Pastor Bob once heard that every good Pastor should work an hour for every minute he talks. He admitted that he doesn’t do this, nor does he know any other pastor that does. Pastor Bob then read me a list of unreal expectations that someone had come up with about ministers. Ministers have to be an interesting preacher, a well organized administrator, an up-to-date teacher, a fine Christian example, a dynamic leader, and a capable youth leader. They also have to be a loving shepherd of the flock, a worker in the community, a comforting counselor, a careful scholar, a successful administrator and a fine Christian example.

In ministry you do so much and you are invited into other peoples homes and lives. “I for one think that the ministry is the greatest profession ever,” said Pastor Bob. He also says, “as a minister it is a privilege to be involved in so many peoples lives. Every day for a minister is different.”

Pastor Bob told me that becoming a pastor is like getting married. The first date is when you meet the people of the church and they check you out. Then if they like you they will call you and ask you to be their minister, which is like getting engaged. Then when you are officially installed and are the new pastor, that is like a wedding ceremony. There are many happy memories to come after that, just like in a marriage.

Something that I found interesting is that the church owns most of Rhinebeck and the areas around it. Whenever someone moves here they have to pay the church a land rent, a small fee of three or four dollars. For example, the church owns the land on which the Catholic Church is and they had to pay a land rent. Pastor Bob jokes with the Catholic Church’s pastor when they go to Blondies Café. He says that he better be nice to him or he’ll take away his land. However, many lawyers don’t know about this, but some do and this fee is still in effect through out most of Rhinebeck today.