Dear Sola Panel readers,
Will you do me a favour and take part in this two-part blog posted titled ’Noosa not Newletter’? If you would be so kind as to answer the question below by submitting a comment, I’d be grateful. Here’s the question I want you to answer:
If you were to ask your pastor/senior minister/<insert ecclesiastical equivalent of Captain Coach here> this question, what would he say in response to “What is the hardest part of your job?”
Now, you might be scrambling to find last week’s newsletter or bulletin to research Pastor Perry’s latest prayer points, perhaps thinking, “That’ll surely give me a clue”. No. Don’t hunt up the newsletter. I’m thinking more Noosa than newsletter; I’m thinking, “What would Pastor Perry share with a trusted confidant while he was on holidays, away from the rush and the bother? What would he say in one of those reflective moods that occur on holidays on beautiful beaches like in Noosa, Queensland, Australia?” Imagine Pastor Perry turning to his wife and saying, “Sweetheart, it really is a wonderful privilege to shepherd God’s people, but gee I find it hard when …”
Let me know by submitting a comment and I’ll read them in preparation for ‘Noosa not newsletter (Part 2)’!
PS If you are the senior pastor, I’m particularly keen to get your answer!
PPS This is not a elaborate ploy to win the Sola Panellists ‘Most Comments Trophy’ for 2008 (although it would be a great spin-off).
PPPS A ‘Most Comments Trophy’ doesn’t exist, just in case you were horrified by the thought.
PPPPS However, as a result of PPPS, a mate of mine has decided to make one (Cool!!!)
I reckon the answer might be something along the lines of “setting boundaries between church work and family/home life”. Of course we are all called to always be ready to ‘minister’ to people. But I think thats where the line gets blurred for Ministers/Pastors. When a good majority of there friends and family are (hopefully) church goers, discussion always comes back to the goings on of church life.
Too bad he’s bringing it up with his wife on his holiday at Noosa.
In one sense the hardest part of my job is doing the necessary ministerial tasks that I don’t feel terribly gifted in or skilled at (for me that’s much of the administrative stuff).
On a more personal level, having spent 30 years in the same parish, I find it increasingly difficult to lead the funerals for these church members who have become my dearest friends. It’s a great privilege, of course, and gratifying that I’m able to speak so personally about their Christian lives—but often terribly difficult for me personally.
I would imagine that the hardest part would be when their own life is not going well, and people are too busy seeing them in their “perfect pastor” hat to give them the support and encouragement they need.
I think Jason is right and this can be a factor in burnout.
However, I have also observed that ministers/pastors of teenage kids particular worry about the intrusion and pressures on them of living a fishbowl existence.
Speaking from the vantage point of over 35 years of preaching, church planting and pastoring, the hardest part of my job is seeing it as a job. I don’t feel like a professional. Never did! In fact, I sense a certain amount of affinity toward those blessed sheep who ask me to give an account of “just exactly what do you do!” It’s not a job so much as it is a calling. The calling is from the Lord and the job is an utter joy; in all seriousness, even playful.
As the notoriously durable (neo-orthodox) theologian K Barth so eloquently puts it. “Outward and inward work will be done with more rather than less seriousness once a man realises that what he desires and does and achieves thereby, when measured by the work of God which it may attest, cannot be anything but play, i.e., a childlike imitation and reflection of the fatherly action of God which as such is true and proper action. When children play properly, of course, they do so with supreme seriousness and devotion. Even in play, if a man does not really play properly he is a spoil-sport. We are summoned to play properly. But we must not imagine that what we desire and are able to do is more than play.” – Barth, K., Bromiley, G. W., & Torrance, T. F. (2004). Church dogmatics, Volume III: The doctrine of creation, Part 4.
rejoice, ron
Ben, in my experience of leading churches, the hardest part of all is the conflict.
