Although the relationship between neighboring churches becomes more complicated than it used to be because of increasing differences of faith and practice between them, Rev. Watson Groen’s sharp observations about the situation in our churches’ center forty-seven years ago may interest our readers and many of his suggestions for correction are still valid.

The city of Petty Falls sits astride the Petty River at a point nearly forty miles from the outlet of that river into the Inland Sea. The founders of the city were evidently not given to exaggeration, or they would have called their river the Great River and their city Great Falls. Instead, they were very humble and named their river the Petty River and their city Petty Falls. Nevertheless, the river carries a splendid burden of water throughout the year and the city has grown to be so large and prosperous that its newspapers can speak of a metropolitan area.

I visited this city last June, of all months the most delightful to spend there. The luxuriant foliage and flowers, the blue skies, and the pleasant sunshine atone during June for other less pleasant features, namely, that the buildings are begrimed by the smoke of many winters, that the streets are narrow, and that traffic regulations are evidently devised by some fussy old lady.

Petty Falls is a city of churches. My own denomination is represented there; more strongly, in fact, than any other Protestant denomination. On Sundays I was glad to worship with my own people, to behold their fine churches and equipment, to be seated among the attentive worshipers who thronged the churches, and to hear ministers who according to their own talent and personality rightly divided the Word of God. From all appearances I had reason to suppose that no happier or more contented groups of Christians could be found than these same churches.

What Do You Think of Our

Minister? However, invariably after I had attended the services, one of the members would ask me: “What do you think of our minister?”

It did not take me long to realize that folks in Petty Falls think and speak of their ministers very freely, but rarely charitably. I noticed that the ministers were classified into three groups: those that draw the crowds, those that hold their own, and those that are no good. Therefore, when anyone would ask me: “What do you think of our minister?” I could tell by the expression on the face of the inquirer and by the tone of voice in which the question was uttered, what he himself thought of his minister. I discovered that very few ministers are drawing the crowds, that most of the ministers in Petty Falls arc merely holding their own, and that a rather sizable minority are “no good.” Never had I seen a more woebegone expression than that on the face of the person whose minister happened to be “no good.” Shame, disgust, and anger were evidently vying with each other for control over the soul.

Undoubtedly my reader will at this point ask me: “But did you not a moment ago write that the churches were filled by attentive audiences? How, then, can there be ministers who are not drawing the crowds?”

Be patient, gentle readcr. The criterion by which ministers are judged is their success at drawing crowds to their evening services. Nearly all the churches of my denomination in Petty Falls have at the morning worship congregations that tax the seating capacities of the buildings; but only a sman number have capacity crowds in the evening. The less popular ministers are deserted by their own people who help fill the churches of those who are drawing the crowds.

No wonder that I earnestly sought to discover what made one minister to be an attraction, while his colleague in a neighboring church was abandoned even by his own people. Therefore when some one inquired: “What do you think of our minister?” I usually responded with this other question: “What do you think of him?”

The Anvil Chorus

The answers that I received were very frankly given. I stood amazed at the free and easy way in which the people of Petty Falls spoke of their ministers. As 1 pondered over the answers, I noted a very peculiar fact. The people whose ministers were drawing the crowds were very loud in proclaiming the praises of their ministers, but were unable to tell me definitely why they should be popular. On the other hand. the folk whose ministers belonged to the two other classes, were able very definitely to place their fingers on the faults of their ministers. How strange! When a minister is riding the wave of popularity, people do not take time to appreciate his talent; but when the wave recedes people can at once point out the reason for disfavor.

Let me tell you the faults that people in Petty Falls found with their own ministers. Here they are:

Our minister has very evidently never experienced the things whereof he is preaching. Our minister is unable to put his theology into the language that the twentieth century can understand.

Our minister cannot get along with the young people.

Our minister has been with us too long. We are tired of seeing the same old face and figure on the pulpit each Sunday. We want a young man.

Our minister is great for going fishing and for telling a story; but on the pulpit he dispenses milk and water. We must go elsewhere for a square meal. Too bad. for he is a nice fellow.

Our minister cannot take advice. Poor man! If he’d but listen to what people are telling him, he’d succeed.

Our minister is as awkward as an ox. His appearance and posture on the pulpit are terribly offensive.

Our minister is a bookworm. His sermons are too deep and too obscure. We never know what he is talking about.

Our minister lacks ability to lead.

Our minister is not nearly as good as our old one.

If our minister would get out more and mix with the people everything would be fine.

Such things our folks in Petty Falls were saying last June of their ministers. Undoubtedly you, my reader, are saying: “What a poor set of preachers must be holding forth there!” Again I say: “Be patient.” I know these ministers to be as fine as any. Not one of them claims perfection, and very likely some of the criticisms mentioned above are to the point. I firmly believe that several of the ministers are conscious of their faults and are doing their best to overcome them.

However, some of the above criticisms are positively malicious and could have been uttered only by those whose spiritual vision is biased.

Why Do People Criticize Ministers Harshly?

