience he decided only to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about everything in life. That project had the title I Think You’re Fat (2007), which kind of says it all about how that project went. In another plunge experience, he decided to outsource everything in his life to India, including reading bed-time stories to his kids and arguing with his wife. That project bore the title My Outsourced Life (2005). To understand dating, he became a single woman (The Guinea Pig Diaries [2009]). He may be the funniest non-fiction author writing today.

But AJ Jacobs is now most famous for his The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible (2007), which “chronicles his experiment to live for one year according to all the moral codes expressed in the Bible, including stoning adulterers, blowing a shofar at the beginning of every month, and refraining from trimming the corners of his facial hair (which, he followed by not trimming his facial hair at all).” You will soon be seeing this at the movies, as Paramount has picked up the screenplay rights.

One of the witticisms of Jacobs in this book has never left me after I read it. He mentioned that part of his challenge in living as a Jew, not just following the 10 Commandments but keeping all 613 Commandments (248 Positive Commandments, 365 Negative Commandments) is that his relationship to the Jewish faith was “about the same as that of Olive Garden to an Italian restaurant.”

When I read that it stopped me flat: how many people are Christian in about the same way that Olive Garden is an Italian restaurant? How many churches are Christian in about the same way that Olive Garden is an Italian restaurant, or Taco Bell is a Mexican restaurant, or Colonel Sanders is a southern cooking restaurant?”

How would you describe a “Franchise Christian?”

I read this in a weekly magazine I get entitled, “The Week.”

The numbers are startling. Some 2.3 million Americans are in prison, while another 5.1 million are on probation or parole. Altogether, the 7.4 million people in the criminal-justice system outnumber the individual populations of 38 states.  Prior to the 1970s, the U.S. incarceration rate was similar to that of other nations. But the U.S. inmate population has nearly tripled in the past quarter-century, making the U.S. incarceration rate the highest in the world—almost five times the world average, surpassing even China and Russia. With only 5 percent of the world’s population, the U.S. has 25 percent of the world’s prisoners in its jails.

Do we have the most morally, socially sick people living in the USA?  More importantly, where is the church in transforming the towns, cities, and urban areas where Jesus calls us to be “Salt and Light?”

What if every church adopted an Ex-Con or two or three and helped them know God’s plan of redemption and personal/social change?  Maybe the recidivism rate would radically drop.  But would our “neighbors” living around the church protest – “Not in my backyard” mentality?

I read with interest on the outcome of a vote at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Florida this past Sunday.  They voted to keep or kick the pastor.

This is the church of the famed D. James Kennedy whose preaching mixed right-wing politics with Christian Faith.  This church was a very traditional Reformed member of the Presbyterian Church in America.  Kennedy served a gazillion years and then died shortly after his health made him give up the pulpit, radio, and TV broadcasts.

So the church prays, seeks God’s guidance and then calls the grandson of Billy Graham, Pastor Tullian Tchividjian,  to lead the church into the future.  A Young, talented, gifted communicator – but no James Kennedy.  Change comes with his new vision/mission for the church.  The traditions of James Kennedy are let slide.

So who leads the charge to get him dismissed from the pulpit?  Kennedy’s daughter and some stick-in-the-mud traditionalists.  Mind you, this young pastor is not being called to question for theological, moral, or ethical wrong doing.  He doesn’t weart a pulpit robe and prefers drums over a pipe organ – to reach the younger generation for Jesus!

So they held a congregational meeting yesterday and voted.  Church members cast ballots at a closed 11 a.m. meeting, and backed Tchividjian by a vote of 940-422, a margin of about 69 percent to 31 percent.  You can read more here.

From my own experience:  a relative of a former pastor who stays in the church has three options: 1) Support the new pastor and not criticize behind his back or publicly; 2) Accept that CHANGE is the nature of a healthy church and grow with it, or; 3) Leave and attend another church.

This divisive tactic of forcing people to take sides over a new pastor puts a bad mark on the church in the wider community.  I’m happy for the outcome of that church’s vote in support of the pastor.  May the losers move out and move over for the new thing God is doing at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church.

An elder in our church told me a great story last night.

He and his wife went to Michigan to meet their new granddaughter.  She was born in Ethiopia and adopted by their daughter and son-in-law, who were returning to America.  They went to the airport with balloons, and flowers and gifts to welcome them as they got off the plane.  This new little bundle of joy was a nine-month-old wide eyed beauty.  She was smothered with love and affection.

They attended church and as they were leaving Sunday service  there on the big screen a Bible verse flashed on: Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household…(Ephesians 2:19)

Isn’t that the truth for this little one brought into a loving Christian household?  Love is the best passport.

Pastor friends of mine, Jim and Cathy, did the same thing in bringing home to Madison a new daughter from China last year.  My sister did the same act of adopting love for my niece right here in America.  Thank God their mothers chose LIFE and not abortion.

And isn’t so true for many who at one point did not have any connection to Jesus Christ?  The Church is God’s alternative family for those lost, abandoned, and alone in this world.  Jesus, at a great price,  went the distance and made the trip from Heaven to earth to rescue us and welcome us into his family where we belong forever.

That’s good news!