BY LITTLE PEGGY ANN MCKAY
BLOOMINGTON, IN—The name on the Pastor’s door remains “Pastor Timothy Juniper.” The lettering under the main church sign reads, “Timothy Juniper, Senior Pastor.” The bulletin often announces sermons by “Pastor Timothy Juniper.” Church members eagerly share about the latest conversations and meetings they’ve had with Pastor Juniper.
Timothy Juniper is not the pastor of the Bloomington SDA Church. That title belongs to Pastor Jim Schwartz. But in a startling display of staying power and attachment, one year after the arrival of Pastor Schwartz, the ghost of the previous pastor continues to manifest its haunting presence and influence in the building and community of the Bloomington SDA Church.
Pastor Schwartz first suspected his new ministry was haunted one month after his arrival, when he sighted the apparition of the previous pastor speaking from the church pulpit during New Year’s festivities. The following Sabbath, during Welcome and Announcements, he again sighted the eerie being taking the stage. This time, it exhorted the congregation personally and directly, and thanked the members for what they’d done.
Initially, Pastor Schwartz dismissed the sightings as illusion and paranoia. But the sightings continued in frequency and intensity.
“After the appearance during the announcements, there was a peaceful period. But suddenly, during a recent church program, the ghost returned, and seemed emboldened,” described a mystified Schwartz.
Schwartz began to see the ghost assume management of the church, testing microphones and checking on the pulpit and pews. The ghost seemed to walk with a sense of entitlement, even carrying itself like a pastor. Soon, Schwartz detected a change in the positive relationships he was developing with church members.
“We got along great--they liked me, listened to my sermons, and said they appreciated my ministry. One even thanked me for taking care of an issue the previous pastor wasn’t able to solve. But the minute he said that, there was a thunderclap from the PA room, and I saw the ghost standing there, looking furious,” said Schwartz.
From that instant, according to Schwartz, the ghost began manipulating members, stoking fears about Schwartz and feeding irrational ideas. For example, it succeeded in convincing members that the forty-eight-year-old Schwartz was a novice with little experience despite his ten years pastoring Westlake on top of his doctoral education.
“They began scheduling the ghost to preach instead of me. I don’t mind sharing the pulpit, but each time this being preaches, the air in church gets colder and colder around me,” said Schwartz.
The ghost has encouraged members to vocally protest the conference’s decision to retire the previous pastor, and to place Schwartz and Bloomington. Members have since written many letters, made calls, and appeared at the conference at the behest of the ghost.
To Schwartz and his family, it seems as if the ghost is terrified and insecure that its presence and legacy will be forgotten, even though Schwartz has never spoken badly about the previous pastor, has often acknowledged the great work he did at Bloomington, and has himself tried to bring in a spirit of peace and goodwill. But the restless ghost continues to make contact with members. Members now gather regularly at his house, and recently replanted his garden and renovated his porch.
“I think every pastor goes through something similar when they start,” said Schwartz. “Some might not have a problem as dramatic like this but it goes with the territory. Hopefully the members themselves will tire from entertaining the whims and wishes of this spirit and move on. But in the meantime, it’s hard when a church clings to the past.”
