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THE ART OF CANDIDATING: A HANDBOOK OF THE MINISTER'S PART IN ESTABLISHING THE PASTORAL RELATION
THE ART OF CANDIDATING: A HANDBOOK OF THE MINISTER'S PART IN ESTABLISHING THE PASTORAL RELATION
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THE desire for a change of pastorate is the fact from which this treatise starts, upon the proper behavior before which it would throw light. The writer has several times been through the experience, and has found the way of success so different from the ways he so long tried in vain, and with much agony of spirit, that he ventures to study the matter in the light of the successes and failures of many besides, and to give forth the knowledge to others. There are those who lack no qualification for the high place they would serve in, save that they know not the difficult art of candidating.
That many ministers have qualifications for service greater than they are able to negotiate in a candidating campaign might easily be proved. The qualifications of a good candidate are not strictly the same as the qualifications of a successful pastor and teacher. For instance, the very knowledge of how to gain a hearing before a church's committee, or before a congregation, is not knowledge of the pastoral calling; and inability to make a good first impression, so fatal in candidating, may be no hindrance, after acquaintance, to the best ministerial work.
One can hardly be persuaded that failure to get a desired call necessarily means inability to do successful work. One knows too many instances otherwise. On the contrary, everyone is likely to know men who, by a candidating ability, have place beyond what they deserve. That we do not always get what we deserve is one of the limitations of life often even to the minister the overwhelming problem of faith. Some would counsel grace to bear it as inevitable; and it is a rock of stumbling to some who cannot themselves bear the injustice they counsel others to bear. The author belongs to the yet other class who believe we can have very nearly what we will pay the price of in this case, doubtless, a knowledge of the ways and means of candidating.
We are fairly committed to the method of candidating, which, though open to grave criticism it confuses candidating ability with pastoral qualifications, and only in general gives churches and ministers their due is yet, doubtless, the best that has been devised. At any rate, we are under it, and are likely to be, and the object of this treatise is to show how one may best conduct himself in view of it. To show the defects of the method is work for him who has improvements to offer. The danger is that some one will make his candidating ability the measure of his qualification for ministerial work, and, from failure to be exalted, will feebly try to serve, which is the way to death.
That many ministers have qualifications for service greater than they are able to negotiate in a candidating campaign might easily be proved. The qualifications of a good candidate are not strictly the same as the qualifications of a successful pastor and teacher. For instance, the very knowledge of how to gain a hearing before a church's committee, or before a congregation, is not knowledge of the pastoral calling; and inability to make a good first impression, so fatal in candidating, may be no hindrance, after acquaintance, to the best ministerial work.
One can hardly be persuaded that failure to get a desired call necessarily means inability to do successful work. One knows too many instances otherwise. On the contrary, everyone is likely to know men who, by a candidating ability, have place beyond what they deserve. That we do not always get what we deserve is one of the limitations of life often even to the minister the overwhelming problem of faith. Some would counsel grace to bear it as inevitable; and it is a rock of stumbling to some who cannot themselves bear the injustice they counsel others to bear. The author belongs to the yet other class who believe we can have very nearly what we will pay the price of in this case, doubtless, a knowledge of the ways and means of candidating.
We are fairly committed to the method of candidating, which, though open to grave criticism it confuses candidating ability with pastoral qualifications, and only in general gives churches and ministers their due is yet, doubtless, the best that has been devised. At any rate, we are under it, and are likely to be, and the object of this treatise is to show how one may best conduct himself in view of it. To show the defects of the method is work for him who has improvements to offer. The danger is that some one will make his candidating ability the measure of his qualification for ministerial work, and, from failure to be exalted, will feebly try to serve, which is the way to death.
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