Some of it trivial (where my inclination is just to walk away); some of it my fault (in which case I need to go to God and the person and seek forgiveness); all of it either unavoidable (because we are sinners) or essential (because people hate the gospel we preach, and its implications).
Hi Ben – I would say without any hesitation that the hardest part is opposition. Three years ago, before my wife and I began the church plant we are involved in now, I was warned by an experienced pastor that we would probably face opposition from at least four quarters in our particular situation. These have all proved true, in more painful ways than we could have guessed. There are two reasons the opposition is so hard to take I think. Firstly because most of it comes from those who ought to be on your side, those in Christian circles, rarely from complete pagans. Secondly because it nearly always seems to be the case that the conflict would go away very quickly if we just kept our heads down, if we kept quiet and didn’t rock the boat or if we just softened the gospel a little. This means the opposition comes with it’s own personal temptation.
But then I guess I didn’t really need anyone to warn me of this, as Jesus already had, hadn’t he? (Luke 21:16-17).
hey Ben
4 strands that seem interwoven
1. being a christian 1st and pastor 2nd
2. pastoring my family 1st and church second
3. staying on mission and not moving into maintenance
4. dealing with conflict and hard heartedness that comes with staying on mission.
joyfully, shane
the hardest part of ministry is keeping the main thing the main thing…. GP
After a bit more thought I would add that one of the hardest parts of ministry for me has been working through church disciplinary issues. Even when it “works,” church discipline for serious offenses takes a great toll.
But, if I could reflect on some of the other comments, it’s all a part of the “cruciform nature of ministry.” Jesus called us to take up our cross (not our golf clubs) and follow Him, so we shouldn’t be surprised when we suffer in the ministry.
Indeed, I find suffering takes three forms. Sometimes I simply suffer WITH my people. They hurt, and I hurt with them. Sometimes I suffer ON BEHALF OF my people. That is, when they choose to ignore the preaching of the Word and wise counsel and go their own way (with subsequent consequences in their lives), I suffer as I try to help them (or more likely help family members and others in the church) pick up the pieces. Finally, sometimes we suffer FROM our people, as they not only reject the preaching of the word and the counsel of friends but take out their resentment on those who are trying to help.
Fortunately, there is much in ministry that is rewarding and joyful (I love what I do and have stayed so long where I am in great part because of my people’s love and affirmation for me), but if one enters the ministry with the idea that it is all wonderful and easy, he will be quickly disillusioned.
Not a senior, but in my experience, its when people you trust in ministry let you down.
The hardest part of ministry is pastoring myself. I hope that makes sense.
I would think loneliness. You have a unique position over the people with whom you spend the most of your time. People who in other circumstances would be friends, who you can share your life with in an equal, unhindered way, look to you for leadership and advice. This seems lonely to me, not to mention a heavy burden.
As much as I resonate with all of the comments I have seen, still the most difficult thing in life (and therefore ministerial life) is to pray. There are dozens of things I’d rather do than hunker down to do serious business with God.
I’m only an associate (to the) pastor, but my biggest frustration is seeing people seemingly move backwards spiritually.
Like an unconverted person who shows a high level of interest in the gospel, but I never see him trust Christ. Or, a person who professes Christ but fades after a while. Or, a person who shows a desire to grow only to find that it’s short-lived.
[slightly tangential post follows]
<i>PPS This is not a elaborate ploy to win the Sola Panellists ‘Most Comments Trophy’ for 2008 (although it would be a great spin-off).</i>
Actually Benny, casting my eye down the list of old posts, you have done exceptionally well in the ‘Most Comments’ competition, especially given that you have particularly focussed on a narrow niche within our readership, namely paid pastors charged with the leadership of congregations. Brilliant! (Degree of difficulty 3.0)
But the best way to accumulate posts in a hurry is to post controversially on a
topic that good writers have recently written about!
Anyway, let me not distract from the flow here. I hope other pastors will also feel welcome to come on in and offer an insight.
I would guess persevering in godliness under external and internal stress.