It was a typical Sunday morning ritual as the congregation gathered in the narthex following worship to drink coffee, eat cookies, and chat. My colleague, who is an associate pastor in this congregation, was enjoying the fellowship when a church member tugged him on the arm. “Jim, do you mind if I introduce you to friends of mine who are visiting with us today?” she said. Before my friend could respond, the woman was already pulling him away from his current conversation towards the corner where a new family stood clearly overwhelmed by well-intentioned church members.
Despite the feeling of being dragged into this conversation by a pushy parishioner, my colleague put on his most friendly face as the woman introduced him to the visiting family—not as the associate pastor but as the youth leader.
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