Pastors- continued

I have two questions for your consideration today.

First, let me contribute more to yesterday's discussion. I just read an article titled "Pastor Burnout: Combating a Church wide Epidemic" published by the Christian Broadcasting Network. It says, "What might be called a spiritual virus is stalking the homes and pulpits of America's pastors. Each year, thousands of clergy walk away from their ministries, suffering from burnout brought on by frantic schedules and unrealistic expectations ... The clergy is like the Titanic - it is sinking fast. Fifteen hundred ministers every month drop out of the ministry. That's an epidemic. Even more sobering is that nearly 6000 Southern Baptist ministers fall victim to burnout, depression, marital problems, and even suicide."

Obviously something is definitely wrong and it is not just with those in professional ministry. We need an overhaul and it must occur in our organizations. Somehow we need to reconcile the "Good News" with the current "bad news." The good news that God is in the business of healing broken people. The bad news: participating in sharing the good news is creating broken people. How crazy is that?

I guess we can conclude that we (the organized church in America) is not doing the work God's way. What needs to be transformed? Where are our values, priorities and the way we do business wrong? That's question number one... what say you?

Question number two, I am conducting another poll. This time I am asking you to think like the Devil...(ironic, don't you think?). No seriously, imagine you could look into hell and observe Satan and his demons plotting the the destruction of your local church. What kind of things do you think you would hear? I have received several suggestions so far and would really like to hear from you!

Thanks for stopping by!
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Adrian

Pastors

This month one of my goals is to contact all of our pastors in the district and pray for them and seek to encourage them where I can. Whether it is in my volunteer work as a District Superintendent or under the employ of Willoughby Hills Friends Church, the most important responsibility I have is to care for our pastors. Statistically, the pastorate is a difficult vocation. Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you... for My yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). Really? Easy? Light? Why does this not seem to be the case for pastors?

Barna reports that "every month 1300 pastors in the U. S. are fired or forced to resign. Within ten years 40% will leave the ministry discouraged for another line of work. Eighty percent say their work has a negative impact on their home life. Seventy-five percent struggle with their finances and feel they are underpaid compared to other professionals in their church or community. Fifty percent feel they suffer physically from stress and sleepless nights over the problems and expectations of the people in their congregations" (taken from the book I am reading this week by Don Cousins, Experiencing LeaderShift,pages 43-54).

These are difficult times for pastors. They struggle with discouragement and burnout on a daily basis. Unfortunately very few in the church, including lay leadership, understand these dynamics. They cannot identify with the problems pastors face or the burdens they carry and actually minister to their need.

It is my job to protect and support the pastors under my care. I cannot get caught up in the labor of administration or the pressing needs of the church and neglect the precious men and women God has placed under my umbrella of responsibility at this time. Please join me in praying for our pastors on a daily basis. Please consider how you can bless them, encourage them, and care for their needs while they shepherd the flock of God.

Something has got to change for the sake of pastors in the USA. We need an overhaul of sorts. It can begin with us moving towards our pastors with empathy, love and prayer. What else can we do? Please share with me your thoughts...

Thanks for stopping by!
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Adrian

My Day Job

My job description at Willoughby Hills Friends Church includes the administration of the church and staff. Without a plan I will not be effective. This is my philosophy of church administration.

Church administration is handled in two ways. The first involves information gathering, decision making and maintaining the mechanics of the organization. These processes must be relevant to the complexities of the church, measurable and time bound. The results produced through such processes of administration must then be compiled and presented in a fashion appropriate for action to ensue. Good decisions are generally made when these principles are applied and not left to the whim, will or emotion of individual(s).

The same would be true in measuring the effectiveness of the organization. Emotion can be deceiving at times. The state of the church or her effectiveness in completing stated objectives cannot be allocated to “I feel” statements but must consider the facts presented through the use of consistent processes such as those outlined above.

Secondly, administrating a church involves seeing the church as an emotional, relational, spiritual system through which decisions are made utilizing effective communication. Thus, the proper administration of the church requires healthy communication at appropriate levels within the organization. Full disclosure of opinion and emotion must be shared by leaders as they collectively evaluate the data in conjunction with prayer and the consensus of the Holy Spirit’s leading.

The unique design of the church does not permit decisions to be made in a vacuum. Rather it requires the application of a method by which information is evaluated using the dynamics of communication. It is the responsibility of the Executive Pastor to oversee the development, function, and effectiveness of the church’s processes and to participate in the dynamic procedures of the church through open dialog and spiritual application.

What are your thoughts on the mechanics of the church and what could pastors do to better manage the organization in your opinion?

Thanks for stopping by today and when you get a moment please visit my church's website. Its cool! http://www.whfriends.org/

Adrian