Week 7 Essay - People - Church VS. Campus

Week 7 Essay – People – Campus VS. Church
Feb 26th, 09 Anton Folz
Within college and church people involvement, there are main key areas in which the two differ. Three areas in which one is able to clearly see how relationship people on a college campus is far different than that of church relationships would be in the areas of proximity, length of relationship, and responsibility. In each of these three areas, one may find it much harder to “get along with” people in the church, than it ever was to get along with the people that you attended college with. Although there may be some in your college that also attend the church that you work at, that does not negate the fact that there are some large barriers or mental blocks that one is going to have to be able to understand that get over if they want to be effective and last in fulltime ministry.
Looking first at proximity of relationships, one is able to recognize that while they might be living in a rather small community of college students on a campus, they may be able to avoid people that are hard to get along with even easier and with less consequent than that of a person on staff at a church. Once you are in a church ministering, you are connected to those people that have been entrusted into you care, and you are not able to simply avoid them as you would someone that you disliked on a college campus. It is easy to blend in, and even at times pretend not to notice a person that you do not want to talk to on a college campus, but if you do that in a church it could mean your jobs because of the loss of favor with the people.
Secondly, one is able to see that length of relationships in churches and college campuses is often far different. When you are on a college campus, you are generally working off of a presupposition that everyone has only known everyone else for three or four years at the most. On the other hand, in church there may be families that have been a part of the church for several generations. By having longer lengths of time to work with, it can mean that strong ties are or can be made. Some of which might be helpful and glorifying, and others that are negative and destructive. When we are in a church setting, we are faced with the obligation to get along with all people, because most likely they are not going anywhere unless they move or gain a different job.
Lastly, looking at how responsibility plays a role in the difference in people relations in both settings, it can be noted that God has assigned a pastoral minister to these people. As a pastor is called to work with a congregation, they take on the responsibility that God has placed these people into their care, and thus their physical and spiritual well being is in their hands. Pastors cannot run and hide from those that are entrusted into their care, and thus church relationships can be very tough and yet a necessary aspect of their job.
In conclusion, it seems that relationships in churches are often far more difficult to work with and maintain because of the reasons that have been listed. As a pastor takes on responsibility for a group of people, they must be willing and adaptable to work with whomever it is that they have been given to work with and minister too. God loves all humanity, and He calls ministers to provide spiritual guidance for all people no matter if they are annoying or not. Thus it seems that church relationships are far more difficult than college campus ones due to their length, responsibility level, and proximity in living area.