Maybe churchgoer should change her attitude

Wed., June 16, 2004

Diane Verhoeven King Features Syndicate

Dear Diane: My husband, “Gerald,” and I have gone to the same church for more than 30 years. Gerald is a deacon and I am a deaconess. Several weeks ago, an older couple who used to sit in the front pew died tragically. Since Gerald and I have never sat in the front pew, we thought we now would be able to take our place at the front of the congregation, where we should be (in my opinion).

Well, the next Sunday, Gerald and I went to church and sitting in the front pew were a young couple. This couple (“Michael” and “Nancy”) have only been coming to our church for a few months. I know for a fact that Michael drinks and cheats on his wife. And believe me, Nancy is no prize, either.

I kindly asked them to move, as Gerald and I have been members of the church longer and were elders. Michael replied by saying “I didn’t know there was reserved seating in church,” and refused to budge.

I went to our pastor and explained the situation. He agreed with Michael! Our pastor said that to assign seats in church would be “akin to giving people a ‘Spiritual Rank’,” and he would have none of it.

Diane, I am so angry I could bust. I am considering moving to another church because of this. Gerald says I should get a second opinion. So, who is right in this situation? And should Gerald and I switch churches?

— PEWED-OFF IN KENTUCKY

DEAR KENTUCKY: Your pastor is right. Where you sit in church isn’t a statement about how godly you are. If that were the case, then the people in the rear pews would be the biggest sinners, right? If you believe that, then you should sit in the back of the church — not because you are a big sinner, but because they would need your guidance the most.

And no, you shouldn’t change your church. You should change your attitude.

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