Pastor’s responsibility during Vacation Bible

Is it just for one night - or the whole week? Had he made a commitment to his son prior to VBS? These are important questions as well. I'll admit that it would be unusual for pastor to be absent during the entirety of VBS.

 

I would say it depends. Does he know that he was expected to fulfill a role? And did the director plan vbs for that particular week without checking the pastor's availability? In our situation, the pastor (my husband) and I lead the worship rally. The VBS director doesnt even have a job once vbs starts. But last week, we participated in VBS at a sister church and the pastor wasnt there at all.
I think that *usually* a pastor would participate, but I don't want to dog on the man without really knowing the underlying issues.

 

I second the questions regarding:

Which committment was made/scheduled first?

What kind of message does it send to the little league team if the Pastor committed to them first, and then goes back on his word?

What role does he normally have in VBS at that church? I've seen some pastors that do one assembly each morning and that's it, and I've seen some pastors who do almost everything.

Should the Pastor be expected to fill every roll in a church and participate in every aspect of the church from nursery to elementary to youth to college to young adult to senior adult?

Where does he get his time to recharge and listen to God?

 

As stated in another thread...this is more or less an accusation against a pastor/elder. We've only heard one side. Have you gone to the pastor to find out why what happened happened in the first place? If not, that is the first place to start. The accusation? You said he "ditched" his part of VBS or more or less implied such. I don't believe people should be coming here airing their grievances against their pastors. The Bible gives processes for handling disputes between Christians and entreating a pastor/elder. Have you followed those Biblical guidelines?

 

Here's the "skinny" on how I handle VBS! The VBS Director is in charge of securing teachers, staff, personel, etc. for the week. In the past 3 years---the VBS Director has asked me(the pastor) if I would teach 3-4 grade boys----to which I gladly said "Yes!"----the VBS Director is "top notch"---and had all teaching positions secured by February----long before the "First Pitch" of Little League.

If the VBS Director so happened to NOT ask me to teach or fill any positons(personally)----I would still be at VBS---barring my son's Little League game! If my son has a game on a particular night of VBS---then I choose to obligate myself to be there for him--the VBS Director is "man" enough to handle it on her on for one night!!! Fortunetly for us---we have VBS in morning hours---that way---if any boys play league ball--they are free to the game at night!

 

Agreed there is LOTS we don't know. No matter what the situation have you discussed it with your Pastor? None of us can nor we should attempt to pass judgment on this situation.

As for the role of the Pastor at VBS. I would say it is up to the church leadership what role he should take. In the church we recently left the Pastor always put in an apperance each day, but did not actively participate. In the Church we just joined the Pastor showed up for the entire time, but had no active role. The flip side is I have a friend who when he was a Pastor did everything for VBS from planning to leading the entire program.

Bill

 

VBS is a church ministry to the children in the area. The pastor is part of the church. His main responsability is to the church, he won't be missed as 'assistant' for one week. VBS happens every year, and if anything like in our church the date is set many months in advance, like almost a whole year, it is almost always the second week of June. So his commitment is a year old, and his commitment is to serve in this church. Which I assume he is being paid to do.
Shouldn't his son be in VBS anyway?

 

I personally believe that a pastor should make VBS a priority. I know of some pastors here in Arizona who intentionally schedule their vacations during that week. What a shame for they miss out on being with the kids and the kids miss out on seeing the pastor in a different setting than on Sunday morning. I also would say that if one of my kids had something special on one night of VBS, I would be with my kid and make sure that VBS was covered for that night.

I am a little curious about the meeting between Kevin's wife, the pastor and the DOM. Who called this meeting? Who asked the DOM to become involved? I am wondering how much authority the DOM has in an autonomous church situation? In our church the DOM--has no authority at all. He is welcomed to become involved at the request of the whole church or at the request of the pastor.

Bro Tony

 

Give him an initial break. He has a family.

BUT, I think he needs to make some kind of appearance.

 

I think back across the pastors I have had and each one played a different level of participation, none right or wrong. As someone who leads in children's ministry, unless I ask him to teach adults, I would just rather him make some kind of appearance one day. And, of course, help with promotion from the pulpit.

To expect his son to participate? Hmmmm. To some degree, yes, but it isn't his son's job to be in Bible School.

 

I agree. When I pastored a church that small we developed backyard Bible clubs. Some years ago a couple of young men did that in LOs Angeles and it was extremely successful. It takes just a few people and very little money. We had some youth from a much larger church help us get started. It was so much nicer having some youth to help us and they got some experience helping in another church. Those backyard Bible clubs can go throughout the years on a weekly basis if you would like.

I have known too many pastors who put their church/work ahead of their families. I know a pastor who coaches a baseball team in Utah and he tells me often the sons of the Mormon bishop are disappointed because their dad is so busy with his church and not his family. One time my daughter came to me when I was pastoring crying wondering when I would have time for her. I determined from that point on she would come first before any church.

 

Open communication is always important.

 

That is not even biblical to do when there is a conflict. It must be approached in private first. The DOM is not a part of your church. If you did that to me I would see you as a troublemaker instead of trying to solve a problem.

One of the things you might want to consider is do you want to be right or have a relationship with the pastor? Sounds like you want to be right.

Personally I can see both sides of the issue and neither is right or wrong. If I had to put my child over you, it would be my child every time. It should be that way. So then the choice is left up to you as to what you will do with that information.

What would happen if the entire church joined him in watching his son? What a testimony that would be to your pastor, his son and the public. Nobody will ever forget that the rest of their life. That kind of a witness will be far more valuable than anything you say.

One time I made it known that we as a church should go see a young man play soccer. It was his last match of tghe season. Imagine what that young boy thought when he saw the chruch there. I had the same thing happen to me one time when I was in college and competing in a sport. Almost everyone I knew was there. I din't know they were coming. I was a new Christian at the time too. They travelled about 60 miles to be there.

Surprise your pastor and take the kids from VBS there. He will be shocked. As a church you can suck him dry or fill him up with love.

 

Maybe things are done different in the Bible belt than here in the wild west. I hope the pastor knows that the DOM has been invited. I hope he is agreeable to the DOM being there. I see no real good reason for the DOM to be involved in the inner workings of an autonomous church unless the church invites him to do so. It could be that your church is so small that there is no other leadership who could meet with your wife and the pastor. I am always concerned when outsiders are drawn into the issues, for they only know what they have been told. I am also concerned when DOM or State workers are brought into a situation as if they are some sort of authority. They exist to support the local church----They have no authority. Just my thoughts.

Bro Tony

 

Do what the Bible says. Forget the DOM. Take someone in your church after you have talked to your pastor first.

 

A MINISTERS 1ST RESPONSIBILTY IS TO GOD AND THEN TO HIS FAMILY...

 

The pastor should be involved. He has everwhere, I have served. However, I know you should stay away from baseball season. The time he spends with those kids will impact them forever.

Is his child playing all-stars? what part of Bama are you from??