How does one become a pastor to a particular congregation? There is the official process of sending a resume for an open position and the interview to follow, but this article will explore the process of becoming a pastor to a particular congregation once a position is accepted. The movie “Gran Torino” can teach how one becomes a pastor. “Gran Torino” came out in 2008 and was directed by Clint Eastwood. This article will look at the relationship that develops between Father Janovich, the local Catholic Priest and Walt Kowalski, the Korean War vet.
The movie begins with Father Janovich speaking at the funeral of Dorothy Kowalski, Walt’s wife. After the funeral, Father Janovich asks, “How are you holding up, Walt?” Walt replies, “Mr. Kowalski, that’s my name.” Immediately, the audience recognizes that Walt has no respect for the Father and does not see the Father as his priest. Before Dorothy’s death, the Father promised her that he would get Walt to come to a confession. Walt has no room in his life for the church or the Christian faith and has no desire to “confess to a boy just out of seminary.” It becomes very clear that Father Janovich and Walt Kowalski do not have a working relationship as the Father’s connection to the family was only possible because of his relationship with Dorothy.
As the story continues, Walt’s Hmong neighbors are attacked by a local Hmong Gang. Tao, the son, is beaten up, and Sue, the daughter, is beaten and raped by the gang. After hearing about this tragedy, Father Janovich visits Walt. Father Janovich begins the conversation by saying, “Mr. Kowalski, are you ok?” He continues saying that if he was Tao he would “want to stand shoulder to shoulder and kill those guys.” The Father also says to Walt, “I know you are close to this, but this pisses me off, Mr. Kowalski.” Walt offers the priest a beer, and he takes one. As the conversation continues, Father Janovich asks, “What are you going to do?” Mr. Kowalski replies, “Call me Walt.” This is the moment in the movie where Father Janovich becomes Mr. Kowalski’s pastor or priest.
Afterwards, Father Janovich is speaking at Walt’s funeral. At Dorothy’s funeral, Father Janovich talks mostly about life and death from a theological perspective with very little mention of who she was or the kind of life she lived. At Walt’s funeral, Father Janovich talks about who Walt was and how Walt taught him about life and death. As Walt’s priest, Father Janovich offers pastoral care to the family during the funeral as one who really knew Walt.
“Gran Torino” has many lessons and truths portrayed in the movie, one of them being the process of becoming a pastor to a particular person. Initially, the Priest is understood as someone separate, as an outsider. As the Priest responds to the injustice honestly and openly, he is welcomed into the person’s life. It is only by the minister sharing in the pain of suffering in the congregation does he/she become their pastor. It is through the difficulties of life and the sharing of this burden that the minister is no longer seem as the one who preaches each Sunday morning but the one beside people in their pain.
