Preacher Lady

By Suzanne Mundell Waring

Stepping out on her own at mid-life, Connie remakes herslf with a new career. Along wih her faithful dog, Sam, she moves to her first solo assignment as a pastor. This account takes Connie through that first year at Old West where she beats down the antagonism of being a women in what was considered a man's job while keeping the best of the old but yet revitalizing a traditional church. Because of inexperience, Connie is often fraught with indecision as she attempts to help those in her congregation with age-old problems, such as loneliness, grief, inability to forgive, poor health, dealing with difficult people, and abuse. Sam goes to work with Connie each day and is sometimes immense help but then there are days that he gets into mischief and acts like what is expected from a dog.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Aug 22, 2015
• ISBN: 9781329497504

Book preview

Preacher Lady

Preacher Lady By Suzanne Mundell Waring

Copyright © 2015                                          by Suzanne Mundell Waring

All Rights Reserved.  This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for a brief quotation in a book review or scholarly journal

First printing 2015

ISBN 978-1-329-02256-0

Successful Communications

313 – 25th Avenue South

Great Falls, MT 59405

http://www.suzannewaring.com

Foreword

Dear Reader,

Twelve years ago, I entered my church from a side door during the week.  The church was quiet as I expected it to be, but what I didn't expect was a rather shaggy dog wandering down the hall.  I didn't know if he had accidently gotten in and should be let out or whether he belonged to someone in the office.   It turned out he was my pastor's dog that I didn't know SHE had. 

That little experience settled into the back of my mind until I decided to write a Christmas story in which Connie, the dog—Sam, Wendy, Charles, and Mrs. Wilson, characters in Preacher Lady, became real to me.  The Christmas Mystery was published the following winter in Mature Years, a publication of the United Methodist Church.

After that success, I tried writing another short story about Connie and her dog, Sam.  That story set me on the track of writing a book about Connie.  After proofreading, my husband would comment on how real Connie and her colleagues seemed to him.  As I wrote articles for various magazines and newspapers, I would often find that I had a few spare days, and I would set about writing another chapter or two about Connie.  Something going on in my own church or an experience I had had when I was an administrator in a small college would give me a bud of an idea for a chapter.   None of the characters in Preacher Lady are based on real people.  They are figments of my imagination.  However, the day I met the shaggy dog, our church was experiencing its first lady pastor.  Rev. Kathy Young is not Connie, but her presence in our congregation gave me a situation for writing this book.

The organization of Connie's denomination, such as how pastors are called from one church to another, may be different from the organization of yours.  I hope the administrative structure in Connie's church doesn't prevent you from looking at problems facing churches across the country today.

To bring those problems to the forefront, I included chapter questions for book clubs or other groups.  Church groups will have the opportunity to explore these problems as well as their relationships with their communities and with one another as a congregation.

A special thank you goes to Eleanor Scurlock who posed as Connie for the cover and for Theresa Busch who brought Sadie to the photo session to represent Sam.

I hope you take pleasure in reading about Connie's first year at Old West.  Between the covers of this book, she was just getting started in the adventures she would have during her career.

I would enjoy hearing from discussion groups, so email me at [e-mail] and thank you for purchasing Preacher Lady. 

-Suzanne Mundell Waring   

Other books by Suzanne Mundell Waring

Non-fiction

Puzzling Out Your Retirement:  Solutions for An Abundant Life

Creative Non-Fiction

Searching out a Special Place

Dedicated to

Those

Who Seek to Help

Others Live Better Lives

Chapter I: Stumbling on the Right Foot

Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do.  Whatever else you get, get insight.

-Proverbs 4:07

As Connie pulled into a parking spot alongside Old West Church and scanned the area, she was thinking that, at age forty-six, taking on the pastorate of this church solo was her way of starting over—well almost.

Having come from an associate position with a modern-looking church building, all of the latest technological amenities, and a young congregation, Connie saw the contrast this site projected.  The well-kept, dark-red brick building looked as if it had been built around the turn of the 20th Century and gave the appearance of maturity.  The grounds stretched out into a manicured lawn with trees strategically placed creating a park-like atmosphere.  Connie noticed the stained-glass windows where she presumed the sanctuary was located. Another section of the building looked like the education and social hall wing.

Well, Sam, the Bishop said this would be different, and I said I wanted variety in my life.  She looked up and down the street. There aren't any homes but, instead, what looks like townhouses and public housing.  Yes, this is likely to be a new experience for me.

A dog of mainly golden retriever and yellow lab mix that had been lying in the passenger seat sat up when Connie spoke.  He too looked around. His ears perked up when he saw a squirrel running up a nearby tree trunk.

