Resume - a brief written account of personal, educational, and professional qualifications and experience, as that prepared by an applicant for a job
This word apparently has something to do with the Latin word summa, that is, roughly summary. If by resume we merely meant summary of things about ourselves I'd be more comfortable with the idea. But as a young minister in training I've been asked to make a resume recently which has forced me to think on the issue. What kind of things does Paul typically say about himself, they are either things in Galatians that indicate that even he should be accursed if he moves from the content of his gospel, things in 2Corinthians about his spectacular feats, or the things everywhere else about being a wretched man, the least of the apostles, the first in rank among sinners and so on. Summing up things about myself wouldn't be a problem if I merely thought that the action would help the church decide if I was suited to their work. But I wonder if the process itself is geared towards self-promotion. If it isn't I'm willing to be wrong.
If these are the things that qualified Paul as a minister woe unto me if I put on a resume for a pastorate some of the wimpy things I've done for the gospel. I've rarely suffered, never had direct revelation from the Risen Christ about the nature of my calling in his plans for history, and if I listed my sins I'd be blacklisted from most churches in the country.
As a church community it seems that we are supposed to say things that build up the other or confess our sins. Good things about other people, true things about our own flaws. A resume makes perfect sense when I apply for a job anywhere else, but in the church our qualifications are a bit different.
Other notes: If churches require resumes shouldn't they require some kind of test of orthodoxy(chalcedonian christology, the church's own creed/confession), some churches do, others I'm afraid may indeed hire even an Arius for his impressive pedigree. Paul's recommendations for a "resume" didn't really even include past experience either now that I think of it, it was based on having a virtuous character coupled with being one who "desires" the work. Jesus's choosing of Peter wasn't based on a list of achievements either.
Jesus have mercy on us when we write resumes that our intention may be to be like you and glorify God, not promote ourselves. May our agenda only be supported insofar as it is your's as well.
