It香蕉视频直播檚 time to quit pretending made a momentous decision a few months ago. I decided to quit playing minister.

A few people may be surprised that I香蕉视频直播檓 NOT a minister. Because I often write about religious topics.

I also write about evolution, life, economics, politics, and occasionally even mathematics. Somehow, no one suggests that makes me an economist, biologist, or mathematician.

Perhaps they assume that no one could possibly be interested in theology unless they were being paid to do so.

If I sound like a minister, sometimes, it香蕉视频直播檚 because I spent 35 years working in, and for, and with the churches of Canada. Mostly the United Church of Canada. But also with inter-church and ecumenical groups, such as religious publishing associations, summer camps, and theological colleges.

So when a congregation香蕉视频直播檚 regular preacher gets sick, or quits, I get called on. Because I can put on a creditable performance, even on short notice, where other people would back off in terror.

I香蕉视频直播檝e led worship services all over the country. I香蕉视频直播檝e been a theme speaker at church conferences. I香蕉视频直播檝e written around 20 books and hundreds of articles, dealing with religious concepts. I probably know the Bible better than many professional clergy.

But I have never been ordained as a minister.

And the truth is, I never wanted to be one.

My father was a minister. And a college principal. And a professor of theology. With four doctorates. He told me once that he was sure he could get me a Rockefeller Scholarship if I wanted to study theology.

I turned him down.

My boss for 13 years, the editor and publisher of The United Church Observer magazine, offered to pay my way through three years of study at a seminary.

I turned him down too.

I香蕉视频直播檓 good with words. I香蕉视频直播檓 a good speaker. I could probably have crafted sermons that would lead me to prestigious pulpits.

But I would have been a lousy pastor.

I discovered that during one year where I was part of a ministerial team for a local congregation. I think I handled the intellectual side 香蕉视频直播� sermons, prayers, study groups 香蕉视频直播� fairly well. Even some administration. But I flopped at pastoral care.

So I went back to doing what I was good at 香蕉视频直播� writing.

Occasionally, I still get called on to fill in. I香蕉视频直播檓 finally learning to say 香蕉视频直播淣o香蕉视频直播�.

I don香蕉视频直播檛 know whether that decision derives from honest self-analysis, or simply from getting too old to enjoy putting together a weekly package of prayers, hymns, and sermons.

So I didn香蕉视频直播檛 step into the breach when my own minister took her summer vacation.

And when an old friend asked me to lead a committal service for his parents香蕉视频直播� ashes. I was flattered. But again I said 香蕉视频直播淣o.香蕉视频直播� Because a decision is not a decision if it can be rescinded every time it is tested.

Decisions are easy when there香蕉视频直播檚 no pressure. It seems right. Bingo, it香蕉视频直播檚 done.

They香蕉视频直播檙e tougher when they force me to disappoint a friend.

After some thought, I realized that my original reasons were valid. And if I kept breaking my own commitment, I would never quit pretending to be something I wasn香蕉视频直播檛.

So I won香蕉视频直播檛 stop writing about religious themes. But I won香蕉视频直播檛 play minister anymore.

Jim Taylor lives in Lake Country: rewrite@shaw.ca.