Pastors

Liturgy with Bite?

A new generation of snake-handling preachers is emerging

A new generation of snake-handling preachers is emerging. Following the deaths of older leaders, their numbers are growing, according to a report from Nashville.

"While older serpent handlers were wary of outsiders, these younger believers welcome visitors and use Facebook to promote their often misunderstood—and illegal (except in West Virginia)—version of Christianity. They want to show the beauty and power of their extreme form of spirituality. And they hope eventually to reverse a (Tennessee) state ban on handling snakes in church."

"Leadership is knowing what's right-then doing it.

—Former White House Chief of Staff, head of the U.S. Treasury, and Secretary of State James Baker on Charlie Rose (PBS).

"Part of the Pentecostal Holiness movement," the article says, "serpent handlers have a strict moral code. No drinking, drugs, cursing, or going to bars. No shorts or short-sleeve shirts, no sex outside of marriage. Women wear skirts or dresses, can't wear earrings or cut their hair."

Or get snake bit.

—from Tennesseean.com

Ordain Thyself!

Why bother with years in seminary and that pesky, nosy ordination council. Now you can get ordained on your iPhone. For 99 cents, choose to be clergy from a variety of religions, including Methodist, Hindu, Hasidic Jew, even Klingon. You'll receive a headshot of yourself in the appropriate clerical garb.

JoPa Productions says the ordination app is "for entertainment purposes only."

Tough job, Pastor?

It is, according to a ranking of 200 jobs. Careercast.com measured factors such as income, stress level, physical demands, and hiring outlook. Clergy landed at 92, tied with elementary school teacher.

Two notches above at 90, funeral directors have it better than pastors. So do software engineers (1), dental hygienists (4), podiatrists (24), brick masons (72), and vending machine repairmen (88).

At least you're not a corrections officer (129), bartender (162), or lumberjack (200). And if you're thinking of chucking it all for a writing career, don't. Editor (118).

Copyright © 2012 by the author or Christianity Today/Leadership Journal. Click here for reprint information on Leadership Journal.

Also in this issue

The Leadership Journal archives contain over 35 years of issues. These archives contain a trove of pastoral wisdom, leadership skills, and encouragement for your calling.

Why Men Still Hate Going to Church

Another Path of Jesus

Out of the Darkness: DVD Documentary (Anteroom Pictures)

What Happened to Singles Ministry?

Coming Clean

Prophet in the Pulpit

The New Monk Warriors

For the City: Proclaiming and Living Out the Gospel (Zondervan, 2011) By Darrin Patrick & Matt Carter with Joel A. Lindsey

Emotional Stability

Coming Down the Mountain

The Big Reveal

Why Did a Lesbian Couple Choose Our Church?

Redeeming Church Conflicts: Turning Crisis into Compassion and Care (Baker, 2012) Tara Barthel and David C. Edling

Word? Indeed!

How to Spot a Transformed Christian

Crafting a Rule of Life: An Invitation to the Well-Ordered Way (IVP, 2012) Stephen A. Macchia

Getting Psyched to Preach

How to Score a Sabbatical

How to Knock Over a 7-11: And Other Ministry Training (Cheshire, 2011) Michael Cheshire

4 Conversation Skills that Transform

You Gotta Be There

A Life to Die For …

A Bigger Toolbox

Cartoon

Budgets

Cartoon

Sneaking Out

Cartoon

Youth Pastor Needs

Cartoon

Virtual Confession

Cartoon

Curse the Darkness

Cartoon

Church Bitterness

Cartoon

Online Anger

Cartoon

20% of Church Members Do 80% of the Work

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