A theology of the parsonage

I live in a parsonage. That means my church owns my house and I am allowed to live there rent free as part of my compensation. Even though I grew up as a preachers kid, I have never lived in a parsonage before. I really haven't even seen them either. Most of the churches I have been around chose to sell them and provide a housing allowance.

But I live in the parsonage. My church (St. Paul's UMC) built this house before they finished building their first church building. The early meetings of the church council met in my dining room. Sunday school classes, youth, children and other groups met in the parsonage in times of growth. My study has one natural spot for a desk, and the finish on the wood floors in heavily worn where countless chairs have been. The view from the window has aided countless pastors as they prepare the word of God for this congregation.

I pray in the same places the leaders of my church have always prayed. When the residence was transferred over to the associate pastor in the more recent past, the leaders of our contemporary service have lived, studied, prayed and prepared their sermon here. The house has a very specific purpose. It serves to care for those who pastorally care for a group of people called St. Paul's.

I can't get my job out of my head. Even at home, I am constantly reminded of the group of people I am called to pastor. While that might drive some crazy, I enjoy it. Every step around my house is taken in prayer. I am remindedin every room that my doors are open and that fellowship and hospitality are built into the rhythm of each day.

I live in a parsonage....and I love it.

 

Comments

[JohnsonBrian]

Thanks for sharing this Chad. We are going to be moving into the parsonage within the next month. I thought about the pastors who have gone before me, and it is humbling. It is a holy place!

[Kelly Lawson]

Lovely, Chad. Thanks for sharing.

[Pastor J]

On a search for information concerning the old time tradition of parsonage living I came across this blog and many others, so I would like to ask how the new living situation is going?

My wife and I have lived in a similar situation since we became pastors here in California. The difference is that we took old offices and converted them into bedrooms for ourseves and our two children. The Sanctuary is directly beneath our home.

We have not been late to church in two years and my office is less that 30 steps away. I am also bivocational which allows us to have income and not have to draw resouces that can be used to minister to those in the community.

Some day we hope to have our own place, but home is where you hang your hat and God has allowed us to inhabit the land and build relationships in the community surrounding the church.

Good luck with your new home and you can bloom where you are planted. Make sure to place boundries so the family can have their privacy. All in all it is a great time and a huge blessing in this housing market of SoCal.