I wrote previously about the expectation that can be placed on a leader to pray. This is especially true if you are the senior minister.
Go to a meal? The minister is "volunteered" to say grace.
Go to a meeting? The minister is "suggested" as someone to open with a prayer.
A silence during a time of open prayer? People expect the minister to swoop in and "save the awkwardness."
I wonder what message is sent when the minister is always prompted to pray.
Do we, subconsciously, teach that the prayer of the minister is somehow "more holy" or that God "listens to the minister more?"
This should be the exact opposite of the message which the minister wants to communicate.
A minister should be empowering people to be involved, not called upon at every gathering.
Perhaps if the invitation was declined more then that message would start to surface.
Perhaps it's more about the 'minister' being more comfortable with leading public prayer and being looked to for leadership? It should be looked on as an opportunity to share, not begrudged nor over-thought theologically.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point, the minister is probably more comfortable praying in public, but I think the constant referral to the “minister” does send a message we often don’t intend to make.
ReplyDeleteEither way, it doesn't help others to, for lack of a better term, "gain confidence" in praying publicly if they are never given the opportunity to do so.
Instead, I think this is a teaching opportunity for the minister to bring forward the “ministry of all believers.”
Can the minister still pray? Absolutely. It's not really a burden.
Does it throw up a good chance for the minister to share with others? Sure.
But maybe we are missing a little something by going to the same source constantly…