Quote for the Day #10: The Easy Life of a Pastor
08/27/2006 14:29 Filed in: Faith & Reason
"Quite apart from success is the challenge of thinking through the relationship between Biblical priorities and current pastoral practices. The modern pastor in America is expected to be a preacher, counselor, administrator, PR guru, fund-raiser and hand-holder. Depending on the size of the church he serves, he may have to be an expert on youth, competent on a Gestetner [an older name for a photocopier], something of an accountant, janitor, evangelist, small groups expert, an excellent chair of committees, a team player, and a transparent leader. Of course his own home must be exemplary, and he should never appear tired or discouraged since he must be spiritual, prayerful, warm-hearted, and passionate but unflappable. He should spend no fewer than forty hours a week in sermon preparation, no fewer than thirty of forty hours in counseling, at least twenty hours in regular visitation of his flock, another fifteen in door-to-door evangelism, at least twenty in administration, another ten in hospital calling, a further ten to forty (depending on the area) in ministry to the poor and deprived--leaving about fifty for miscellaneous matters (especially being available if anyone wants to see him at any time of the day or night). And then a neighbor will ask his wife, 'Excuse me, I don't mean to be rude, but I'd really like to know: What does your husband do the rest of the week apart from, you know, his work on Sundays?'"
D. A. Carson and John Woodbridge, Letters Along the Way: A Novel of the Christian Life
D. A. Carson and John Woodbridge, Letters Along the Way: A Novel of the Christian Life