Let's get you out, so you can run around a tree or two.  I'll move the car over under that shade tree. It'll be cool enough you can stay in the car while I'm being interviewed.

Connie soon put Sam back in the car and opened the windows just enough for ventilation.  She straightened her suit, flicked a dog hair off her skirt, picked up her bag, and found a door that was unlocked.

Seeing a young woman in the hall, Connie said, I'm Connie Beal, and I'm here for an interview.  Can you direct me?

The young woman, who—Connie was later to discover—always wore her thoughts on her face, stopped and stared at Connie, We thought you were a Conrad.  You're supposed to be a man.

Oh, dear, said Connie, Didn't the Bishop tell you?

He didn't tell me anything.  I'm just the secretary, but I don't think he shared that bit of information with any of the committee. Boy, I can't wait to introduce you. Come this way. By the way, my name is Wendy Ryegate.

With Connie behind her, Wendy opened a door at the end of the hall and stepped in, Your applicant is here.  May I introduce Connie Beal. With that, Wendy turned and left the room, closing the door behind her.

Connie had followed Wendy into a large room that held a conference table at one end and a parlor-like setting at the other end.   Her entrance was just in time to get a good look at all of the flabbergasted faces. She knew that she had to turn this bad situation around right away.

Grabbing the moment, Connie stepped forward to the first man who had falteringly risen from his seat.  I'm so glad to be here, and your name is?  Connie took time to talk with each person as she took control by circling the room before sitting down.

When the interview got around to her own situation, Connie said, Wendy told me that you thought I was a Conrad instead of a Constance.  If the Bishop didn't tell you that your applicant was a woman, I'm guessing he didn't tell you about my background.

I think he wanted to surprise us, sarcastically responded Peter Miner, an older-looking member of the committee.

Well, I got a late start in my career, as I was a mother a long time before I thought about becoming a pastor.  I finished seminary fairly recently and served a very small church of about thirty members while I was still in seminary, and then I've served as an associate pastor to two large churches since then.  I have never lived in this part of the state.  I'm divorced with two college-aged children who are mostly away doing their own thing.  Other than Sam and an occasional visit from my children, I'm on my own.

Until Connie mentioned Sam, most of the committee members' faces were complacent.  When she mentioned him, she saw several eyebrows flinch.

You know, I think I should introduce you to Sam because he's my buddy.  He goes with me to nursing homes and to visit shut-ins.  Since he comes to work with me, he is part of the package.  People love him.  I'll go out to the car to get him.

As Connie got up to leave the room, no one said a word.  Stupefied, they sat there with dullness on their faces.

A few minutes later, Connie returned to the room, This is Sam, and she turned around and said, Come on in, Sam.

With that, Sam came through the door with all of his beautiful golden coat, majestic appearance, and intelligent eyes.  Connie could tell that the group didn't know whether to be glad Sam wasn't a live-in boyfriend or to be angry that she toted around a large, shaggy dog.

A woman that Connie remembered as Mrs. Wilson got up from her chair and came around the table where the committee was sitting.  Oh isn't he beautiful. How old is he?

He's four years old and just getting over being a puppy.  He can be a bit frisky and get himself into trouble occasionally--though he's very friendly.  That's why I can take him places with me.

Connie commanded Sam to lie down next to her chair and the interview went forward.  The committee asked her about her theology, her view of what her job would be, and her purpose for being in the ministry.  As they talked, Connie noticed they were nodding their heads in agreement with her.  Just when she thought the interview was going well, several of the women's faces showed agitation.  At first, Connie couldn't figure out what the problem might be.

She looked down, and Sam was gone.  She had been so intent on the discussion that she hadn't been aware of his getting up.  She stopped talking and looked around.  Behind her Sam had gotten up on a white-brocaded upholstered sofa and was lying all stretched out on it.  Connie was taken aback.  Oh no, these women probably paid to have that sofa upholstered, and they think Sam is shedding on it.

Jumping up, Connie scolded Sam and told him to lie next to her, and the conversation went on.  Mr. Miner questioned her, Our pastors in the past have gotten up on the second-story roof to assist Charles in cleaning the gutters.  Are you prepared to continue with that responsibility?

Oh, Pete, one of the women said, don't be silly.  I think our former pastors enjoyed getting out and doing something different, but nowhere in the job description does it say that the pastor has to clean the gutters.

Well, we're used to this being done by our pastor.  Maybe, it should be in the job description.  Here's another one, are you prepared to put the men's golf tournament together, including choosing the men for each team and creating the data base?

Not in the job description either, said Mrs. Wilson, I just put your name down to put together the men's golf tournament.

