"Understanding your Pastor"

I have just finished reading a refreshing and fascinating book written by William L. Self entitled, "Surviving The Stained-Glass Jungle."    In this book, Dr. Self takes a behind the scenes look at the work and daily experience of the pastor.       I have found through the years, that very few people in the churches I have served, understand the role and challenges of the pastor.      They try to imagine the pastor as a church version of corporate America. They think of the pastor in a 9-5 job sitting in an office somewhere going over paper work and talking on the telephone.     Their perceptions of the pastor come from the limited time they see the pastor.     They might see the pastor at church (if they come that Sunday) or maybe at the hospital if they are in crisis.     Otherwise, they have no idea of what the pastor does or who the pastor is.

Few people realize that the pastor does not work 40 hours a week, but is 24/7.       The phone can ring and sometimes does, at 3:00 am in the middle of the night.     Someone is in crisis.     They are at the hospital and mom is dying.       The pastor goes to care for hurting people.     The pastor sometimes finds themselve on a roller coaster when called upon to do a funeral in the morning and a wedding in the afternoon.         The minister may start the day with a breakfast meeting and find themselves at the church late at night waiting for meetings to end.       The minister will work at church, work at home, work on the road, and nobody seems to understand the enormity of the task before them.         There are administrative details, counseling moments, committee meetings, budget meetings, and so many little details that surround the life of the minister.      The task of "Preaching" is overwhelming and occupies many, many hours in the life of the ministry.        It is through deep study, constant prayer, and detailed preparation that the minister seeks to share a word from God to the people of God.

We talk about Sabbath Rest and many lay people find it easy to understand how that applies to their life.     I've never quite understood and I'm still on a journey to understand how that applies to the minister.   Most ministers work on Sundays.    I've asked other ministers and I still haven't heard anything that helps me along that task!

People think that ministers are trained in college and seminary and learn the things they need to know for ministry.     Both college and seminary do wonderful things.     They are important and valuable.   They talk about theology or religious education.        Seminary never prepared me for the real world.      Seminary never prepares the young minister for Deacons Meetings, Leadership Teams, or disgruntled people in the church.      Seminary is like a "bubble" and you are really not connected to the real world and the harsh reality of what comes in the life of the church.

Church life has changed during my ministry.      I entered the ministry feeling like everybody should love the pastor.     I loved my pastors in the past and I thought this was how people acted.   I was very fortunate to have a loving congregation in my very first church.    I served that church while going to college.    They loved the pastor and the congregation was so easy to love!     Through the years, I seen so many changes in corporate America that have crept into the church.      There is always somebody wanting to cause confusion in almost every church.         Sometimes people who have no power in the jobs, families, and communities seek power in the church.   They can get power in the church when they get power in no other place!  There are so many changes.

I can remember fond moments visiting and eating in the homes of church members.     Such moments are rare today given the changes in work schedules, time restraints, and the general atmosphere of the way people live today.      Life in the role of the pastor/minister has changed.       I am concerned about young men and women entering the ministry today!       I think about the incredible challenges they will face and the almost certain difficulties they will encounter.    I want for them a "loving congregation" who will love them, care for them, and support them.      I fear that such congregations in the 21st century and beyond will be very hard to find!

My thanks to Dr. Self for sharing his deep understanding after many, many years of ministry.      My thanks to colleagues and other ministers who also understand.      They live the struggles and obstacles everyday and do so with integrity.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!   Amen."    (Ephesians 3:20)