Training for the Pew

I'm going to recast this uncertainty thing, but I had a thought today I thought I'd mention by way of intermission.

Pastors have to undergo training, whether at a college or seminary or study program. We all know that doesn't make them perfect. It doesn't guarantee they'll have good interpersonal skills or not be arrogant or ignorant. But at least someone has taken a shot at helping them be equipped to lead spiritually and wisely.

It occurred to me that the people in the pew don't ever get this kind of education. Sure, their pastors go blah, blah, blah from the pulpit all the time. But you don't want to hear instruction from the person who's ticking you off, and sometimes the things that are ticking the people off are real faults or misjudgments of their pastors.

But it sure seems like a denomination might do well to arrange something like "in the pew seminary" to help the person in the pew realize that they shouldn't use all available fellowship time at church to sell Avon or leave the church because their grandson wasn't elected Sunday School Superintendent. And maybe the pastor's attention was absorbed by someone in the hand shaking line before you and shouldn't be faulted because your hand was neglected.

But of course who would teach it? Do our DS-es have the required wisdom or clout to have a zone meeting once or twice a year on "pew etiquette"? Or should the denomination create a short curriculum for Sunday School?

Anyway, idle thoughts about how carnal most pew sitters seem to be out there in the real world--I dare not say the real church. I am blessed to attend a church that doesn't seem to be overrun with the petty backstabbers and nitpickers of home church U.S.A.