Thursday
Apr032003
Work ethic
Thursday, April 3, 2003 at 1:10PM
I haven't posted much this week. Between Monday and Wednesday, I put in about 33 hours. For some, that's not a lot, but it is for me. Pastoral work hours are a hot topic for some. I heard one pastor say that every pastor should work at least 60-70 hours a week. Then you've got guys like Bill Easum saying that a smart pastor won't have to work any more than about 30 hours a week. I remember someone saying last year that the best gift a pastor can give is a soulish you. That means that the bottom line isn't the number of hours, although this shouldn't become an excuse for laziness. I try to work so that nobody can reasonably question my work ethic. At the same time, I'm better at pastoring when I have margin in my life, when I have time to reflect and pray. I'm not at my best when I've overworked. Today's my Sabbath. Nothing to do - no coursework, no housework, nothing. I almost feel guilty. But then it feels very, very good.
Reader Comments (3)
I wouldn't last five minutes as a minister..... people place high expectations on the office and the individual. And the vast majority of ministers I know place even higher expectations on themselves. It is so good to see ministers as yourself understand healthy and soulful boundaries in your life. You are a genuine blessing in this blogosphere by the way, which is quite the come as you are place eh? Blog on!
Hi Darryl - a good cure for the "guilts" that the leader of the opposition puts on Pastors (along with unrealistic expectations)is found in Acts 6:1-7 et al. where the prime role of any Pastor is found. If I was a member of your congregation I wouldn't care if you did nothing else in your week except pray, study God's Word and teach it to me well! (v.4) I would then be happy to be part of a team and do my part in fulfilling the mission of Christ's church with whatever gifts God may have given me. (v.5-6) And whoever said prayer wasn't hard work? Keep up the "good" work!
Glad you get some time out for you Darryl.. make it a regular thing eh? (Argh, I should tell that to myself too!)