Those in ministry are often challenged by a perception they are attempting to portray. This perception is created by personal expectations as well as congregational expectations. You believe a minister ought to be viewed in a certain light, while a congregation believes a minister ought to behave in a particular fashion. Often neither set of expectations represent the true self. I believe many in ministry today don’t recognize true self and confuse it with one’s or other’s expectations. We have been playing a role that is less than authentic. We cry for authenticity, yet we neither give ourselves permission nor assume we’ll be given permission to live out the true self by others.
Persona and Masks: Living in Authenticity
Those in ministry are often challenged by a perception they are attempting to portray. This perception is created by personal expectations as well as congregational expectations. You believe a minister ought to be viewed in a certain light, while a congregation believes a minister ought to behave in a particular fashion. Often neither set of expectations represent the true self. I believe many in ministry today don’t recognize true self and confuse it with one’s or other’s expectations. We have been playing a role that is less than authentic. We cry for authenticity, yet we neither give ourselves permission nor assume we’ll be given permission to live out the true self by others.