First read the dilemma posted at Institute for Global Ethics.
Then I hope you'll come back here and explain what you would do, and why.
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5 comments:
Parent,
May we never forget we are called to shepherd our family before we shepherd our flock. IN all those meetings and "business" there needs to be time developing other men around the church to help out in short-term notices.
Luke is first called to be a husband, then a father, his ministry is his "third" calling.
Growing up as a PK I always knew I was loved, but rarely felt that I was a priority. Every kid needs to be feel special, and that their needs come first (at least some of the time).
Now, as a minister, I find myself struggling with the same issues, but with the roles reversed. May God help me keep the proper balance between ministerial responsibility and providing devoted and focused fatherly attention to my own children.
Appreciate the input, Kevin and Anonymous.
For what it's worth, here's my take: In the scenario that's given there, I'd counsel the pastor to spend the day with his son.
But the story also reminded me that pastors/elders need to watch their ministry and home so that this kind of dilemmma doesn't become a "make or break" deal in either relationship. I hope I have enough credibility (if you will) built up with both my church and my kids that I could "break a date" or miss a hospital visit and they would still know that I cared for them.
This one's not that hard. If the guy weren't dying it would be easy the other way. But if the man is dying, you go and spend time with him, but then you skip some of the other "meetings" to spend time with your son. And then you do that regularly. In this scenario, the minister's problem isn't that with a parishoner dying he isn't able to spend time with his son; it's that he's neglected his son to the point that he's in this dilemma.
Milton, you're right. It's the neglect that creates the dilemma. Unfortunately we sometimes have to get to a crisis point before we are pressured to make the needed changes. Thanks for the insight.
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