Re: Armor Bearer vs Flunky
 

Are you being serious? there is no right way to do this.

Any minister that is allowing this to be done to him / for him ought to slapped in the face till he comes to his senses.

I have heard of this practice before and have always thought that it was shameful.

Re: Armor Bearer vs Flunky
 

I dunno, FAL. In the manner in which it has been described so far, I agree it's shameful.

But what if you have an elderly pastor, say, who is in high demand as a national and conference speaker, he has difficulty carrying luggage and needs an extra bit of help updating his blog and doing other church communications related work?

If "it's done right" - that is, if a talented assistant is paid a decent salary and given the respect they deserve - that they've earned! - then I don't see a problem.

I knew one pastor who had eyesight problems and always seemed to have some one at his arm to help him find his way into and out of large meeting halls. The problem he ran into was that though he seemed to appreciate the help, he was also generally something of a grouch at other times so he cycled through his informal "armor bearers" with some rapidity.

"Done right" is an ambiguous phrase. Maybe we should say - "Done with a sense of honor and mutual respect..." and if a full or even part time position - "Done with reasonable and adequate compensation."

Re: Armor Bearer vs Flunky
 

What, no sedan chair?

http://www.reformation.org/en-papal-sedan-chair.jpg

Re: Armor Bearer vs Flunky
 

Train them to carry his Bible and water bottle?!

Give me a break.

:vomit

Re: Armor Bearer vs Flunky
 

Yes.

:ursofunny

Re: Armor Bearer vs Flunky
 

This is basically what I had in mind - too bad people didn't see that. I was at work and couldn't give a more detailed response.

Re: Armor Bearer vs Flunky
 

No, seriously... After the last spate of church shootings I have heard of churches that have off duty police and others carry their weapons to church to serve as "armor bearers" to protect the people gathered there.

The church in Colorado Spgs. where that nut went around and killed a couple of kids in the parking lot already had such a program in place. It was one of the "armor bearers" that put the guy down before he could shoot anyone inside the church.

Re: Armor Bearer vs Flunky
 

Well in that case... no.

We did have the city police chief come to our church and walk us through some senarios... and how we should act.

But no one at our church has a concealed weapons license.

Re: Armor Bearer vs Flunky
 

Agreed Pel. But why then call it an armour bearer? Call the person what he is, an assistant.

The title "armour bearer" is right up there with "holy magic hair" as something that gives off the wrong impression.

Re: Armor Bearer vs Flunky
 

A paid assistant is a much different thing than an armor bearer in the sense that it is used in many places today.

Like I said, I hope that what I've seen is worse than what transpires in most places.

Same church did supposedly do conceal and carry. Scary, and this is why. A woman told me she was so glad the men were carrying guns to church. When my reaction was less than positive, she told me that they were all well trained to handle weapons. I asked why she thought they were, or how she knew. She laughed and told me one had dropped his ammo running the aisles. Wait... she had just said this guy was well trained? :uhoh I think I'd rather take my chances with the criminals...