Not that it will matter to anyone, but what the heck; let me offer yet another perspective on those "swanky" meetings and church officials (known derisively as "bureaucrats").
1. The meetings often take place on week-ends, so lay people can attend. This means that the church official is away from home and family. It means missing softball or hockey games, recreation time with family, and "normal" attendance at church and Sunday School.
2. While lay persons might hit one of these a year; the church official may have three or four such meetings; and - to save money, of course - may add on other local work needed before or after the meeting, thereby extending the time away from home and family.
3. Those who sniff "swank" haven't really inhaled the aroma and atmosphere of even a "good" Marriott or Hilton, with coldly institutional furnishing and decor, often a disinterested staff and an atrocious kitchen, (Best advice: order the hamburger, there's less chance they can ruin it, but they'll try.)
4. Consider the fun of doing your reporting or paper work in a hotel room late at night.
5. Thought about "modern" air travel today? Unless you're flying premium-platinum-star business or first class (and I doubt many of those allegedly pampered bureaucrats do that) getting there is no fun.
The last year before the ELCA merger, I was out of my New York office for at least 100 days. (We keep records to save on New York taxes, which we didn't pay the days we weren't in New York.) Working for the Lutheran Council, LWF, and LCA took me away from home many many days and nights; and although I was at times in locations that sound appealing, I was still away from home. Even traveling on a New York Times expense account (no First Class there, either) still meant I was away from home. And sometimes I was in places like Appleton, or St. Louis, or Fargo.
Think about it.
