I had a good friend who was a Methodist minister. He and I often talked about religion, so he knew something about my knowledge of his denomination. Well, he was suddenly called away one week for a family emergency and called me. He asked if I would substitute for him that Sunday, two days later. He wasn't able to find a replacement. He told me the theme of the service, based on his liturgical calendar, and the order of the service, including the hymns, etc.
I said that I would be happy to fill in, and showed up early that Sunday. I was unknown to his congregation. I had asked him to arrange for someone else to lead the prayers during the service. So, I spend an hour in the pulpit following the liturgy and schedule he provided. I offered a concise homily on the subject of the reading, which was from 1 Corinthians. One of the elders or deacons or whatever offered the prayers for the service, and was very pleased to have that role.
After the service, I stood in the narthex of the church as the congregation departed, and received some compliments on my sermon. Nobody knew that an atheist had just led their Worship. why would they? My sermon began with "Paul wrote:"
Anyone can lead a church service who understands the liturgy and has some creative capabilities. I assume that an atheist could also act as a shepherd for the flock in other ways. It wouldn't be much of a stretch, but I didn't have to fill that role.
So, yes, there are atheists in the pulpit of far more churches than know that is the case, I'm certain. Nobody's the wiser, either.
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