To All The Pastors

[Martin]

Maybe the op is just curious, and I hope that is the case. On the other hand, if I had a quarter for every time I've heard people expressing their ignorant opinions about how the pastor should spend his time, I'd be a rich woman.

Curious, that is how I would describe the intent of the OP. I'm really concerned about my pastor's heavy schedule. My guess was that he was taking on too much and this thread has verified that for me. All pastors should have time to relax and do something they enjoy (fly a kite, work on cars, read books, blog, etc) away from work. Otherwise burn out and health problems are on the way.

 

[Martin]

Perhaps they have church members who actually help pull their share because they understand it's the responsibility of all Christians to do the work of Christ, instead of just the pastor.

Churches like that are few and far between and if our BB pastors are blessed to have such a church, I say PRAISE THE LORD!

Our church has many, many members who do what they can. However our pastor is a type A personality who wants to be everywhere at once. If you get sick, others may come, but he will be there. We hired him an assistant pastor, and the assistant pulls his weight (believe me). But the pastor is still going 24-7. I suppose it is more of a personality issue than anything else. I am just concerned about his health. Pastors should be able to relax, blog, or go to the beach without having to worry about what might happen while they are gone.

 

[abcgrad94]

Curious, that is how I would describe the intent of the OP. I'm really concerned about my pastor's heavy schedule. My guess was that he was taking on too much and this thread has verified that for me. All pastors should have time to relax and do something they enjoy (fly a kite, work on cars, read books, blog, etc) away from work. Otherwise burn out and health problems are on the way.

God bless you for your concern for your pastor. I think it's hard for many pastors NOT to "be there" for everyone and everything, but if they are not careful they will lose their health and possibly even their family. Some of the greatest men of God I know have children who will not attend church now that they're adults, because they feel the church got more love and attention then they did while growing up. I hope you will encourage your pastor to rest when necessary and to spend quality time with his family.

By the way, it is hard to justify spending money to "go to the beach" as you suggested, especially if he is so caring about the church's needs. I would suggest that if your church has the funds and your pastor truly needs a vacation, SEND him away for a week and pay for part of the expenses. If that's not possible, help find a babysitter so he and his wife can get away for a weekend--and instruct the church folks not to call him while he's gone, or vice versa!

The best vacation we ever took was when we spent a whole week at a state park with no telephone, no cell phone service, no computer/internet and no clocks. We were able to just spend time together as a family without any other distractions and it was wonderful. It's necessary to do this on occasion to prevent burn out.

 

[sag38]

Was it not Andy Stanley who was used of the Lord to build a pretty successful church while only agreeing to work forty hours a week? If a pastor is a good time manager, knows his priorities, and knows how to say 'no!' this shouldn't be a problem. Of course his congregation has to understand that a really effective pastor doesn't have to work 50 and more hours a week.

 

[righteousdude2]

Pastor Paul Speaks.....

I have a question for all the pastors who post on these boards on a regular basis (daily/weekly). How do you find time to post here and be a pastor to your people? My pastor does not have time to post on discussion boards. Between family, studying, preaching, teaching, and visitation, he goes everyday. Other pastors I know are the same way. I'm not saying that such a heavy schedule is a good, but I just can't help wondering why some pastors have so much time on their hands (no offense).

First of all, no offense taken. This is a fair question, and I'd like to tell you why I post to the board daily. I am retired, and I don't have a church to shepherd at this time.

Secondly, I write books. I don't make money off them, money to live on that is, but, I write for fun and personal accomplishment. I find that the posts on the board are very interesting, and they help to support my views, stand and topics in the books I write.

If I had a church, small or large, I am sure I'd have a lot less time to use the board, but, I'd still log on, because there is a ton of information about people and their lifestyles, faith, personal views,and commitment to God. All of this serves to make sermons much more realistic.

A while back I took a survey about the view of Born-Again believers and drinking alcohol. I was surprised to find that most people either drank, or didn't oppose drinking. That info is going into one of my chapters in a book that is currently waiting for me to edit.

Hope that helps, and takes the spotlight off of my using the board.

Shalom,

Pastor Paul:type:

 

[Hardsheller]

I don't know about the rest of the pastors but I only post on here when the weather's bad and I can't hunt, fish, play golf or shoot skeet.:laugh:

 

[Bob Alkire]

I'm really concerned about my pastor's heavy schedule.

I'm not saying what is correct and what isn't. When I was in school, it was pointed out to us the hours a R.G. Lee, D.L. Moody, Donald Barnhouse, J. Frank Norris put in. But keep in mind back then most everyone worked 10 to 12 hour days 6 days a week.

We just don't work as much today as most did yesterday and if one would go back into the 1800's, there must have bee some long days. I recall over in Europe while in the service and many countries could not believe how much we worked in the states.

I believe it was said often in seminary, if you wanted to live a good life be a professor not a preacher, a preacher puts in to many hours and has to please to many people.

 

[Thinkingstuff]

Obviously, the pastor mentioned in the Op hasn't heard of small group ministries, Junior pastors, and the word delegation. My pastor is a pro at all of these.

