Interview with Terry Plank, Past President of The Clergy Project
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Rational Doubt
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2017/03/30
Editor’s Note: As promised, here is another interview by the journalist who interviewed me for Conatus News. This time he talked to TCP’s most recent past president. I’ve known Terry for a few years now, but must say, I learned a lot I didn’t know by reading this interview. Maybe you will too.
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By Scott Douglas Jacobsen, Founder of In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal and In-Sight Publishing
You published the story of the personal transition “from agnostic to believer to atheist” on The Clergy Project public website on October 25, 2014. In a prior time, you were a “Christian in the Church of Christ,” and earned an M.Div. at Fuller Theological Seminary and were a pastor in 5 churches. Since that time, other activities, initiatives, insights, and relationships could have developed for you. Let’s explore some of the updates. Those leaving a main source of communal and social activities tend to need a replacement. What have been some important developments in initiatives for the recreation of a social world for those transitioning out of pastoral duties, where you directly participate or indirectly advocate?
Terry Plank
I had no communal or organized social activities before joining the church after meeting and marrying a Christian. So, basically, I returned to my pre-Christian state. There have been stints in organizations like Rotary, our local semi-professional theatre, social activism, Humanist Society Board, but those were not a replacement for feeling a loss or seeking community, but commitments to the goals and objectives of a particular organization of meeting a need in our area. Except for the early years when our children were young, even my work in the church was not really based in any way on a desire or need for communal life, it was commitment to God’s work in the world.
Let me situate this, I grew up as an only child in a home where we had no social life outside of the three of us. I was very involved in theatre, music and such, but not out of a desire for relationships or being with people. I had few close friends in HS or College. Now, I’ve recaptured that triad with my wife and our dog! Actually, we have great relationships with our grown daughters and grandchildren, but they don’t live locally so it’s not a regular involvement in person. My wife and I are of like-mind in nearly everything and have a very meaningful relationship. That said, we are both introverts and value alone time greatly. She is a different kind of introvert, having many close women friends she spends time with. I, on the other hand, am kind of a gregarious loner, a personable and friendly recluse.
I have been very involved in leadership at TCP, most recently President of the Board. I have some terrific relationships with other TCP leaders and workers, but those are online, distance relationships centered around accomplishing the Mission of TCP.
As time has passed since the last report, any new insights into the post-pastoral life?
Basically, I just stepped back into a pre-pastoral life. Eventually, I began to study and read more about science, philosophy, history, Skepticism, Freethought, & Humanism. That didn’t strengthen my rejection of religion, just validated what I had discovered for myself trying to make sense of the Bible, myself, and reality.
What is the single greatest professional difficulty in serving the church as an atheist and leaving the church?
For me, there was no difficulty. I had a degree in Theatre Arts and a previous for another advanced degree and career in retail management before becoming a pastor and returned to that. Within a couple of years, I returned to Graduate School and became a psychotherapist, eventually moving on to consulting as a Search Marketing Professional and operating a wedding business. I retired from Search Marketing & still operate the wedding business.
What is the single greatest personal, emotional difficulty?
Dealing with aging and physical limitations due to having Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis & Arthritis. I don’t have the same mobility and stamina that I’ve had over the years. So, hiking is more limited, backpacking and snowshoeing are out. Experiencing my stiffness and limited mobility, walking/hiking looking down at the pavement, dealing with fatigue, it’s taking a lot of introspection on what it means to be human in the world. Fortunately, my mind is unaffected and as long as I slow down the pace, I can still do meaningful work at the computer and out in the world performing marriages. We still camp and I take road trips. I don’t fear death, but am aware each day that at 75 my life will end any day now, definitely within the next 20 years. That’s not something I dwell on, but it influences making decisions on how I want to live my remaining years.
Are the sacrifices different for men pastors than for women pastors?
I don’t know if you mean during ministry or after, but either way I’ve never had a relationship with a woman pastor so I don’t have any experience to draw upon.
Thank you for your time, Terry.
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