During "greet" time @ rolling hills covenant church Palos Verdes a man says to me "Hey handsome" . It made me queasy. I'm 51 by the way, & definitely not gay either. I'm straight but unmarried. Called by God .
I don't like men talking to me in such a way. Greet time should be eliminated at churches . Too many flaky "Mickey Mouse" characters at church 4 wrong reasons.
It's like telling a woman at church she looks "pretty". It's condescending in this day & age . Also the "young man" thing is outdated at 51.
I go to church because it's the right thing to participate in corporate worship ,& I've devoted my life to God . It's not a fashion show. Maybe you could instruct people to just say hello.
Did I hear you mention being a teacher in Detroit at one point? I've got some west Michigan history from a long time ago. I too was a teacher for a while . Then I went back to school for my M.Div , but I don't feel called to be a church pastor at the moment.
After Christian college & seminary I don't usually feel very comfortable around the average parishioner. Just trying to do what I can for the Great Commission.
Hope all is well.
Frank
