Q&A; with Greg Batson

The Rev. Greg Batson, senior pastor of Burbank First United Methodist Church, took over when Larry Stamper retired in 2004.

A community anchor from the pulpit and dais, Stamper served one term on the City Council and 32 years as the church’s senior pastor.

“People were concerned about the transition,” said Batson, who leads a congregation of 1,000 members, 325 of whom appear weekly. “They didn’t know me, and I was brand new. Fortunately, that transition went over well the last five years.”

Batson will give his final sermon at 9:30 a.m. June 14, before moving on to a church in Tustin.

We caught up with the former commercial banker in his office at Burbank First United Methodist Church.

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CHRISTOPHER CADELAGO: What are some of the tenets of the United Methodist Church?

GREG BATSON: The United Methodist Church is part of what is known as mainline Protestant Christianity. It’s in the same family as Presbyterian, Episcopal, Lutheran, but the United Methodist Church is pretty broad in its theology. In other words, it has people of all stripes, from conservative to liberal-progressive. A defining aspect of our denomination is that it’s a pretty big tent. We have our basic beliefs in the trinity, in Jesus Christ as our lord and savior in the work of the holy spirit and the church. A lot of other things, beyond just the basics, we let people come to their own decision on.

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Q: What was it like establishing yourself after the Rev. Larry Stamper’s three-decade tenure?

A: Very positive in all aspects. That is largely because not only of Larry’s welcome, but this congregation and this community’s welcome of our family. At no time did we ever feel excluded. We always felt that people wanted us to be a part of this and wanted us to be a successful part of the community.

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Q: We understand you’re retiring and/or leaving the community.

A: I am accepting a new appointment at a church in Tustin. It’s called Aldersgate United Methodist right in central Orange County. I’ll be moving out of Burbank, living in Tustin and serving that church as its senior pastor.

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Q: Was it expected?

A: When we are ordained as pastors within the United Methodist system, we understand that it’s an itinerate system, which means you could be moved by the bishop at any time from year to year. So you may go into a place with some kind of hope or expectation that you are there for a long time, but it’s never a guarantee or never a given. You could receive that phone call at any time.

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Q: Talk about your rather unconventional entry into the field.

A: After I graduated from college, I went into commercial banking as a career. I started my banking career in Nashville, Tenn., with SunTrust Banks and learned the basics of the industry. My wife and I then moved to New York City where I continued in banking at the Bank of New York. It was successful and things were going well, but all through that time, which was more than a 10-year period, I was thinking that there was something else I wanted to do in terms of my vocation and my life. I had always been very involved as a layperson and volunteer in the church and I said, “Well, maybe I should be doing this for a living.” In 1997, I left banking to attend seminary to receive my master’s of divinity. That’s a three-year program. We then moved out to Southern California to be closer to my wife’s family and I started at Santa Monica.

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Q: Are your motivations the same as they were then?

A: Yes. I have a little more experience to go along with that motivation. But the motivation is the same and it’s this: I want to help people find God and their connection to God wherever they are in their journey in life and to do that in a variety of ways — meaningful worship, meaningful study, prayer and service to others. Ministry is a very special way to be able to do that because you’re with people in their times of need and crisis. That’s when I feel my most reward in terms of following this calling.

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Q: You have a voice made for this job. Have people told you that your belts jive with what they expect to hear in a church?

A: People have told me that before and I’ll attribute it somewhat to when I was a teenager in Georgia I worked as a disc jockey for a very small radio station and learned some of my delivery and how to do it at that time.

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Q: The rest of it?

A: (Laughter) The rest of it I would say is God-given. All of us have God-given gifts and talents and then it’s up to us to really both utilize them and continue to improve them. Preaching is like that. You never preach the same sermon twice and you always find different ways to do it better.

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Q: Describe your sermon-writing process?

