Pastor's Thoughts on Clerical Burnout and One Of It's Causes
I've watched this discussion for sometime now as if it were a Canary In The Coalmine. This blog post from a seasoned pastor gets closer to the real problem. If you've got pastors doing things they are expected to do, even required to do, and yet they are not building up the body of Christ, then what can we expect? We often call(hire) a pastor to lead a church. But that leadership is more in line with Hero or sole leadership. We expect the pastor to do certain things, many things and most things at the church. Fix broken relationships, fix broken systems, broken buildings, broken people.
The reality is that most of the fixing goes on in the lives of the members. Many of our members serve and minister to the flock with some measure of skill. To the extent that they do, a church is healthier. To the extent that the call of the pastor reflects this and the church values this, then the health of the church is improved and sustainable.
The Iron rule says, Don't Do For Others What They Can Do For Themselves. It may be that you don't really understand the Golden Rule if you don't understand the Iron rule. Lots of Canaries have succumbed to this self induced disease. The air has grown toxic in many churches. Leaders and pastors need to take back their proper roles. When this is understood and properly executed, graveyards will lose business. And pastors will breathe much better.
Another pastor's take on this topic.
http://prodigal.typepad.com/prodigal_kiwi/2010/08/pastoral-ministry-co-opted.html
Important stuff, this. I remember a pastor, new to his congregation, telling them that he would not usually be doing hospital visits. He said, "You folk know each other; you care about each other & will continue to do so after I leave. I see these kinds of personal care visits as your way of caring for each other."
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Hi Marty
I agree with your message whole heartedly. With seven churches in my district I find it easier to do than I did with only one or two. There are times when the single church pastor has it harder than us mega district guys. Sharing power, authority and accountability with my elders has really been a blessing. God bless! Have a great day.
Bill
Northeastern Wyoming District
Rocky Mountain Conference of SDA
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Making announcements like that may have quite a shock value attached to them. I think the discussion of the pastors decision and the role he is to play in seeing the folks in the hospital cared for and visited need to continue.
I would suggest that he is responsible for the pastoral care of all the members of his church, but how that care is delivered and by whom is at the heart of the issue.
That's a conversation. And a series of questions. All leading to a church that completely cares, more completely.
I've watched the faces of folks as you try to help them understand this issue. They are often perplexed, maybe even a bit fearful that they are about to lose something. It's a pivotal moment in a churches history. They can turn toward collective empowerment, successful church ministry, or they can turn toward frustration and disenchantment with their pastor and their church.
Maybe this shouldn't be one of the things a pastor has to deal with, but it still is a critical reality facing pastors and churches today. Ministry belongs to the ministers, that is all of the members as well as the pastor.
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Hey Bill,
I'm finding that I have to have better elders and leaders in my church than other churches do. These leaders are so crucial to returning a church to a healthy lifestyle. We're very fortunate if we have them when we first show up at the church. What a blessing. The rest of us have to train them or risk falling into the black hole of the limited ministry conducted by the pastor.
It may be that this training is the greatest need for the pastor that can come from this discussion. I have had some training in this area, but I need a whole lot more.
I think Peterson's older books for pastors are great correctives. And Dr. Winesman wrote a couple of books about Church Member Engagement. They are on target as well.
These leaders I speak of must have one thing in common, they must love to see other people succeed in ministry. That is a major qualification for healthy leadership today.
How to bring these changes about and keep your church healthy at the same time, that's where I wish we had more help.
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