Friday, August 24, 2012
And preaching is sometimes a career too...
I believe ministry is a calling. The only ministers who are effective for the Kingdom long term are those who see it as a calling. They cannot do anything else. They may -- or may not -- get paid to do it. It is more than what they do. It is who they are, called and gifted by God to lead others to his son Jesus. And many ministers/preachers do make a living doing what they love.
And sometimes it is frustrating. For the preachers whose ministry is also their career So let me share a few observations about ministry as a career.
It is easy to get drawn into a ministry model that has you doing everything except ministry. I actually know preachers who think they do more real ministry when not working for a church than they do when on a church staff. Don't let your career pull you away from your calling.
As a career, you can change jobs to better yourself or your family. Churches have to get over it when a preacher moves on. Maybe another church is a better fit for his talents. Or it fits a family needs better (closer to parents, better schools, better opportunities for his wife). Or maybe it is better financially. The really called preachers I know are not it it for money, but why can't they take a better job? They will still be doing ministry. I mean, do you turn down your opportunities to do better financially? Be happy for them.
And it is their career, not their wife and family's career. You didn't hire her, unless you want to pay her too. Quit expecting her to do more than other members. Though I do think it is true that if a preacher's family is not active in ministry, he cannot lead a church to be active in ministry. It is hard to ask your church to do something your own wife won't. And I don't mean she has to do everything, but she better be doing something.
And it is frustrating for churches to hire ministers who want the upside of a career (pay and benefits) without the responsibilities of a career.
Preachers have the right to take better jobs, accept raises, or resign when they want to. And, just like any career, preachers can get fired. It happens in every career. Bad fit, personality conflicts, politics, wrong skill set, loss of effectiveness, different expectations, lack of shared vision for the church. Talk to your members. They have lots of experience in just, and unjust, firings. It happens in the job market.
Every career has it's downside. If you are a preacher, don't whine about having to work Sundays. Youth ministers can't complain about working nights and summers. It is the nature of your career. Just like football coaches should not complain about not getting Friday nights off. Retail salesmen have to work Saturdays. Every career has good things and things that are not so good. If you hate some of the issues involved with ministry as a career, then find another way to support your family. You can still do ministry. Just like your church members do.
Don't complain about 60 hour work weeks. Your members work 40 or more hours a week in their jobs and put in another 15 or 20 weekly going to church, preparing Bible classes, visiting the hospital, taking care of needy members, serving on committees, and sharing Jesus stories. If you work more than 60, you may be a workaholic and need someone to help you cut back. You work less than 50 you are either lazy or taking advantage of the church.
Finally, like every other career, some preachers will say it is the greatest choice they ever made. Others will get out and never want anyone they care about to do it either. But don't confuse the career with the calling. Or confuse the career with Jesus. Or even the church. They are not the same.
One is life. One is a job. Don't mix them up.
And sometimes it is frustrating. For the preachers whose ministry is also their career So let me share a few observations about ministry as a career.
It is easy to get drawn into a ministry model that has you doing everything except ministry. I actually know preachers who think they do more real ministry when not working for a church than they do when on a church staff. Don't let your career pull you away from your calling.
As a career, you can change jobs to better yourself or your family. Churches have to get over it when a preacher moves on. Maybe another church is a better fit for his talents. Or it fits a family needs better (closer to parents, better schools, better opportunities for his wife). Or maybe it is better financially. The really called preachers I know are not it it for money, but why can't they take a better job? They will still be doing ministry. I mean, do you turn down your opportunities to do better financially? Be happy for them.
And it is their career, not their wife and family's career. You didn't hire her, unless you want to pay her too. Quit expecting her to do more than other members. Though I do think it is true that if a preacher's family is not active in ministry, he cannot lead a church to be active in ministry. It is hard to ask your church to do something your own wife won't. And I don't mean she has to do everything, but she better be doing something.
And it is frustrating for churches to hire ministers who want the upside of a career (pay and benefits) without the responsibilities of a career.
Preachers have the right to take better jobs, accept raises, or resign when they want to. And, just like any career, preachers can get fired. It happens in every career. Bad fit, personality conflicts, politics, wrong skill set, loss of effectiveness, different expectations, lack of shared vision for the church. Talk to your members. They have lots of experience in just, and unjust, firings. It happens in the job market.
Every career has it's downside. If you are a preacher, don't whine about having to work Sundays. Youth ministers can't complain about working nights and summers. It is the nature of your career. Just like football coaches should not complain about not getting Friday nights off. Retail salesmen have to work Saturdays. Every career has good things and things that are not so good. If you hate some of the issues involved with ministry as a career, then find another way to support your family. You can still do ministry. Just like your church members do.
Don't complain about 60 hour work weeks. Your members work 40 or more hours a week in their jobs and put in another 15 or 20 weekly going to church, preparing Bible classes, visiting the hospital, taking care of needy members, serving on committees, and sharing Jesus stories. If you work more than 60, you may be a workaholic and need someone to help you cut back. You work less than 50 you are either lazy or taking advantage of the church.
Finally, like every other career, some preachers will say it is the greatest choice they ever made. Others will get out and never want anyone they care about to do it either. But don't confuse the career with the calling. Or confuse the career with Jesus. Or even the church. They are not the same.
One is life. One is a job. Don't mix them up.
