discard the trump card

One of the things I found most frustrating as a pastor was realizing that I had the trump card. Even though I might encourage dialog, I always knew that no matter what direction the dialog went I could always pull the trump card and regain control.

Some might argue that the trump card has been well earned from the pastor’s credentials, education, experience, and authority (invested by the church, the role of pastor, and by the people) and well paid for by the congregation.

However, I always believed that for true dialog to occur, I had to forswear and forsake my credentials, education, experience and authority. Even if the people themselves demanded I pull the trump card to provide resolution or a decision, I had to resist that temptation. I sincerely insisted (and this would always be proven by time) that anyone could play; that there would be no negative ramifications to any input; and that the resolution would eventually come from the community as a whole for the community as a whole and that it would be recognized as such. I had to discard the trump card and prove I would never use it over time.

Unfortunately, many people don’t like this. I discovered that many want answers, easy answers, quick answers, and that many want them provided. Mystery and patience in the face of it are unbearable anymore.