After finishing my first term as an assistant clergyman, working under the direction of an older (and wiser) minister, I listed a few of the mistakes I found myself making in my early days. And here's what I'm trying now to avoid.

1. Allowing a small number of people to take up large amounts of time. Somewhere I picked up the idea that an hour-long appointment means sixty minutes, but not everyone in the church sees it that way.

There are some genuinely needy people who need to see us and unwittingly take advantage of our time. These are the souls who come about one problem and end up telling their life story and a number of religious and political opinions. When they find out we're available to listen to such ramblings, they show up frequently.

Yes, some problems take a long time to discuss, and some people need more than an hour. But most need either a second appointment later on or a resolute hand to the door when the time is up. This requires firmness, and it is not easy to do without ...