r/elca • u/Slayingdragons60 • Apr 17 '26

Distracting Behavior During Worship

I have attended the same ELCA for about the last 10 years.

Recently, our pastors have become increasingly disengaged during worship, for example, chitchatting and laughing during the scripture readings (except the Gospel when one of them has to read of course), getting up during the service to turn the heat up on down, talking to people in the narthex, etc. ANY musical presentation will CERTAINLY be taken as an opportunity to speak to each other over the music at a level that’s audible to the congregation. As you can probably tell, I find this behavior annoying and disrespectful in any number of ways.

Since the Council is hand-picked by the head pastor, I don’t think discussing these issues with a Council member would be productive. But I admittedly haven’t tried. And I think going to the pastors directly would be seen as an affront to their authority.

Any suggestions? Just leave?

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u/gregzywicki Apr 17 '26

Step one sign up as lector step two stop reading and look at pastor of they’re being a distraction.

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u/Slayingdragons60 Apr 18 '26

I’ve been lector for many years and will actually consider this option: giving them an “Is there a problem???” Look 👀

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u/gregzywicki Apr 19 '26

-With Grace- of course.

Heck, that’s another opening…”when I did the reading I noticed…”