It91裸聊视频檚 time to quit pretending made a momentous decision a few months ago. I decided to quit playing minister.

A few people may be surprised that I91裸聊视频檓 NOT a minister. Because I often write about religious topics.

I also write about evolution, life, economics, politics, and occasionally even mathematics. Somehow, no one suggests that makes me an economist, biologist, or mathematician.

Perhaps they assume that no one could possibly be interested in theology unless they were being paid to do so.

If I sound like a minister, sometimes, it91裸聊视频檚 because I spent 35 years working in, and for, and with the churches of Canada. Mostly the United Church of Canada. But also with inter-church and ecumenical groups, such as religious publishing associations, summer camps, and theological colleges.

So when a congregation91裸聊视频檚 regular preacher gets sick, or quits, I get called on. Because I can put on a creditable performance, even on short notice, where other people would back off in terror.

I91裸聊视频檝e led worship services all over the country. I91裸聊视频檝e been a theme speaker at church conferences. I91裸聊视频檝e written around 20 books and hundreds of articles, dealing with religious concepts. I probably know the Bible better than many professional clergy.

But I have never been ordained as a minister.

And the truth is, I never wanted to be one.

My father was a minister. And a college principal. And a professor of theology. With four doctorates. He told me once that he was sure he could get me a Rockefeller Scholarship if I wanted to study theology.

I turned him down.

My boss for 13 years, the editor and publisher of The United Church Observer magazine, offered to pay my way through three years of study at a seminary.

I turned him down too.

I91裸聊视频檓 good with words. I91裸聊视频檓 a good speaker. I could probably have crafted sermons that would lead me to prestigious pulpits.

But I would have been a lousy pastor.

I discovered that during one year where I was part of a ministerial team for a local congregation. I think I handled the intellectual side 91裸聊视频� sermons, prayers, study groups 91裸聊视频� fairly well. Even some administration. But I flopped at pastoral care.

So I went back to doing what I was good at 91裸聊视频� writing.

Occasionally, I still get called on to fill in. I91裸聊视频檓 finally learning to say 91裸聊视频淣o91裸聊视频�.

I don91裸聊视频檛 know whether that decision derives from honest self-analysis, or simply from getting too old to enjoy putting together a weekly package of prayers, hymns, and sermons.

So I didn91裸聊视频檛 step into the breach when my own minister took her summer vacation.

And when an old friend asked me to lead a committal service for his parents91裸聊视频� ashes. I was flattered. But again I said 91裸聊视频淣o.91裸聊视频� Because a decision is not a decision if it can be rescinded every time it is tested.

Decisions are easy when there91裸聊视频檚 no pressure. It seems right. Bingo, it91裸聊视频檚 done.

They91裸聊视频檙e tougher when they force me to disappoint a friend.

After some thought, I realized that my original reasons were valid. And if I kept breaking my own commitment, I would never quit pretending to be something I wasn91裸聊视频檛.

So I won91裸聊视频檛 stop writing about religious themes. But I won91裸聊视频檛 play minister anymore.

Jim Taylor lives in Lake Country: rewrite@shaw.ca.