CHURCH PECKING ORDER - by Bishop Jerry Ogles

In the Church, as well as without, it is the Christian's duty to not only do no wicked thing, but also to DO that duty which reflects the love of Christ to every comer. More than a simple welcome to newcomers to the Church, we must go beyond the norm in demonstrating hospitality and concern for the needs of the stranger who enters our doors. 

In our Church we are comfortably situated among our friends and neighbors, but the visitors is on strange ground and needs a special touch to feel at home with us.

Unfortunately, the opposite is sometimes the case when the regular members are suspicious of visitors who dare to intrude on our sacred space. This is especially true if the visitor has some special gift or quality that qualifies him for some needful position in the Church. The regulars may feel intimidated and fear of losing some coveted role as music leader, organist, or leadership in Bible Study.

My wife shared a small parable concerning this very circumstance in the Church. She says that the barnyard chickens will peck the heads of younger chickens when foraging for food – especially when the younger chick lands on an unsuspecting June Bug. The older hens will rush to the scene and begin pecking the head of the youngster. This establishes a ‘pecking order’ that reflects the same resentment often felt by newcomers who attempt to serve in any meaningful role in the Church.

Perhaps we should all be more like the mother hen who spreads her wings to protect the young and less like the greedy hens that peck the heads of the little ones.