So today I'm sitting in my office, waiting for the copier repair man to be done so I can finish the work I have for today, when I hear the following conversation
(*Some names have been changed):
George (man from our church): So, are you preaching this Sunday?
He was talking to our YP, because our senior pastors are on vacation.
YP: No, Pastor Leanne is preaching this week.
Yup...I'm preaching in grown-up church this Sunday!!
George: Well, good - I'm excited to hear that!
YP: Yeah (mumble, mumble), I'd like to preach again sometime, but I wasn't asked, but she's called, too, so we'll get behind her and support her...
EXCUSE ME?!?!?!?!?
The thing is, I knew he was going to say something like that...to someone. Because he said something similar the last time SP was out of town and someone else was asked to preach in the adult service.
I guess I didn't expect him to say it within my earshot. I mean...way to be condescending, buddy! So nice that he has graciously decided to validate my calling, and has decided that I am an "acceptable" alternative as far as preaching on Sunday morning. No one was disputing the fact that I am preaching on Sunday (in fact, I know of a few people who are actually changing their weekend plans so that they're back in time to hear me preach on Sunday - kind of flattering...scary, but flattering, lol!). But he has now started, ever so subtly, planting it in people's heads that "poor little YP" was once again passed over for preaching in SP's absence.
Whatever. I just need to shake it off, because YP is obviously being used as a tool of the devil to shake my confidence.
No one else feels that way - and it's just pure jealousy...plain and simple. SP said again this weekend that in the entire two years I've been here, he has not heard one complaint about my husband and me. I know the same can't be said of YP. I know that I need to just keep doing what I'm doing to the best of my ability, and that will be my best "revenge."
Seriously, though...I gave him a year, and he's lasted two...when is this guy going to RESIGN?!?!?!?!?!?
I am sure your pastor is just as fed up (probably more) with the YP, he just can't discuss it with you. Trust me on this.
Also, the YP if he was smart would realize that there is a reason he is not entrusted to speak in the adult service. The pastor doesn't trust him and he does trust you!
If staff members would only realize it isn't about people "getting a turn". It's about who the pastor can TRUST.
Years ago we had one staff member we could trust. The thing was, he had been here less time than the rest and in some people's eyes had less experience, but the point was, we could trust him with our lives. So he was put completely in charge of the run of things while we were gone including ALL speaking. Some staffers wondered why and even said as much and even had the GALL to come to us and say, "some people have asked why I am not in charge or speaking while you are gone especially since I have seniority here." (Excuse me? Seniority?) First of all, how did people in the church even know who we had put in charge? (We didn't tell anyone but staff! They carried that info out to the people!) And second, as the SP's it's our decision completely if we want to ask the same staffer to speak every single week and someone else to never speak. You can just trust anyone with your pulpit including staffers especially if you sense any disloyalty in them, I don't care if they can preach the wallpaper off the walls, if you can't trust them you can't trust them.
Puppetmaster I've said it before and I'll say it again. You are loyal through and through. Your co-pastors see that not only have they had NO COMPLAINTS about your ministry but they KNOW you are loyal. And I'd bet my bottom dollar they know they have a snake on their hands with that YP and they are just trying to minimize his influence until he decides to resign and hopefully peacefully leave there and let you all get on with ministry.
Just shake it off. The man's a snake and this will be revealed to all in due time. The more he says idiotic stuff like that the more his true colors are evident to all. It doesn't make you look bad, it just makes him look bad, quite honestly. When people start that "hurt pup" stuff, it doesn't endear them to the congregation, it makes them look weak.
You go, girl! Way to go! Years ago once upon a time our 1st YP and MP got into a competitive match at the lunch table...something to the effect of .... who's the greatest among us?!? Then they decided to pull me into it and one was on the side of dh , the other was beside me. The one beside me said, "Well, I am sitting beside the "power"."
I think it's wisdom for SP's to spread out the pulpit speaking especially when out of town! I commend you for being open and having a servant's heart. It's so hard to fill the pulpit with folks that you can truly trust. We give a script for annoucements when they mention we are out of town because we want it to reflect the co-pastoring vision that we SP's have and listening to past tapes, they did not always project our partnership for us. Continue on, my friend. Loyalty and faithfulness is wonderful! We had a YP that actually told us that he likes to have the limelight! People like that aren't safe! Thanks on behalf of all SP's for being a good staffer!
