Other "Thinking Drafts" and writing by Keith Drury -- http://www.indwes.edu/tuesday .

Ministerial Careerism

Can you have a 'Career' in the ministry? Sure, you can have one, but should you have one? Is careerism good for the ministry, or not? Good or bad, it's common among evangelical ministers.

A term like 'career' denotes things. For instance, the more we use 'career' the more we'll expect to move forward, be obligated to accept good opportunities. A 'career' by nature expects progress. Careers require us to make careful vocational moves so that our lives unfold with an increasing cadence up the clerical ladder. A good career requires us to keep our eye on resume' development -- representing broad experience, training, and leadership skills. In fact, a young minister may take some assignments just because 'that will look good on my resume.' And, of course, a career requires connections -- networking with important people who might help us make our next move up. And, many of us know the career implications of being missing at strategic denominational meetings where some take attendance and our absence could 'ruin our career'. And, of course, a career requires 'career advice' from the wise. Jesus got just such advice from his brothers, who advised Him on how to increase his visibility and boost His credibility. We get such advice too, and probably have given it too.

But, perhaps the most significant alteration of thinking is that 'career' implies movement -- principally upward movement. Careers create the impression that if I am faithful in this little thing, someone will make me a ruler over a bigger and better thing. For a minister that 'better thing' usually means an elective position, a larger church, better salary, and more prestige.

But the trouble with adopting career-ism is the loss of the older term we traded in -- calling. Being 'called' emphasized God's personal command to us and our obedience, not our own strategic plan for occupational success. 'Calling' reminded us that God doesn't always call us 'up' the ladder, but frequently (perhaps often?) calls His servants down the ladder.

I don't think the church can swap 'career' for 'calling' without losing something important... words like these are not interchangeable 'find and replace' synonyms. The loss of a word brings consequences -- some bad and perhaps some good. Sure, I am happy to bid some words good-bye. Not this one. We've lost something. That's what I think.

So what do you think?

To contribute to the thinking on this issue e-mail your response to Tuesday@indwes.edu