Jim Miller’s influence on me
One of the words of wisdom I received out of seminary was a truth that applies in many professions - make sure you like your boss. In my case, if you are an associate pastor, know that your senior pastor can make or break your experience. He or she might be smart, wise, a good preacher and successful, but that does not mean he or she will be a good overseer.
When I first met Dr. Jim Miller, I immediately felt this was someone from whom I had a lot to learn and someone I would really enjoy working with. I can honestly say, after almost 10 years of serving alongside Jim, that I still feel that way. Jim has been and continues to be a mentor, a friend, a colleague and a confidant. And I cannot begin to express all that I have learned from watching him and working alongside him, or my gratitude for these years.
By way of sharing some of the ways Jim has influenced me, I want to offer 10 lessons (in no particular order) that I have learned from him. We might call them “Jim-isms.” Each has shaped my ministry and sense of what it means to be a pastor. And, in honor of Jim, some of these will be “flying over the same airfield.”
People are more important than programs. I may not have heard these exact words, but I have seen Jim live this truth. I have experienced it personally in his care for me. Whether it is showing up at a hospital bedside, someone’s house for a pastoral conversation, or being late to the Vestry before the 11 a.m. service due to a conversation with someone in the Atrium, Jim has reminded me that to be a pastor is to care for people.
We serve a God who bends things to the good. One of my favorite Jim-isms. The best thing is that Jim truly believes this, and he lives it. He lives and preaches the truth of the Gospel and the power of the God we serve. He lives it by his joy, his hope, his encouragement, his presence of peace, and his relentless proclamation of the power of the resurrected Jesus.
Laughter is a sign of health. Whether with staff or the congregation (during children’s times in particular), Jim fosters a spirit of playfulness and joy that disarms, brings people together and breaks down barriers. I cannot begin to count the number of staff meetings that have either begun or ended in laughter. It is always good to be reminded that we serve a God of joy and abundance! Even if we are the frozen chosen!
Christianity is not Pollyannaish. Jim does not shy away from the things that are hard. He is always willing to step into difficult conversations, whether around personal conflict, talking about suffering and the sovereignty of God, addressing race relations in our city, or any number of other things. Whatever the question, Jim is led by his faith and a confidence that God is present amid our questions and concerns.
The bulletin is only a guide. Or, sometimes the best ideas come at the last minute. I appreciate how Jim pairs a desire for excellence with flexibility and an openness to the Spirit, even when the timeline is not ours! This includes listening to other people’s last-minute ideas, which cannot be said of all leaders.
Never be afraid to quote Lewis! As a pastor, it is good to be reminded that I don’t need to make everything up. We stand on the shoulders of giants of the faith who have come before us, and some of my best ideas will come from other people.
The best gifts come wrapped up in flesh and bone. For me the reminder is never to take the people around you for granted. Never be too busy for a conversation or too distracted to be present to someone. Never forget that the people in your life are the greatest gifts God has given to you.
Show up to the funeral. We’re flying around the airfield here, but one of the primary things I have learned from Jim is how to care for people. Central to that is what we might call the gift of presence - showing up even if you don’t know exactly what you are going to do or say. Jim has modeled the gift and power of presence.
It’s important to have the 30,000-foot view. Whether it is in relationships or reading Scripture, it’s important to see the whole picture. Never be ashamed to stand firm for what you believe. In a world where the historic witness of the gospel is coming under fire, I am grateful to have served alongside someone who has stood firm and unwavering with grace and kindness.
Like many others, I am deeply thankful for Jim’s influence in my life and in the life of this church. To quote Lewis in “The Last Battle,” “Further up, and further in!”
About the author:
Dan Hutchinson is the senior associate pastor at First Church. Dan graduated from Princeton Seminary with a Master of Divinity in 2012. He received a B.A. in History from Wheaton College in 2007 and an M.A. in Theology in 2008. He is a third-generation pastor.