What lies at the root of this uncharitable criticism? My impression last June was that the churches of my fellowship were running a most unholy competition with each other; and that ministers and church members were adapting themselves to this fact. One of the preachers told me that on Sunday evenings he was preaching a type of sermons that he himself did not desire, simply because hc had to meet competition. Years ago, when I happened to be in Petty Falls, an older generation of preachers used to speak of competition between churches as a wicked thing. a menace to be fought against. Today, that which was once considered a menace has been accepted as the normal condition of the church. The larger purposes of the church have been forgotten; and the poor minister instead of working to save souls, is working hard to save his hide. To put it less crudely. he is putting forth every effort to bid for the favor of the people against another minister who is putting forth a similar effort in a church of the same denomination only a few city blocks away. This competition has been so completely accepted as the normal state that when lately churches in Petty Falls have called ministers, they sought to fortify their call–letters by the postscript: “Competition is keen.” This condition of rivalry is, in my opinion, the root of all the severe criticisms to which the ministers in Petty Falls are subjected.

Ministers in Unenviable Positions

No wonder that churches in that city at times experience difficulty in obtaining ministers. What preacher will care to serve where his energies will be consumed chiefly by competitive efforts? Even the very best minister has too little mental or physical strength to waste the same in unholy rivalry. Moreover, he needs the good wiII of the members of his church in order to do his best work. How can he expect this good will in a church obsessed with the competitive idea and consisting of members who have so little loyalty that they will desert their minister to follow the popular idol? Again, the minister knows that if on Sunday evenings the pews are not occupied, the fault will be placed at his door. As a result, he loses his poise and optimism. He becomes sullen and vindictive toward his congregation. His sermons become harsh, and on the pulpit he assumes the bearing of one who champions a lost cause. Certainly the buoyancy. hopeful ness, cheerfulness, and kindliness that should characterize Christian preaching, cannot exist with anyone who knows that he is losing out.

On the other hand, there can be nothing desirable about the life of one who draws the crowds. In fact. I consider him to be an exceptionally pitiable object. Very often those riding the high tide of popularity are in that position through no effort of their own. Possessing no outstanding talent, they at the beginning of their pastorates by their newness or differentness happen to catch the popular fancy.

This popularity is exceedingly sweet; and a man must possess more than ordinary self-control to conquer the craving for more popularity. Against his own better judgment he will put forth every effort to retain the favor of the people. Usually, however, by the end of the second year the popular minister has exhausted his resources, and the people have relegated him to the realm of flat tires. Members of his church criticize him severely, and his ministry becomes an agony. Occasionally popularity remains longer than two years. There are the very exceptional cases of men who possess such brilliancy that they remain popular perennially, though they never seek popular favor. Others possess greater resourcefulness than conscience.

Theatrical pulpit habits and weird mannerisms are affected. Lurid advertisement in newspapers is purchased. Some ministers go to the extent of creating discord on some point of doctrine and of disrupting denominational peace. Others have drawn the spotlight to themselves by some spectacular incident such as being kidnapped or being put in jail. I know that Petty Falls has become very unpleasantly familiar with these tactics in one form or another. However, the tactics employed by ministers to manufacture popularity sooner or later become the weapons whereby they destroy their own usefulness as ministers of Jesus Christ. Therefore, I repeat that I pity the popular minister more than the one who has never tasted the stultifying sweetness of popular favor.

Thus most disagreeable situations are created by submission to church rivalry. Due to competition false standards are raised for excellency in the ministry. No minister can be more certain of bitter grief than he who finds himself judged according to these standards. Therefore the lot for a minister in Petty Falls is far from enviable.

The Remedy What remedy should I suggest? Nothing less than the complete extermination of the competitive idea out of the life of the church. There is no more need of competition between the churches of Petty Falls than there is of competition between the Christian schools of that city. Each church and each minister ought to fulfill certain definite needs which not another church or minister in the city can fulfill. Unless they are absolutely positive that they are supplying a definite need in that city, they have no business there. One of the chief reasons for keen competition between churches is the fact that certain communities are over-churched. Another cause is that poor judgment has been exercised in fixing the location of churches. As a result two or more churches are trying to do what one church could accomplish by itself. I firmly believe that one large congregation will be productive of more spiritual good than two or more little churches that fritter away their energies in loveless rivalry. I am bitterly opposed to allowing ministers to risk their reputations and their peace of heart and mind in that silly game! In localities where the success of one church means the decline of the other, there is one church too many. The two should unite and form a single strong church. Especially is this the case in localities where years ago, due to the language problem, a group of the more Americanized established a church within the shadow of the mother church. Today the mother may be as fully Americanized as the daughter. Why shall the two now continue to exist side by side in unholy rivalry? In some cases the mother church has a large building with room to spare at all of the services, while the daughter has a small building, far too small for its membership. The union of such churches would remove much of the rivalry and also much of the criticism of the ministers. There would, at any rate, be fewer ministers to criticize. Moreover, each minister and each church would have the satisfaction of fulfilling a definite need.

