8
SERIAL
DAVID BRACEWELL
I think you are being extremely patient
and tolerant! People who write letters
which are brutal, lengthy and persistent
are often themselves in need of help and
correction. If this person is genuinely
distressed by your sermons, they need
to speak to you directly and openly.
The letters are probably just a cover,
possibly for some other issue that they
are not able or willing to articulate. So
I think you need to approach them and
book an appointment to try to discern
what is really going on. You may find
this a bit daunting, but it is the only way
to stem the tide.
The fact that you are feeling
undermined in your preaching is
a serious issue, not only for your
own well-being as a servant of the
Word, but also for the rest of the
congregation who have gathered to
worship and hear what God is saying
through you.
This advice may seem a little brutal,
but I think when there is persistent,
negative criticism without the
courage to speak, a halt needs to
be called. If you feel uneasy about
confronting this person, just hold
on to the fact that while it might
be painful for an hour or so, that is
infinitely better than endless Monday
mornings filled with apprehension.
David Bracewell
David Bracewell was Rector of St Saviour’s Church,
Guildford for more than 20 years. Now officially
retired, he continues to travel the country, training
and encouraging local church leaders. He is passionate
about the role of the local church and believes the
greatest mistake a preacher can make is to be boring.
LWPT8462 - Preach Magazine - Issue 2 v2.indd 8
I SUGGEST THE DIRECT
APPROACH. GO TO SEE THE
LETTER-WRITER. EXPLAIN
AS HONESTLY AS YOU
CAN HOW HIS LETTERS
MAKE YOU FEEL. ASK HIM
TO STOP WRITING EVERY
WEEK. AND IF THAT
DOESN’T WORK,
PUT HIM ON THE
PREACHING ROTA!
I THINK YOU ARE BEING
EXTREMELY PATIENT AND
TOLERANT! PEOPLE WHO
WRITE LETTERS WHICH ARE
BRUTAL, LENGTHY AND
PERSISTENT ARE OFTEN
THEMSELVES IN NEED OF
HELP AND CORRECTION.
Each issue,
our panel will address
a tricky preaching problem. If
you have something you would
value their wisdom on, send it
to [email protected].
Please indicate whether
you would like to
be anonymous.
MANDY BRIGGS
It is a truth universally
acknowledged that if you receive five
letters praising your sermon and one
pulling it apart, the only one that will
stay in your head and your heart will
be the negative one.
It must be very difficult, therefore
to get one of those letters every
week – and you are obviously
feeling demoralised by this man’s
correspondence. The words of
St Paul to the Thessalonians –
‘encourage one another and build
each other up’ must seem quite far
away. So what to do with a persistent
criticiser?
Recently I’ve been reading a
biography of John Wesley. When
Wesley was confronted by opposition
and even the threat of violence (he
was pursued by mobs on many
occasions), his solution was to seek
out the leader of the pack and talk
to him directly, often dissolving the
tension as he did so.
So I suggest the direct approach.
Go to see the letter-writer. Explain
as honestly as you can how his
letters make you feel. Ask him to
stop writing every week. And if
that doesn’t work, put him on the
preaching rota!
Mandy Briggs
Mandy Briggs is a Methodist minister based in Bristol.
As Education Officer at the New Room/John Wesley’s
Chapel, she is exploring how to share the Methodist
story with all ages (newroombristol.org.uk). She can
also be found on Twitter: @mandbristol.
09/01/2015 14:35:57