 

[Tom Bryant]

I'm not saying what is correct and what isn't. When I was in school, it was pointed out to us the hours a R.G. Lee, D.L. Moody, Donald Barnhouse, J. Frank Norris put in. But keep in mind back then most everyone worked 10 to 12 hour days 6 days a week.

We just don't work as much today as most did yesterday and if one would go back into the 1800's, there must have bee some long days. I recall over in Europe while in the service and many countries could not believe how much we worked in the states.

I believe it was said often in seminary, if you wanted to live a good life be a professor not a preacher, a preacher puts in to many hours and has to please to many people.

We may also keep in mind that many of those preachers also took month long vacations. Some would be gone for the summer preaching in other countries.

Norris put in a lot of hours, but he was gone from Ft. Worth a Sunday month as he traveled usually by train to the church he pastored in Detroit.

One last thought is that many of these pastors were not involved in the day by day running of the church. They preached and someone else did the committees and other stuff that we sometimes take on.

just some balancing thoughts about our hard working ancestors in the ministry.

 

[Dr. Bob]

Some factors -

1. I limit myr time on the BB and other discussion groups to a set amount of time per day. Finally had "time" to answer this one a few days late!!

2. I find many discussions to be very beneficial in my study, thinking, and spiritual growth. It often leads me into deep study of a text and is part of my personal "devotional" time.

3. I have a small church with elders who share some of the duties so that I can spend time.

4. I feel the BB is a "ministry". Lots of misinformation out there and I have some education and 40 years pastoral experience. Can help others miss some pits I've fallen into!

5. During the initial years of the BB I was bedridden. It was some of the only ministerial outlet I had and I posted 25-30 times a day (now I usually am lucky to average 3 posts a day). So numbers were high but in recent years, with more bi-vocational duties at my wife's clinic, I have less time here.

6. And I like it here. Some of you have become cyber-friends and colleagues in ministry I will never meet. That comradery and seeing how this one or that one will respond (or ignore) is truly a bonding and a joy. I'm a lone wolf in the middle of Wyoming and this is my pastoral fellowship meeting place!

And . . . wait, my time is up and back to sermon prep.

 

[Bob Alkire]

We may also keep in mind that many of those preachers also took month long vacations. Some would be gone for the summer preaching in other countries.

I'm sure you are correct on some if not many. But everybody down here who I knew of worked 10 to 12 hours days 6 days a week. I know many did, but I never had a pastor who took that much time off, my father would have went crazy, he believed preachers were lazy. I know in I never did but most of the churches that I was pastor of were bi vocational type. Work about 50 to 60 hours a week with the milk route and put in 20 or so at the church. And most of the pastors who I knew well in that type of work, put in as much to much more time. But times have changed in secular work as well as pastoral work.

Norris put in a lot of hours, but he was gone from Ft. Worth a Sunday month as he traveled usually by train to the church he pastored in Detroit.

Yes, Norris' second man in my book was one of the best, G. Beauchamp Vick. I loved that man, wasn't big on Frank but many others were, from Henry Ford to J.C. Penney.

One last thought is that many of these pastors were not involved in the day by day running of the church. They preached and someone else did the committees and other stuff that we sometimes take on.

Again you could be correct, I know it wasn't in the circle that I was in. I've heard it was in some, but the new IFB like Hyles I don't know but from reading about him, he didn't want anyone to know what was going on. You are correct on not running everything, I never was the pastor of a church that had committees but men were elected to some spots. I never handled the finances of a church, the treasurer handled the money. I would put a plan up and the church would vote on it, take it, reject it, or take parts of it.

just some balancing thoughts about our hard working ancestors in the ministry.

I'm sure you got it, it was secular as well as in the church.

 

[SaggyWoman]

How do you find time to post here and be a pastor to your people? My pastor does not have time to post on discussion boards.

I would hate to think that any pastor of mine did not have some "down" time where he/she could practice some hobbies. Whether it is the Baptist board, going to movies, going out to eat, golf...whatever....

Maybe your pastor doesn't find enjoyment in posting on discussion boards.

 

[just-want-peace]

Martin, please pass on to your pastor (tho it will probably be a waste of time) that nobody, NOBODY, is indispensable. Not that he is consciously "saying" that, but if he is as determined to be in on everything as I understand your post to say, then that seems to be his sub-conscious belief.
Good "parable" for this type personality:

"If you think you are indispensable, just stick your finger in a glass of water, remove it, and look at the hole that it leaves."

I have known several folk who thought like this, that had to be side-lined by some sort of catastrophe before they would admit that they couldn't do it all.

God has a way of slowing you down if you think He can't do it without you - again, not saying that this is your pastor's belief, but it does seem questionable when delegation appears to be out of the question.

 

[Bob Alkire]

Maybe your pastor doesn't find enjoyment in posting on discussion boards.

I think most pastors today and yesterday found time to do what they wanted to do. To some folks it work to others it is fun.
The problem which I've seen is the pastor who isn't home and his children go down the wrong tracks, same with a businessman or women.