Superman

There is not a clergy person living who has not been ribbed about only working one hour per week. I have been in ministry for thirty years, and if I had a dollar for every time someone has said that to me, I could retire tomorrow. I hope I am not becoming cynical, but I am more and more convinced that there are large numbers of folks sitting in the pew each Sunday who actually believe that. Oh, maybe they believe it is a little more than an hour a week, but I do not think that the average parishioner has any appreciation for the workload and stress that most clery persons live with daily.

Most of us readily recognize the stress associated with other "helping" professions. We are not shocked or surprised when we call our physician and the receptionist says to us: "Dr. X is not in today, but you can see Dr. Z." We accept the fact that the demands on a physician are tremendous and if the good doctor is to continue to be a good doctor he/she needs some time away. I cannot count the number of times I have heard this line repeated by a patient the morning of surgery: "I hope the surgeon got lots of rest last night, I want him to be fresh when he is operating on me!" We readily see the value in that, yet we will allow our pastor to run ragged and expect him to be fresh when he feeds our soul on Sunday morning.

Why is it that most denominations require missionary personnel to furlough on a regular basis? Could it be that we see the wisdom in not leaving a missionary "out there" too long under the pressure of working in a "foreign" environment? We see the need to bring them "home" for a time of rejuvenation. Yet, we allow our pastors to go for years upon years stewing in the same pressure cooker and never think of giving them more than a week or two of vacation here and there.

Why is it different with clery persons? Perhaps it has to do with the nature of our work. Maybe folks have concluded that since our work is of the spiritual nature that those of us who are doing it are super spiritual people. After all, we have been called by God and God is on our side. Since our work is super spiritual and supernatural God has given us some kind of super human strength to endure.

Maybe it is because we clergy persons have too often portrayed ourselves as super-heroes as opposed to real people, with real weakness, real hurts, and real needs. I will be the first to agree that ministry is a calling, and the first to acknowledge that there are times and situations that I could not bear without the supernatural power of God. I will also be the first to confess that I am not Superman!

Blessings,
Jimmy

Sabbath

Over the past few weeks I have been researching Clergy Sabbaticals in hopes of selling our congregation on the idea of a sabbatical policy for the ministerial staff. Three great resources, all from the Alban Institute, are: Clergy Renewal: The Alban Guide to Sabbatical Planning by A. Richard Bullock and Richard J. Bruesehoff; Journeying toward Renewal by Melissa Bane Sevier; and a video, Why You Should Give Your Pastor a Sabbatical by Roy M. Oswald. My research has really pricked my spirit. I have been seriously convicted of my own sin.

The practice of a Sabbath (a period of rest and renewal) is taken directly from Scripture. Genesis 2:2-3 reads: "By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which He had done" (NAS). The Gospels are frequent in their depiction of Jesus taking time for renewal, prayer, rest, and worship. My practice has not been so unswerving.

Just today I tried to remember the last time I had taken a day off for the purpose of rest and renewal. I took a few days off last week to help my son-in-law complete a project in preparation for the arrival of their second child, but it has been months since I have taken a day for myself. If God, all powerful, all knowing God had a need for rest (as indicated by the passage above), what makes me think that I am immune? If Jesus, God incarnate, had a need for renewal, what makes me think I am exempt? My need was driven home further this week when I visited the doctor. I discovered that my blood pressure was abnormally high. As the doctor indicated, my family history is certainly a factor to be considered, but my failure to take care of myself is a culprit as well.

I think a clergy sabbatical is a worthy pursuit. I believe congregations should consider the benefit to both the clergy person and the congregation when thinking about sabbaticals. I certainly see the benefits of giving ministerial staff regular and periodic times away for renewal, rest, and reflection. But the one thing I have been convicted of this week is my own failings in this area. I have failed to set boundaries and maintain balance. I have allowed work to become an idol and my busyness to create a sense of pride.

I recently had a retired pastor tell me: "You are in the prime of your ministerial career." I think his assessment is right. I have certainly gained tons of experience and wisdom over the years. But I am also convinced that I cannot continue at the pace I have been going. I pray that our congregation will consider a sabbatical policy for the ministerial staff, but regardless of their decision, it is up to me to set boundaries for my own ministry, and times of rest and renewal. I have made a commitment to myself and my family starting now to take regular times away. I am going to begin by taking at least one day off per week. I need it for myself, and I am sure my congregation will benefit as well.

Blessings,
Jimmy