I've a question for you, said a man who had told her that he was a retired lawyer, Since you're a divorcee and possibly believe that you did the right thing about getting a divorce, how are you going to counsel people who come to you and say that they're thinking about splitting from their spouse?

I think that's a very good question, said Connie.  "Especially when children are involved, I would encourage finding a way for reconciliation.  When there's any type of abuse, I would first see if the spouse will get anger management counseling, and if he or SHE—a woman can be abusive too—changes through counseling, then that might work for a couple.

Then there are times that you recommend divorce.

Never would I recommend that a person stay in an abusive relationship.

I would like to ask a question in another vein, said a woman who had been observant but overly quiet.  We're losing members through death, and young people aren't coming into the church to take their place. What do you suggest?

You, as the congregation, would have to make that a priority in your goals for several years.  It may take having the type of ministry that is foreign to you.  You might even find it offensive.  I come from a church that has many young people, and they have been interested in a different approach to worship.  They're not fond of ceremony.  They like music that we hear on the religious stations.  They prefer guitars over organs. They believe in prayer but they often call it meditation, and they are not long on the Bible, especially the Old Testament.  But that doesn't mean they don't want to hear about making God a priority in their lives.  They simply go about believing in a different way.

I don't know if I can stomach that, the woman said.

What many churches do is have several services—for the contemporary and for the traditional.

But they would still be different from us, and how would we work with them? asked another woman.

There are many approaches to growing your congregation.  For example, you could make it a community center and have educational-type classes and events going on every night.  That draws people into the church.  You'll have to decide what you want.  I'm just sharing what the two churches I have served are doing.

To get the interview back on track in a less controversial way, Connie changed the subject.  May I share one of the ministries I especially enjoy doing?  When a majority shook their heads, she went on. At two of my churches, some of the men met for coffee and devotions one morning a week at the church.  I attended those meetings and helped them find materials that fit the informal type of meeting they held.  I found it was a great way to really get to know some of the men in the congregation.  We must get men active in our churches as they once were.

After the group shared with Connie the ministry they had had for the men of the church, Chair Mary Jane Parsley said, I think we have had time to get to know each other.  I wonder if you would step out, Connie, and we'll discuss whether we have any more questions and what we might like to say to the Bishop.  Please stay around should we have more questions.

When Connie started to get up, she realized that Sam was gone again.  He must have left the room when a committee member took a break.  She told the committee that she would tour the church and find Sam while they were talking.

Minutes later, she stepped into the sanctuary and there he was.  He had already made himself at home.  He was lying on the chancel next to the pulpit. Through the stained-glass windows, the streaming sun fell onto the spot where Sam was lying.  His golden hair had a red cast in the sunrays.  Connie sat down beside him, Well, Sam, you simply had to be normal today, didn't you.  You couldn't be on your best behavior.  No matter. As I said, we come as a package.

Connie stroked Sam's ears, shoulders, and back as she looked across the sanctuary.  She imagined herself leading Sunday worship, sitting down on the steps during the children's sermon with little brown, tan, and white children in their Sunday slippers as well as worn sneakers.   She could see their faces, so alive and inquisitive.  She looked to the back of the church to the nave where she would greet worshippers and find out who would need a personal call the next week.    She could smell the scent of burning candles that lingered in every church sanctuary and gazed at the joyous banners in bold colors on the far wall.  She took in the stained glass windows, which were too luxurious for a new church but were found in older churches, like this one.  She reached over and touched the solid wood baptismal and imagined herself cuddling a baby smelling of baby powder with its droll  little drawn-up mouth and fat little cheeks.  She would tell the Bishop that life would be good for her in this church.  She visualized herself doing what needed to be done and serving as the congregation's spiritual leader.

Reversing her thought processes, it then occurred to her that perhaps this committee might not want her. What would she do if she didn't get the Old West job?  Would the Bishop work toward finding another appointment for her?  Or would he think that a woman divorcee was too much baggage and a lost cause for placement with a congregation? Maybe she could move out West, but she didn't want to move too far away from her children.  She realized that it was time to think beyond this interview because this position might not work out.

While Connie was sitting there thinking, an older woman quietly entered the sanctuary, sat down on the steps next to Sam, and started to stroke his coat.

We're going to be really good friends, aren't we?  Mrs. Wilson said to the dog.

He sat up and looked Mrs. Wilson in the eyes.  Connie could tell that he already thought of her as a friend.

Mrs. Wilson looked over at Connie, I hope you like us enough to take this position.  Your enthusiasm is just the shot in the arm this congregation needs.  I'm really excited about your ideas.

"Do you mean, you're going to tell the Bishop that you want