Respect your predecessor

Among the many troubling things I've noticed in politics in recent years is how former President Obama and his wife talk about our current president. In my 70 years I don't ever remember hearing a former president speak badly in public about the one who succeeded him. In fact, knowing first-hand the pressures a president faces former presidents form a bond with one another despite the political differences they may have. Obama went to great lengths to blame his problems on former President Bush and now spends a great deal of energy attacking President Trump. So does Michelle.

Some of my readers might say that President Trump brings some of that on himself due to some of his comments. Like many Americans I wish he would tone down his rhetoric, close his Twitter account, and behave a little more presidential in his speech, but this still does not excuse the regular attacks from the Obamas.

Once again, I want to draw a parallel between what's happening in the political arena and the church arena. A pastor should never criticize those who previously served his or her church. One of the smartest things a pastor can do when starting in a new church is to speak well of his or her predecessor. In many instances there are people who are still grieving the loss of their former pastor. To speak well of that individual shows a sense of loyalty to the church's past.

In some situations you might not be able to find a lot of good things to say about the previous pastor. Perhaps he or she left due to a moral failure or some other difficulty may have been the reason the former pastor left. In those cases it's best to say very little about the individual. Even in those situations there are people grieving the loss of that individual, and speaking harshly of that situation just deepens the sense of loss they feel.

Perhaps the previous pastor instituted some programs that need to be replaced with some that would be more effective. The way to do that is not to criticize the program or the pastor who started it but to point out that while that program served its purpose, it's now time to look at doing something different because of changing circumstances.

Another way to show respect for your predecessor is to invite him or her back for special occasions. I was recently honored to preach at the 200th anniversary of a church I served as an interim pastor in 1980. It's not the first time I've been back to that church, but it was an honor to be invited to speak at such an important event in the life of that congregation. It was even more special considering that 52 years ago my wife and I were married in that church.

You will win favor with people in your church when you speak well of their former pastors and include them in special observances of your congregation. Remember, one day you will be a former pastor in that church so treat those who came before you the same way you will want to be treated by those who follow you.