Reports from the Congregation

Inspired by George Buttrick’s Reports from the Pew

Connect with what George is up to in retirement by going to this link: https://forms.gle/e1ENchq8tp2Guv9v7. 

Five decades ago I had the good fortune to take a preaching class taught by George Buttrick at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. Buttrick died more than 40 years ago so several generations of preachers are unlikely to be as influenced by his teaching as was my generation and multiple generations before us.

Yet many might know his name as the Commentary Editor for the 12 volumes of The Interpreter's Bible published in 1952, and still a “must-have” set of books when I attended seminary 20 years later. I still have my set and both my wife and I consult them when either of us are leading or participating in formal Bible studies.

His class was almost two hours long with a break in the middle. That break is a key sidebar to this story.

Buttrick, a native of England who emigrated to America, was for many years the pastor of Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. In retirement he taught at various divinity schools and seminaries. He came to Louisville to teach one course per semester at Louisville Presbyterian Seminary and one at The Southern Baptist Theological School.

After a couple of years of teaching at both schools, his doctor suggested he only teach at one school due to his health. Although Presbyterian, he chose the Baptist seminary rather than the Presbyterian Seminary. He said the Baptist students were more interested in preaching than the Presbyterian students.

He gave a lot of himself to the classes. Once during the semester each student and spouse were invited to his home for more intimate dialogue about sermons we had submitted. His wife entertained the spouses while the students -- three or four at a time -- had dialogue with him in his home study. These were highly sought after by the students and amazingly helpful and affirming.

For each weekly class session Buttrick would arrive with a stack of his old sermon outlines. He had thousands of them. They were each on one page, but that page was highly organized into several sections and in small handwriting. I would not be surprised if each sermon outline had 500 words on it.

Buttrick believed that each sermon was a unique event. An experience that could not be repeated. He claimed none of the sermons had been preached more than once. He would ask us not to take more than two or three at a time so there would be plenty for everyone. I know I still have mine somewhere, but I have not been able to find them now almost 50 years later.

Due to his advanced years and chronic health issues,  Buttrick's voice was not strong. It was important to listen intently to him in the large room in which we met with about 30 students.

On this particular day I was sleepy in the warm classroom from studying late into the night the evening before. I was missing my wife that day. I had slept in and she was leaving as I woke up. We had been married for less than two years. I knew she would be home from the school where she taught about the same time as the break. I left at the break to return to our oncampus apartment.

The Sidebar

Having slept late and rushed to my first class that day, I had not heard the weather forecast for the day. It was ominous. Thunderstorms in the late afternoon. Perhaps more serious weather events. The date was April 3, 1974.

When I arrived back at our apartment my wife was there. She had opened the windows as the inside air was hot and stale. In a few minutes I commented that it was awkwardly still outside. No breeze. No birds. Then in the distance I heard what sounded like a train coming in our direction, and the sound steadily grew louder and closer.

It was a tornado. 

We heard running in the hallway and people shouting. Betty and I opened the door and realized people were headed to the basement. We ran with them. We huddled together as the tornado came close and the sounds of destruction were terrifying. Then it passed. We slowly joined the crowd in climbing back up the stairs. 

Trees had fallen. Anything loose had been thrown around. Our building seemed fine. Then we looked out at the parking lot. Many cars were damaged. Several were thrown over the hill and down an embankment. Looking farther away we realized the tornado had hit the hill next to our apartment building and bounced across the street flattening eight to ten houses. Later we heard two or three people died in those houses and many were hurt.

A few days later I heard that members of our class had helped Dr. Butrrick take shelter as the tornado approached. With some physical challenges that was help which was essential for him.

Reports from the Pew

Due to his general health, mobility, and voice strength, George Buttrick did not preach anymore. The few times he spoke to a gathered audience he was seated and had a microphone in front of him. 

Instead of preaching, he attended various worship services and provided for his preaching class a weekly Reports from the Pew. In these reports he would critique the biblical text used, the interpretation provided, the application offered, and the illustrations or stories used to illuminate the key points in memorable ways. 

During the weeks following the tornado I suspect based on this previous pattern -- but I do not remember for sure -- he was careful to point out the use and abuse of the tornado as a focus on sermons preached. Did the preacher turn away from the text to speak topically about the tornado? Or did the preacher integrate references to what people were experiencing in ways appropriate to the text and the key focal point of the message?

In my mind, these were really outstanding insights. They caused many of us to think more deeply about our preaching. We wondered what his critique might be if he was sitting in the congregation when we preached and used us as a teaching point -- for good or bad observations -- in his class the next week.

Reports from the Congregation

During my own ministry, where I have primarily served as a denominational staff person or independent consultant and coach to congregations, I have more often sat in a congregation assessing the worship experience for a report to church leaders than I have been the preacher.

As I move into the legacy or mentoring season of ministry I will be sharing reports from the congregation for edification of pastors and other church leaders. 

They will be part of The Bullard Journal which starts in August 2022 as described below.

The Bullard Journal: I am reviving a regular email-driven newsletter I used during my years as a full-time consultant. One to three times per month I will send out observations of what I am learning, helping resources for church and denominational leaders, and opinion pieces with the theme ForthTelling Innovation.

To sign up for it, go to https://forms.gle/e1ENchq8tp2Guv9v7. 

Eventually there will be a cost for this email-driven newsletter. However, for anyone who signs up by July 31st there will be no cost until January 2023. The cost will be necessary because of the various knowledge vehicles -- newsletters, websites, research companies, and other resources that charge to access their information. Also, for books and other resources I will purchase, read, assess, and share with you.

The Bullard Journal will begin in August. The period of August to December will allow you to know if the information and insights provided are an enhancement to your ministry. It not, you can drop it. If it is, you can subscribe beginning in January 2023.