by The Pastoral Relations Committee (PRC)
By now, so many of us have gotten to see our new pastor, Rev. Sean, in action: sharing uplifting and thought-provoking sermons, leading us all in prayer, listening to our joys and concerns, providing guidance, and truly caring for so many in our church and in our community. He’s really good at pastoral care and that’s no small thing, but when the crisis is over, who cares for the pastor? As we start to transition from our time of having welcomed Sean to Slatersville Church with all the newness and becoming acquainted, and we start to move forward with Sean in his ministry, our committee asked the question, “How can we do a better job of supporting and encouraging our Pastor?” During Sean’s Ordination and Installation in October, we pledged in unison “to receive Sean as our pastor and teacher, promising to labor with him in the ministry of the gospel and to give him due honor and
support.” This work of ministry is both a profession and a calling. It can be at the same time deeply fulfilling, and so very draining. The pastor can feel lonely and isolated, even in a full and active church. The pastor is expected to be available 24/7 to support the congregants through crises, and handle conflicts and major situations with care and discretion. Congregations set really high expectations for their pastors, which can lead to a lot of pressure and even burnout. It’s safe to say that we all want to avoid that, so how can we do that as individuals and as a church family?
Here are SIX ways that members of this congregation can care for our Pastor Sean:
1. Pray for him, and with him – Keep Sean in your prayers, he needs them every day. Pray for strength and perseverance, but also for patience and perspective. When you have the chance, pray with Sean so that he can get that boost that comes from knowing the people he cares about (and prays for) also care about him and pray for him too. This is soul food.
2. Share how your relationship with God is growing – Talk to Sean about his sermons, ask questions, tell him what you heard, and how it changed your thoughts or feelings. Share with Sean how your relationship with God might be changing, what you’ve learned, or what you’re experiencing in your individual faith practice. Affirming Sean’s role as our spiritual leader goes a long way toward expressing how his being here is making a difference.
3. Guard his sacred spaces – He needs time to be with God, to focus, to care for himself, to be with his loved ones. We need to allow him to step away and find the quiet spaces in his life. For example, he needs to be able to close his office door to focus on his sermon, or on the needs of a church member, without interruption. This is especially true for his Sabbath each Monday when he should be able to fully break away to recharge his batteries and restore his spirit. We should hold one another accountable to preserving these sacred spaces in Sean’s life.
4. Give him grace – Remember that our pastor is HUMAN. He has his own problems and challenges in life, even while he’s taking on the weight of our struggles and worries. He might get overwhelmed or frustrated or sad, just like the rest of us. He’s not immune. As he grows in ministry with our church, he’s going to try new things. Some will work, some not so much. We must give him the grace to be human, have some faith and let God work through him.
5. Serve in ministry alongside him – Not sure if you’ve heard, but our pastor has some GREAT ideas for our church and our community. But he can’t do them alone. Volunteering with Sean and others reaffirms our shared ministry and our goals as a community of faith. Many hands make light work, of course, but many hearts make lighter spirits.
6. Respect Sean’s leadership – This one might be tough for a church with a tradition of strong lay leadership, a long history as congregationalists, and most especially after an extended period of change and uncertainty, but we do need to respect and honor Sean’s role as our church’s spiritual leader. He may seem young to some, but he has an extensive range of experience and learning which have given him the skills he needs to be in this role of Pastor. He has the strength of the Church Council, the committees, and staff to lean on as well. The more we can do to care and support our pastor, while honoring his ministry and his leadership, the more healthy and happy we will all be together.
Do you have any other ideas of how we can support and care for our Pastor? The PRC would love to hear from you! Look for the separate article in this newsletter that lists all the PRC members and their phone numbers.
Don’t hesitate to reach out, or just grab one of us at Coffee Hour. We’re all ears!
Want to know more? Here are some online articles to help you explore this topic further:
Seven Ways to Care for Your Pastor” by Shawn Wilhite for The Gospel Coalition
“Five ways congregations can care for their pastors” by Mahcoe Mikel for Baptist Standard
