A couple of years ago, I stopped by to visit a fellow United Methodist pastor at the church he is serving. I was in the area running errands and thought I would say hello. Upon entering the office suite, I encountered a church volunteer who welcomed me and asked if they could help me. I responded that I wanted to say hello to the pastor. He directed me to his office. So, I started walking down the hallway to say hello to my fellow clergy. However, before I got more than ten feet, one of the office persons stopped me and asked how I could be helped. I explained I was stopping by to say hello to the pastor.
Now, at this point of my simple visit, things got a little uncomfortable. The “official” office person asked for my name and my business. Perhaps I was not dressed appropriately to meet with her pastor or perhaps I looked like I was seeking aide. Regardless, the tone of her question was not welcoming. I was asked to wait in the lobby area. So, I waited and I waited. The “official” office persons passed by me several times, but not one of them said hello or gave me eye contact whatsoever. To be honest, I really felt uncomfortable.
Finally, my pastor friend came out of his office and realized that it was a fellow clergy and said, “Oh Scott, I didn’t know it was you.” By this time, I had to go and I told him I simply wanted to say hello. As I got in the car, I leaned over to Beth and told her an account of what happened and how I felt outcast in that office area. I told her, “I think they must have thought I wanted something.”
Later that morning I received a call from the pastor who apologized for making me wait. I told him it was ok, but I shared with him how no one in his office even gave me eye contact. I told him that everyone, especially in a church, deserves at least eye contact. Personally, it raised some interesting questions and thoughts for me.
How many times have I made an assumption about someone simply because of the way they were dressed or because I had an “image” of those who were “in” and those who were “out?” Clearly, in those simple moments I was not “in” with the church office workers. I wasn’t a member of their church and they didn’t know that I was clergy. I wonder how I would have been treated had I had a coat and tie on or how I would have been treated if they knew that I was indeed clergy. More importantly, should it matter?
In those few moments, I was treated second class. To be honest, I don’t get treated as second class very often. As a white male who is educated, I’m usually the one who is given the most privilege. However, in these few moments, I was reminded of how unfairly a person can be treated by how they look by the judgment of others. I pray that whenever people come into the building at Columbia FUMC, we do not treat others as second class, regardless of what they are wearing, regardless of the skin color, regardless of where they find themselves. Moreover, I pray that wherever I find myself making pre-judgments against others, I stop to think about “But by the grace of God I am what I am (1 Corinthians 15:10).”
It is my privilege to be your Pastor.
Scott
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