Phoenix tribune., 1923-03-03
WHY SOME PREACHERS FAIL

There are some preachers who just can't succeed
Everywhere they 90 is the old story of hard luck
charge torn pieces and people dissatisfied Some of
these men fairly well educated, graduates
young serving their first ten years and others
veterans Ask the board of stewards about him and they
will tell YOU He is good man. but some how he doesn t
take, will need another at conference Why is
it that some preachers fail? We suggest:
l. Some preachers fail because they lack TACT They
do not know the meaning of the word DETOUR. They
attempt to put off the membership their IDEAS and
NOTIONS, as if they CONVICTIONS forgetting
that stewards and officers know of local con-
dtons than they will ever know He gets stubborn when
advised by officers of the church and talks about sand
ing for the right and at every breath threatens the Of
hcal board with ''the law" While preacher should
never yield MORAL PRINCIPLE for expediency, but
he and must adapt himself to conditions they exist
when moral principle is involved until time shall
come when he shall eabe to influence change for the
better.
No preacher has right to tear down and destroy
until he is able to construct something better in it's place
Some preachers attempt to change the entire life of
charge both social and economic in three months-the
life that has existed for years Some preachers will not
accept anything any plan of former pastor-some
the church roll
2. Some preachers fail because they are lazy This
word may harsh and crate upon the ear We might
have said ndOlent or averse to labor but we nreer
the old word lazy. 10 go to parsonage and find
preacher well and able bodied piled up in bed at clock
IN the morning is shame What kind of example for
diligence can he set his flock? Some so lazy that
they Will not even tend garden but allow the parsonage
lot to up in Weeds and then have the expect
the membership to bring them vegetables produced by toll
and sweat.
There is class Of men who idle away all the morning
at barber shops stores and street and become
as common in the streets alley cat Do readers
wonder why they lose the confidence and respect of the
membership?
One of the first rules laid down by Mr. Wesley for a
Methodist preachers conduct, and which, every
preacher III full connection vowed he would keep is Be
dllgent be unemployed Never be triflingly
poyed neither spend any time at any place than
strictly necessary preacher should be busy in his
work as farmer, mechanic or banker in theirs.
3. Some men fail because they want to 'rm the
church. We heard preacher not long ago sad ct run
this church from the pulpit to the coal house, This atti
tude Will ruin any preacher in the long We have
know pastors in churches that had well organized boards
to take charge of the money raised Sunday and go
down town Monday and settle the bills of the church.
Trouble always when the preacher attempts to be
steward trustee superintendent secretary and treasurer
The officers have rights and they refuse to be made
figure heads. We know where the preacher re-
moved three four of the stewards in the fourth quarter
~ conference because they insisted that the financial af
fairs OF the church belonged to the stewards
full pastor is who puts the responsibility of running
the church shoulders where belongs and encourages
the people to support his boards.
A. Finally, fail because they are envous
little and mean He cannot bear to hear the people speak
well of his predecessor He never invites strong preach
to fill his pulpit He will find fault with everv preach
in the conference if he has go back and dig up
some old thing that occurred before he into the min
lsy Some preachers eviOus of the presiding ell
der and bishop They hate to hear the people say pleas
ant things of even their superior in office The editor has
known more than pastor to close revival which was
adding numbers to his church because he feared the evan
gelist would win the hearts of the people,
No congregation likes mean envious stingv bull
headed preacher who always struttng like peacock
advertising himself.
No. brother, we have no particular man in mind Just
now, but there several men we know in the church.
wlo failures pastors and even our bishops can't
make them succeed.-ChrStian Index