From my Dad's 1972 reflections on 22 years of ministry.

“The first congregation served was in Virginia. I was called following a split in the congregation occasioned by whether or not the altar rail should have an opening in the center! The congregation had not been too large before dividing. One of the first congregations established in the town, now grown to 90,000 people, we had neither the resources of faith, numbers or finances to anticipate a glowing future. But it was a good pastorate. The brand new clergyman was ministered to as much as he ministered. He learned that within a congregation persons could read the Gospel and the social scene differently and still remain one family. Only once a year would we have some real hot debate and that would be in the narthex following the Race Relations Sunday service! It was in this ministry that I learned the great value of ecumenical relationships on the local level. As I look back on the Virginia ministry, it appears that I was expecting a great deal to happen solely as a result of my great preaching! I know that I prepared a great deal more then for preaching than I did as time went on.”