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