Okay, so part of the issue is that I have a horrible sore throat that feels like it's morphing into a cold or sinus infection...this is after dealing with both the stomach flu AND head flu since January (part of getting used to a new group of kids and all their germs - DH said last night, "Well, I'm hardly surprised when you've got 70 kids each Sunday giving you hugs with their grubby little germy fingers!" Guess I should be happy the kids love me, lol!).
But because my immune system is down, and when that happens, my emotions are magnified - I am having a really hard time with the conservative culture of my new community.
I came from Minnesota - one of the most liberal states in the union. I lived in Minneapolis, one of the most liberal cities in the U.S. To give you an idea, the Episcopalians used OUR city to elect the first gay bishop, lol!
I now work in Zion, IL - which was started as a "Christian utopia." There are 60+ churches in this city - most of which are evangelical (the Minnesotan in me is saying, "Hey - where are all the Lutherans?" LOL!!!), and I am constantly feeling like this weird, wacked-out liberal here!
So back in the Twin Cities, I felt like I was pretty conservative. I didn't drink...smoke...take drugs...I was an anomaly among friends (even some of my Christian friends!) because I was a virgin on my wedding night. I felt like ministry was all about introducing people to Jesus...showing God's love to people...and when I worked with kids whose parents can't even be bothered to come out of their drug-induced stupor to see their kid in the Christmas program (true story!), things like Harry Potter and Sponge Bob seem like pretty small issues. Issues like whether or not it was okay for two people of the opposite sex to work together teaching a Rainbows class didn't even come up.
I am finding myself dealing with what I have always considered pretty insignificant issues. And I am finding that, compared to the culture in which I live, a lot of my views are kind of "out of step." For instance (and I don't mean to offend anyone on this board!), I have a really hard time with the idea of homeschooling. We have tons of homeschooling families in our church. On an overnight trip we just took last weekend, I mentioned in a conversation what I thought was a safe, family-friendly t.v. show that was one of my favorites, and one of our moms went on and on about how horrible she thought it was. Yikes!
I love being here...I love what I do (although I really wish I could be in bed right now instead of in the office - but there's too much to do, lol!)...but I just wish I could be briefed by someone on "safe" topics, to avoid constantly putting my foot in my mouth!
I feel you girl! We have moved to Chicago from Alabama. Now, I thought I'd have "liberal" issues moving from the south to the mid-west- but uh-uh- I am having to learn a whole new set of rules! Don't get me wrong, I do like it here. But, I was so shocked to find out that the pants suits and dress slacks that I wore in Alabama, Florida and Tennesse- not to mention almost every other church I've visited and/or preached in were not acceptable. I have to wear a dress or skirt on Sundays. I haven't- nor will I make a big deal out of this though because it really is just a preference of the leadership and well, I understand submission and authority- plus it certainly won't kill me. It's just something to get used to.
There are other things too that are just SO different- not bad- but like Leanna said, not what I'm used to. I, too would LOVE to have had a "briefing"- because I know I've hit some taboo topics! Although, "humility" is becoming more and more evident in my life- that has to count for something!
You know, every place has it's own set of unwritten rules. I'm writing my own rules here, have been since the day I moved in.
I believe it is particularly difficult for you Puppetmaster because you are dealing with PARENTS and perhaps nothing is more frustrating. You can't just say, "this is me...deal with it" because then they will pull their kids from your children's church and programs. Or make your life horrible by insisting they "chaperone" everything you do. Or...keept he kids in the sanctuary so they never come in to your place in the first place.
Pastor Tara, I'm surprised Chicago is so conservative. In my Dad's church in Alabama I wouldn't be caught dead in a pair of slacks in church but here in Tampa I wear them all the time. I rarely wore pants at our church in MD. Not because of anybody there with anything they said or did but at that time I had just not become comfortable with it myself due to the way I was raised. (legalistic) Between my 20's to mid thirties, I had all that junk broken off of me.
I know it's hard to navigate these waters. You'll be in my prayers...
Yeah, I thought the same thing. However, it was confusing because the women do wear pants- BUT it is the leadership who is expected to wear dresses or skirts. I mean there are folks wearing jeans and stuff and it is fine, not big deal.
I don't think it is so much a "conservative" thing as it is a "culture" thing if you know what I mean. Because there are some things that sway more liberal. That's why I need an infomercial! I'm just a-trying to find the stepping stones so I don't fall in! LOL
Tara, I hear ya! Most of the leadership either wears a tie (guys!) or a dress (ladies!) to church on Sundays in my church, too. DH and I begged off that unwritten rule because we work with kids...SP and PW agree that when bending down to talk to or pray for people half my size, or when jumping around doing action songs, it's more modest to wear pants! And DH is in charge of our games (most of the time very MESSY games, lol!), and he has to wear a tie to work every day, so we can hardly afford for him to ruin a different tie every Sunday morning...
But we've always been part of much more casual, "come as you are" kinds of churches...where it just plain wouldn't fit into the culture of the church or the demographic they're reaching to come super dressed up...
Where exactly in Chicago are you? DH and I haven't gotten into the city at all yet, and it would be great to take the Metra in and meet up with an "insider" sometime!!!
I live "In" Chicago, about 10 minutes outside of downtown where all the "action" is. To be honest, I haven't explored a whole lot, although we've found some fantastic restaurants! You guys ought to come on over and we'll make a day of it now that it is "supposedly" getting warmer!
That would be fantastic...we really haven't gotten to know many people (especially people close to our age!) since moving here...
Sorry I didn't reply sooner - my "cold" turned out to be an upper respiratory infection, and I've been at home taking powerful antibiotics trying to get better!
PM me or MySpace me, and we will try to set something up...
