| This is one of those rare occasions where the | | | | ministers." Hmmm, I wish I had researched |
| irony of something compels me to just write | | | | the meaning of "take care of" as the Church |
| to process my own experience as a pastor now | | | | and it's legal department understood the |
| having moved on. The irony of life sometimes | | | | term. Well actually I do feel taken care of, |
| is overwhelming at times.Today coming into | | | | but not in the way I had envisioned by the |
| work at the local hospital on Kentucky Derby | | | | phrase at the time. I later learned that |
| Day, I heard a wonderful story of a man who | | | | meant, "loyal ministers," which of course, I |
| spent years betting on horses, now taking up | | | | was not. I have been assured that I would |
| the cause of horses that no longer could run | | | | have been fired in time anyway over any |
| and provide great revenues for their owners. | | | | number of life issues and wouldn't have |
| He had learned of one great race horse that, | | | | deserved it anyway. I managed to outgrow the |
| after the useful days had passed, had been | | | | small box most fundamentalist and evangelical |
| shipped and processed as food in Japan! | | | | Christians stay in theologically, and also |
| Finding this to be absolutely unacceptable, | | | | mishandled, at times, the stress put upon the |
| he started retirement farms for former race | | | | ministry by that organization through the |
| horses to make their last days more kind and | | | | years with their own way of being.I take |
| to save them from the overseas food market. I | | | | responsibility for my life and I wish they |
| guess the idea of Secretariat Steaks was too | | | | took responsibility for their and how it has |
| much. Wow! I wish I had been a race horse | | | | affected mine. I guess that can be said all |
| instead of a Pastor with the Worldwide Church | | | | around on lots of topics. I truly believe |
| of God! This kind man even had 16 horses | | | | that my dad, who has been retired now from |
| already shipped to the rendering plant in | | | | Eastman Kodak for 28 years, yes he's 90, |
| Japan returned to the States and put on his | | | | would not have been thrown off Kodak |
| retirement farms to live happily ever after | | | | retirement if he had dared to buy Fuji film. |
| for services rendered.When I was 22 years old | | | | Not so with the Worldwide Church of God and |
| and heading out into the ministry to my first | | | | the effect their irresponsible change has had |
| Church assignment, I was handed a paper to | | | | on their perspectives. If there ever was an |
| sign by the Personnel Department. It was a | | | | organization that could say "be warmed and be |
| release from paying social security on my | | | | filled, but gives not of that which is |
| pastoral paycheck. I was young and since the | | | | needed," it would be WCG.In reality, the |
| organization, then known as the Worldwide | | | | great Jesus sent changes are merely reckless |
| Church of God said not to be concerned and | | | | change inflicted upon very sincere. loyal, |
| that "we will take care of you," I signed it. | | | | hope filled, and faith-full members and |
| Churches can do that with income they | | | | ministers alike. It's a case of horse owners |
| provide for Pastors. It is a savings to them | | | | who didn't like the track, tearing it down |
| as well I am sure. Like I say, I was 22 and | | | | without asking the fans, sending the race |
| thought that since God had called me to | | | | horses off to the grinder, at a personal |
| pastor and feed the sheep, so to speak, "we | | | | profit to themselves, selling the grounds, |
| will take care of you" actually meant, well, | | | | switching over to NASCAR, and then wondering |
| we will take care of you, feed my sheep.How | | | | why that may not have gone over too well. One |
| ironic that my experience as a Pastor, who | | | | would think it would have been them that the |
| "inspired" the giving by tithers in 5 states | | | | board of horse racing might demand to move |
| and 13 congregations over 26 years in excess | | | | out and on, instead of destroying that |
| of 50 million dollars receives not so much as | | | | particular kind of racing. Interesting the |
| a bag of oats! Race horses are saved from | | | | harm that not speaking up can do in our |
| being ground up as food for services rendered | | | | world. I hope the Republicans are listening |
| to their owners and put in horse heaven on | | | | too. I have said elsewhere, I came in my |
| earth for their years of service. On the | | | | youth to play hockey and they melted the ice |
| other hand, most former ministers of the | | | | halfway through the game, put up hoops and |
| Worldwide Church of God, (long story), are | | | | demanded I now play and coach basketball. Oh |
| sent to Japan to be rendered for their years | | | | well, I guess that analogy is a horse of a |
| of service! One has to love God's sense of | | | | different color.Well,I feel better, I think. |
| humor! Not only did WCG not provide for basic | | | | I am happy for the horses that get to avoid |
| pastoral social security considerations, | | | | being rendered in Japan for their years of |
| because they didn't have to, but also gave no | | | | services to their owners. I regret being one |
| church sponsored retirement for those with | | | | of the ones that gets rendered for years of |
| decades of service unless they were "loyal" | | | | service by the Church.What a nice guy to find |
| to all the malarky they came up with as "a | | | | a way to make the lives of hard working |
| miracle from Jesus."I remember well into my | | | | horses a bit easier. They do retire races |
| ministry at a minister's conference in | | | | horses after all! Sorry to say, the |
| Pasadena, asking about retirement issues for | | | | Worldwide Church of God still just shoots and |
| the ministry and again being told, "don't | | | | renders them for years of service. |
| worry, we will take care of all you fine | | | | |