A: My process is I try to plan out almost a whole year in advance. We follow a liturgical calendar so we know what the seasons of the church year are and we know what the scriptures are assigned for that. I know in advance what scripture and what themes I’ll be going with a whole 12 months in advance. On a weekly basis, after I preach on a Sunday, on Monday I start my next sermon by doing some study of scripture, thinking about what we want to express in terms of worship, and then during the week, not only trying to do some study about what those scriptures mean, but to start to do that reflection on illustrations, on real life examples from the arts, culture or stories. Then it’s just a creative process of trying to piece all those things together. I personally try to have my sermon done by Thursday night.

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Q: Do you use examples from the private sector to draw connections?

A: That’s the challenge of every sermon, to not only take the scripture and the theme that you’re working with, but to make contemporary connections. I pull a lot from my own personal experience in life, from my family to what I observe to memories to try to help illustrate those and bring them to life. I use my business experience as well because as a pastor you have administrative duties, including facilities and budgeting.

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Q: You often talk of inclusion. A number of ministers have put a halt to doing marriages until they can marry same-sex couples. Where does the church stand?

A: First of all, we are open to everybody as far as being a part of a congregation in United Methodist Church. We don’t discriminate against one person or another in their search for God. It’s open to everyone. The issue of same-sex marriages is very divisive not only within the United Methodist Church, but all of the major denominations at this point. It’s important that both sides be heard and be able to discuss that in a civil manner. If they disagree, they should at least agree to disagree. I think that is a decision that each congregation and each denomination and each congregation has to work through.

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Q: Studies show that the number of people who identify as atheist and agnostic is on the rise. How can churches better reach people?

A: That is a growing trend, but it’s almost a third category. It’s not just atheist or agnostic; it’s a growing category of people who report having no preference or particular connection to a religious identification, whether it’s Christian or otherwise. I don’t think that those people are not searching for meaning in their life. So it’s both a challenge to the church in terms of less people automatically being a part of a congregation, but it’s also an opportunity because if those people are really looking and asking the question, “What does my life mean and what does that mean in terms of what I believe?” then the church has the opportunity to present that for them. But it has to work a little bit harder to send that message out and to invite people in and attract them in.

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Q: Let’s see if I can catch you off guard. What’s the most unholy thing you’ve seen in a church?

A: Unholy? (Laughter) I remember when I was in New York City as a layperson, I wasn’t a minister yet, and I was singing in a choir. We had been there a few months, it was Easter Sunday and the sanctuary was packed. As I was departing from the front of the church to walk out with the choir they had these huge four-foot vases full of flowers and the branches stuck out everywhere. As I walked out, one of the branches caught my choir robe and I remember it all being in slow motion. I walked passed it and finally I could hear this gigantic crash. I looked around and there was about 10 gallons of water pouring out everywhere and all I heard were my other choir members saying, “Who did that?” I was so embarrassed, I confessed to the minister after the service who said, “Don’t worry about it,” as he cleaned broken glass and remnants of flowers everywhere. Turns out later, we went to another church. (Laughter)

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Q: In this economic downturn, an increasing number of individuals and families are seeking help. What impact has that had on the church?

A: First of all, I have seen the increase in need whether it’s the Burbank Temporary Aid Center, or the homeless, or people who come to the church looking for financial assistance. And it’s not just homeless, it’s people who have jobs and are working, but are having difficulty making ends meet, like paying the rent or putting food on the table. The economic downturn has certainly had a major impact. In turn, the members and people involved with this church recognize that and they are just as generous with their resources and their time. You see an increase in need and you see an increase in generosity to meet that need.

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Q: What segments of society or places in the world are most in need of God?

A: My belief is that God is always there, that God is not just something from the past that we are remembering, but that God is still very active in the world no matter where we are. But we as human beings are searching for God and therefore always growing and changing in our belief and faith about God. I believe it’s a constant and continuing process. If God is always there, it’s a matter of where in our lives are we trying to intercept with that and have a relationship with God, and, just as important, with each other. For me the great commandment of “Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself,” is the maxim to live by. If we can do that in whatever we are doing in our daily lives, living that out, we are making the world a better place for us.

?CHRISTOPHER CADELAGO covers City Hall and the courts. He may be reached at (818) 637-3242 or by e-mail at christopher.cadelago@latimes. com.