Kristen and I learned that our old pastor, Ray Pritchard, is leaving his post as the senior pastor at our Beloved Calvary. [Yes, Kristen and I still think of Calvary that way. In some ways, it will always be our home.]
What’s interesting about how I am responding to this, a mixure of “I knew it would happen eventually” and “I can’t believe it…,” is that I actually care this much. I mean, I don’t go there… and we haven’t been members there for more than 3 years. What’s even weirder about the whole thing is that he and I are virtual strangers. Sure, I was technically a part-time person there for a year or so as an intern/interrim High School leader. But he and I never met formally as employee to employer, we just met a few times socially and that was it. The only time I ever talked to him as a pastor to staffer was at the Christmas party after I had completed my internship. That was it.
What Ray means to Calvary is like a parable. In a lot of ways that church carries his personality. Big and tall, bold and conservative. In a place like Oak Park, Illinois… being bold and conservative earned him a reputation. Oak Park is anything but a haven for conservative Christians. I remember when we lived there we were shocked to learn that our town had been labeled “the gay freindliest place in the midwest.”
And yet Ray was respected there. He earned the respect of even his biggest critics. Take a look at some of these articles that a flowing into the hugely liberal newspaper… the Wednesday Journal.
‘Restless’ Pritchard to leave Calvary Church
Lamenting the loss of two conservatives
Ray leaves big shoes to fill. In his 16 years at Calvary he really grew the name of his church in the community. More than that, he has become a nationally recognized speaker, author of more than 20 books, and radio/TV show regular in Christian circles. I don’t know what he’s off to do, but as a friend of mine remarked… “It’s going to be good.” An elder of the church said in a newspaper article… “We’re just happy to have had him for our pastor.”
Godspeed to Ray and his family as they search out what is next.
Leave a Reply