Pointers for Pastors

What kind of man do Methodists want their minister to be? To find out, Dr. Murray H. Leiffer of Garrett Biblical Institute at Northwestern made a two-year survey. To all district lay leaders,* plus samplings of Methodist women and youth, Dr. Leiffer's Bureau of Social Research sent a formidable questionnaire. The result, published this week in book form and titled The Layman Looks at the Minister (Abingdon-Cokesbury; $1.50), makes 160 pages of required reading for theological students. Laymen will find it an absorbing composite of the country's largest Protestant church body (8,000,000).

The Minister's Job. Methodist laymen reserve their highest disapproval (98%) for the minister who "seems pessimistic and defeatist concerning the achievement of the goals of the Christian Church." Explains Sociologist Leiffer: "This does not mean that Methodist men and women desire a Pollyanna religion or preacher. . . . But they expect their religious leader to have . . . a belief that good eventually will triumph, and a consequent assurance and patience even in the face of disappointing conditions."

A somewhat smaller percentage (88%) are critical of the minister who "is not effective in winning decisions for Christ" --though only 66.4% disapprove of the parson who "does not hold evangelistic meetings." The south registered the most interest in evangelism, the far west the least.

U.S. Methodists like sermons; they like them biblical and they like them preached, not read. Wrote an Oklahoma county clerk: "Most preachers . . . that I listen to talk too much about what they have done, or make too many personal references, follow notes too closely, giving the Average thinking layman the impression of not enough time spent praying over the message to be delivered to hungry people."

Likes & Dislikes. Theological differences between minister and congregation are considered undesirable (76.3%), but not so undesirable as too few pastoral calls (86.3%). A majority of Methodists (56.9%) react unfavorably to a minister who does not accompany his calls with prayer. As to a recreation program for youth, the prudent pastor will mind his Ps & Qs; 54.2% of laymen approve "folk games" in the church basement, but for "social dancing," 70.1% of Methodists consider church property forbidden ground.

Solid Methodists like their preacher to be a good mixer, but careful where he mixes. While 62.4% want him to be "a popular speaker at the Chamber of Commerce and service clubs, such as Rotary," only half as many approve his making "occasional addresses at labor union meetings," and 22.3% are flatly against it. On racial issues Methodists have few doubts: 95.7% condemn any minister who is anti-Semitic and 90.2% approve one who "proclaims equal opportunities and responsibilities for all racial and nationality groups."

Dr. Leiffer's survey probes a pastor's person and personality. Does corpulence make a difference? It does; 52.3% of laymen mark it down as unfavorable. Does untidiness matter? No less than 98% are dead against it. Should he smoke? At least 75% of Methodist laymen object. But more important to a congregation is a minister's home life. In reply to the question: "How acceptable will a minister be if he and his wife do not get along well," two out of three laymen listed continuing connubial tension as serious enough to disqualify a man for the ministry.

Fledgling divines might well pin to their mirrors the words of one wise layman who wrote on his questionnaire: "After all, being a preacher is about like being a member of a draft board. He can do his best and be nearly perfect, but he'll get criticized."

* Approximately 1,500 laymen, elected annually to direct lay activities in each of U.S. Methodism's 564 districts.

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