Ontario Preachers
According to the Anglican Journal, a majority of Ontario clergy in six major Protestant denominations, including Anglicans, are lonely and unfulfilled, exhausted from working long hours and are suffering a “critical crisis of identity,” with most feeling like a chief executive officer rather than a pastor, a recent study shows. (from Monday Morning Insight)Gosh, I'm sure glad I don't live in Ontario!
We in Hayward are happy you don't live in Ontario
ReplyDeleteA very interesting article. I think that I would agree with the findings. I know that I often feel alone and drained. However, being a youth pastor is a lot different than running the church. In fact, it is very easy to get connected to local youth pastors through a ministry called the National Network of Youth Ministries. This network puts you in contact with other local YP's so that you can get together. In am currently the coordinator for my network in our surrounding towns. We get together once a month and plan events together. It is an awesome time to sit down with YP's from other denominations and encourage each other. I really wish they had something like that for Senior or Solo pastors.
ReplyDeleteHey Mark. It's me, Tom, your nephew from Ohio. I decided to get a blog on here so I could comment you. After all, I enjoy reading what you post whenever I stop by. Anyway, take care, and I'll talk to you later.
ReplyDeleteMark,
ReplyDeleteI think there is a perception that Pastor's are super human and don't have a life of their own. I think it's very important that a Pastor be honest with his congregation that he needs rest and family time as we all do. The Pastor must put people in place to assist him or even fill in for him. How many times do you remember advising people to attend their children's school events or taking their wife out on a date? Too many Pastor's don't take their own advise. The Pastor as any other manager must put measures in place to protect his own personal time and family. If not, he will soon become tired or worn down as this survey suggest and lose his zest for doing God's work.
I find that work only seems like work when it doesn't interest you or is out of your field of expertise. We must cover all the bases as pastors and especially those of us who are solo at present time. However, if we ask for help in the areas that seem to push us the hardest, we could focus more in our areas of interest and strength. I've always liked the saying, "Work smarter, not harder"!
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