Monday, October 22, 2012

Thom Rainer and 10 Things Pastor's Don't Like

One of the premier researchers in Christian life today is a man by the name of Dr. Thom Rainer. He is President and CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources. I like reading much of what he writes and he writes a blog called "Pastor to pastor". In today's blog the title "10 Things Pastors Don't Like About Pastoring" caught my attention. I decided to read the ten items and add a little of my own commentary to what he says. You can read the original blog at http://www.thomrainer.com/2012/10/ten-things-pastors-dont-like-about-pastoring.php

10. Dealing with Budgets and Finance - this doesn't bother me like it once did. I think this is primarily because so many of Eastwood practice faithful stewardship and we all have the same sense that our resources are not ours but the Lords.

9. Weddings - Does that surprise you? It typically takes up an entire weekend (most pastors have Friday and Saturday as their "off" days) and so there really is no "down time" from church functions from one week to the next. But I'm not really that bothered by weddings though wedding "coordinators" do tend to get under my skin. Most coordinators are friends of the bride with little experience planning and pulling off weddings. I have found that in weddings with coordinators, the rehearsals are usually twice as long as those without simply because it is on-the-job training for the coordinator.

8. Announcements in the worship service - Thank God we don't do this at Eastwood. I think I was "over" making announcements in worship my second week in the pastorate at my first church. I pastored in ACC basketball country and I'd just been watching a game. I came into the evening service and announced that immediately following the service there would be a "demon deacons meeting" in my office. I apologized but looking back one of the men told me later, "Preacher, you had it right the 1st time" (and he was right at least regarding a few).

7. Persistent Critics - I'm convinced if the Apostle Paul were to be called to the average Baptist Church there would be some who did not like his "pastoral style". I expect criticism ... anyone in the Lord's work should. But the thing I think I will never get used to is friendly fire. You expect the enemy to attack, you just don't expect him to use some of the people you are pouring your life into week after week.

6. Anonymous critics - we really don't have a problem with this per se. But occasionally you will have the well-intentioned church member come up and want to let you know what's being said in the parking lot. I appreciate knowing but it does me no good to not know who is saying it. There's no way to put the comments into context without that knowledge. This really doesn't help any pastor I know and serves only to discourage them

5. Counseling - I don't mind this because I have learned to limit counseling appointments to one hour at a time. After that everyone involved is emotionally spent. after an hour if you are not careful in a matter of minutes you can forfeit any ground you gained during the session.

4. Treating spouses like they are paid staff members - Eastwood is incredible in this regard. I have never felt that Jan, or any staff members wife for that matter, was pressured to do anything other than what they felt God had called them to do.

3. Supporters who don't support the pastor publicly - Now this can get under my skin. I think the vast majority of church members in most churches support and love their pastor. But why they sit silently when the pastor is attacked or his motives are questioned is beyond me.

2. Funerals for non-Christians - the thing that makes this so difficult is you want to extend hope to the family and you can through presenting them with the gospel message. But the gospel is of no value to the deceased and so I'm always left feeling like I really could not comfort the family the way they might have needed.

1. Business meetings - to this I say "amen and amen"! To quote a pastor in Dr. Rainer's post, "“Let me know if you come across a pastor that actually likes church business meetings. I want to find the secret to his moments of delusion.” We still have monthly business meetings but I'd be happy with quarterly or even semi-annual meetings but that's another topic for another day.

For the most part I'd say that ministry is an enjoyable and rewarding experience. It has its "moments" as does any calling or profession. There have been days I have wished I were doing something ... anything other than pastoring. But since that 1st day on the job at the Welcome Baptist Church in Anderson, there's never been a day that I doubted whether God had called me to do what I do.

What I Wish I Knew When I Was Younger

June 14, 2017 AARP published an article entitled “ The Age at Which You Are Officially Old. ” They cited a study done that year by U. S. Tru...