Featured Should a pastor hold office hours at the church office?

Hmm, thinking about all the pastors I know, most of them keep office hours. I don't personally know, other than a few here, any pastors that aren't paid staff members. So, my opinion is only on paid pastors. IMO I think pastors should have flexible office hours. There are some days my pastor doesn't come to the office all day, but even though he's not there, he's doing ministry. Our church has an expectation for him to be flexible with his time and he is.

Our pastor spends a fair amount of time in our community going to the hospital, visiting and so on. He's on the administrative committee for our baptist association and will go to meetings on a monthly basis. We both go to association meetings, conferences and the sort, all out of the office, if time permits.

Of the few pastors I know who do not keep office hours, their church has no expectation for them to do so. I think a churches expectation will say a lot about what kind of office hours their pastor should keep.

My dad, a senior adult pastor, has recently been called as an interim pastor. He has the time and spends about 20 hours a week at the church and making visits (not including mid-week & Sunday).

Personally, I like office hours. Each of my work days are planned out. I pretty much know what I'm doing on Mondays, Tuesdays and so on. Of course, ya gotta be flexible because life rarely goes as planned. That's what Fridays and Saturdays are for.

 

The interruption of his study time can be handled by just saying "sorry he is not available right now" and sending them away.

There should be office hours but they should be flexible. Pastors are often available 24/7 and that can effect many other things.

 

I have never had office hours. :flower:

 

This was one of the main reason that I suggested some 40 years ago that the leaders of the church of which I was a member back then spend some money to purchase a good answering machine for our pastor.

You see, back then our pastor had a dedicated telephone line that would by-pass the church office and go directly to him.

This answering machine also had a feature that displayed the caller's name and phone number--a feature that most phones of that era didn't have.

Now the pastor could immediately tell who it was that was calling him. If he was occupied with other business, then that incoming phone call was directly sent to a recording.

While I'm not a pastor, I remember him telling me that this answering machine was well worth the money that the church spent for it.

 

Had all this technical stuff been available in my day, I'd have done a few things differently, including office hours! I think I would have been in the office on a "Need be" basis, and used the computer and phone to my advantage! so much can be accomplished through cyber space today, even texting (gasp)!

Still, when it comes down to it, there is a definite need to be a hands on pastor, and that could be by appointment. I spent many lonely hours in a dark office! Hours I could have spent differently, and more productively, IMHO! :flower:

 

Wouldn't work for me, I have a 40+ hour secular job. the church can't afford to pay me a living wage. they do pay me a monthly salary althoug small. But many bi-vocational pastors would find it hard to keep regular hours. When something comes up someone in the hospital I get a phone call and unless a dire emergency I will get to the hospital once I get off at 5:00 P.M.

 

Depends on what you mean by "regular".

At the very least, living an hour away is problematic.

 

The OP presents a problem that is, as rightly noted by others, solved with some simple solutions like hiring a competent church secretary.

While I can't speak for other pastors, my general rule is to be in the office from 9:00-5:00 Monday through Thursday. My office hours aren't posted but individuals interested in appointments can talk with my assistant and we can schedule these things. I do not, generally, have an open door policy as I never know when I'll be in study, conference, counseling, or some other pastoral ministry need.

While I am available at all hours to take calls, our pastoral staff only take emergency ministry calls after hours through our helpline. This isn't to create layers upon layers between us and the membership, but it is to make sure we can take care of the significant matters of ministry as they are needed and are timely.

 

No...........

 

One I know keeps Office Hours--well, he comes into the office. Not sure how open he is to talking to anyone who walks in.

Another pastor has the office staff have office hours. If he is not in, they can contact by phone.

 

Should a pastor hold office hours at the church office?

Sounds better than holding them at the nearest Buffalo Wild Wings.

 

That's exactly where he should be holding them. Or at the local coffee shop, truck stop, repair shop, hardware store, or any other place where the people are.

 

'Zactly. :type:

 

Then Yes or No: Do you hold office hours at a coffee shop and/or a truck stop and/or a hardware store?