There are, however, in Petty Falls communities so populous of folk of my own faith that two or more churches, in close proximity to each other, are needed to supply properly thc spiritual needs. Sad to say, even there is rivalry! With plenty of elbow room for all the churches and ministers to put forth all energies into constructive operations, the jealous fear is expressed that the neighboring church may have a better minister and that the neighboring minister may enjoy larger congregations on Sunday evenings. What bosh!

A Word to the Ministers

This I suggest to the ministers of Petty Falls. When you are preparing your sermons forget for the moment that there are any other ministers in your vicinity. Preach to your own people as you know their needs. Banish all sensationalism; and substitute for this a charm and kindliness of character that will make you the beloved of your people. Seek the love of the young people and be to them a guide, a friend, and a father. Make the most of the talent God has entrusted to you. If you have money–wherewith to advertise your church in newspapers, do so that the emphasis will rest not on you but on Christ whose ambassador you are. Whenever criticism of your work is brought to your attention, do not act like a martyr. No matter how unfair the criticism may be, it may contain a germ of truth. Take this truth to heart, and silence the critic by your sincere efforts to improve yourselves. Doing these things and others like them, you will experience that from your hearts and from your faces will be driven the sourness and melancholy that unholy competition has impressed on you. Your ministry will prove delightful. You will discover that your churches are growing and that a pleasant spirit of harmony prevails among the people. At the same time each one of you will be pleased to learn that his colleague ill the neighboring church is preaching to large congregations. All of you will rejoice that prosperity is everywhere abroad among the churches and that the cause of Christ is advancing.

A Word to the Members

I have certain suggestions to our people in Petty Falls. Your minister wishes to find you in a receptive mood and not with prejudice against him. He may justly entertain this wish, because when you called him, you wrote: “Come over and help us.” Your minister responded to your appeal; and now you must give him every chance to help you. You should be eager to derive every spiritual benefit that your pastor’s ministry can provide for you. This receptive attitude is impossible with an eye to the fact that competition is keen.

In that case you will experience the bitterness of rivalry between churches. Even should you succeed in obtaining as your minister one who is a popular idol, you will become spiritually cold and sterile amidst all the seeming prosperity. You and your minister will never learn to love one another, unless your minister forgets about his popularity and not forget about that keen competition. He is there to be of help to you. Avail yourselves of his services as often as health and circumstances permit. Cooperate with him in whatever he undertakes to be of service to you. Let prayers and words of encouragement take the place of loveless criticism. Such an attitude of receptivity and helpfulness will prove a blessing.

Bear also this in mind! No man has all the characteristics of a perfect minister. Every member knows this to be a fact, but ignores it consistently. He demands and expects perfection. He becomes disappointed and even angry when after some familiarity the minister‘s faulls and shortcomings are apparent. The member punishes the minister by attending services elsewhere. How foolish! Suppose that a man happens to marry a woman who cannot cook or bake well. She may have an attractive personality and appearance, and she may be ever so loving a mother nd faithful a housewife; but she fails to qualify at the kitchen range. Will the husband therefore be justified in going to his brother’s house for dinner each day because his brother’s wife happens to be a better cook? This would be most distasteful to the sister-in-law and most painful to the wife.

So also it should be absurd for a man to worship in his brother‘s church, simply because the brother‘s minister happens to be more talented in certain ways. No true minister is pleased when his church is thronged with people who should be worshiping in their own churches; and most ministers feel painfully hurt when their people desert them.

What should a man do if his minister displays certain glaring faults and shortcomings? He should learn a thing or two of the faithful husband whose wife is a poor cook. This man bravely and kindly wades through the tough steaks, the burned biscuits, and the leathery pie-crust to the very detriment of his digestive organs, and speaks words of encouragement and appreciation after every meal. He knows that such treatment will inspire his wife to improvement. Moreover, love can make even weak coffee tasty. So love of a man to his minister will render insipid preaching tasty. It is within the power of every congregation to inspire a minister to constant improvement. Loving loyalty on the part of the minister and of the church can make any ministry successful.

When I Visit Petty has Again

I hope that I shall be permitted to visit the city of Petty Falls again. Whether this visit be in June or in January, only one thing will interest me above anything else. I shall be eager to worship with my own people in their beautiful churches. I know 1 shall enjoy the prayers, the songs and the preaching. However, I shall be greatly disappointed if none of my old friends approach me saying: ”What do you think of our minister?” I cannot tell you how pleased I will be, if on the face and in the voice of each inquirer I read sincere joy at the possession of a man of God who ministers daily to the needs of his flock. At every hand T hope to hear sentiments of loyalty and love toward the minister whom Christ has sent. Then I shall know that competition is a thing of the past, that ministers are no longer worried about empty pews on Sunday evenings or about each other‘s popularity. They are standing fully prepared to preach the gospel without respect of persons, and to endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ.

Reprinted by permission from The Banner of March 20, 1931.