Martin Copenhaver wrote an article in The Christian Century that I found interesting.  In Handshake Ritual:  Ministry at the Church Door, Copenhaver described the interactions that occur between pastor and congregation at the conclusion of worship as the people depart the church building.  I sometimes wonder how this practice started, with the minister standing at the door to greet everyone as they leave.  Some want to shake hands, others require a hug, and still others leave without a word or even eye contact.

Copenhaver shared the reality of the stress of the ritual.  The concentrated conversations run the gamut of emotions, from the few seconds one has to digest and respond to a bit of bad news or trouble a congregant mentions that he or she is experiencing, to deciphering comments about the sermon, to reacting to requests for information not immediately at hand or on the pastor’s mind, to welcoming and getting acquainted with newcomers, to putting up with the same old jokes told every week.  As Copenhaver put it, “No wonder I come home from worship ready for a nap.”  I know the feeling.

Copenahaver shared some of the memorable exchanges he had at the church door over the years, saying all ministers have their own stories.  I recall one preacher who shared that when he was young and new in the work, an older member made the following comment to him as she left the worship service:  “I just love your sermons so much.  They don’t require us to think at all.”  One I remember from my experience occurred long ago when a man who fancied himself as humorous said, “I have a book at home that has every word of that sermon in it.”  I just looked at him blankly for a few seconds until he continued, “It’s called the dictionary.”  Cue the uproarious laughter.

I have known a preacher or two who reveled in admiration, and the compliments from those admirers, but it always seemed to me it would be more important for church folks to be leaving the sanctuary thinking and talking about God rather than about the preacher. 

Copenhaver had the same observation, relaying a memorable comment from one of his professors:  “We have too many preachers who want to hear their parishioners say, ‘What a great preacher we have,’ and not enough who long to hear them say, ‘What a great God we have.’”