I had my nose rubbed in something this week that I had noticed before and which I find really frustrating. It seems like, in the PC(USA) at least, that the work that a person does as a member of the church counts for nothing when it comes to seeking work within the church.
Where I was forced to face this idea this week was during an interview for a DCE position.
I freely admit that I have never been paid to be a DCE, but I have, and my resume shows this, taught Sunday School to both youth and adults, taught part of my home church's Elder training, taught Eighth Grade Bible study in the Logos program for years, been a youth advisor in two different churches, been a Small Group Leader at five Montreat Youth Conferences, Co-chaired the Logos committee at my home church and chaired both the Youth and CE committees.
So what was the first question I was asked during the interview? "You have no direct experience, do you?"
The other place I get this is from the people who keep telling me that what I need is to go do an internship in a church so that I can get experience with how churches operate and what it is like to be in a church. Because, obviously, I'm fresh out of seminary and have never experienced real life in a church.
In addition to the education experience above, I have served on the Sessions of two churches, I have been a Clerk of Session, I have been a Lay Pastor and Supply Preacher, I have been a church secretary, I have chaired Building & Grounds and Finance committees, I have been a YAD to a Synod and a commissioner to a number of Presbytery meetings. I have hung sheetrock in the CE building, poured concrete for the new swing set outside, pulled pork for the church BBQ, painted murals in the youth rooms and made banners for the sanctuary.
But what I really need is to do an internship so that I can see how a church really works.
Now, is this just me, am I just doomed to live out a life of crappy, entry level jobs no matter how much training, experience or talent I have? Or is this a larger truth, is the work of the lay members of the church really considered meaningless and worthless? Why?
