Most of you are aware that October is Pastor Appreciation Month.
Not all of you are aware of what an emotionally, physically and spiritually exhausting year this has been for your pastor/s. I understand that this year has been hard on everyone. I am not discounting anyone’s pain.
As a former pastor, I am writing this on behalf of our BR-KC pastors because your pastor/s probably will not tell you how difficult their job has been over the last several months. Pastoring is a 24/7/365 exhausting task under normal conditions….living with his family in the proverbial fishbowl, internalizing the secondary trauma of member’s losses and trials, enduring criticism of his ministry and preaching, being on call 24/7, rarely getting a full day off each week, and often under-compensated compared to other professionals in the private sector with similar education. Now, add to all of this Covid-19, church shut-downs, declining attendance and offerings, members dividing over the appropriate response to Covid, having to plan ministry day-to-day rather than months out, and a political election year with uncivil discourse at toxic levels, and you have a recipe for pastoral fatigue and burnout. My guess is that many pastors will not get a raise, or, at best a small one for the 2021 budget year due to the loss of revenues and offerings Covid has caused.
What your church does this October for your pastor is more important than ever!
If you have any part in the planning of your church’s Pastor Appreciation Day, I strongly encourage you to get creative and to be as generous as your church can possibly be. If your church received a PPP loan, my guess is that you did not use it all; don’t stuff this away for a rainy day, use it for staff raises, bonuses and for Pastor Appreciation. If your pastor has served your church for at least 5 years, consider allowing him to take a sabbatical of five to seven weeks with pay to recharge his spiritual batteries for ministry. Trust me, you will get a better, rejuvenated pastor back after a sabbatical. It literally might be the difference between keeping or losing your pastor. BR-KC Association has budgeted to cover the cost of your church’s supply preacher while you allow your pastor to be on sabbatical, so the church does not incur any extra expenses.
Whatever you do, do something generous and special for your pastor/s this October during Pastor Appreciation Month! They need it and deserve it! Your church will reap the benefits of a happier, more productive pastor/s.
