Congregations can be advocates for their pastors

Pastors — just by the nature of their positions in the church — are expected to be on call around the clock, day in and day out. This is in addition to preparing several sermons each week, counseling with many people (a large number of whom do not attend that particular church) about life issues, keeping the church staff focused on its mission and trying to reach people for Christ.
   
“One man can’t do it all,” said Mike Anderson, director of missions for Mobile Association.
   
To give a new take on an old adage: It’s a thankless job; but the pastor’s been called to do it.
Ministers will say the job they have been called to is a lonely one. The critics are many; the encouragers are few. The loneliness, stress and related health problems play a role in many leaving their pastorates.
   
“Ministry is more stressful today than it has ever been,” said Dale Huff, director of the office of LeaderCare and church administration with the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.
   
The reasons are as diverse as the congregation, which may span every age group from newborn to 103. Denominational backgrounds are different; expectations of the pastor are greater; morals have declined; the family unit is disintegrating and everyone wants answers. On top of that, there is a whole generation of people who believes there is no absolute right and wrong.
   
So who should rise up and be the pastor’s advocate?
   
Huff said it is a long-standing tradition “that deacons and pastors are co-workers in ministry.”
   
In his 22 years as a pastor, the deacons were his advocates and were sensitive to his needs. Huff said they also volunteered to be a buffer.
   
At the same time, Huff said, deacons should hold the pastor accountable and talk with him when they feel he is out of line.
   
“They were both my advocates and my constructive critics,” said Huff.
   
Bob Thornton said a pastor should try to build a core of leadership to be his advocates in every area of church life — finance or long-range planning, for example. That way, he explained, when the pastor presents proposals, such as a building project, he will not be seen as self-serving or egotistical.
   
Huff has found that senior adult groups in churches tend to become strong pastor advocates.
   
Usually, they are more satisfied in church with just the basics and are “more loyal, more supportive,” especially during times of conflict.
   
A major support group he found during his pastorates was in other ministers in the congregation. “If there was anyone who was going to champion me, it was the former pastors in the congregation.”
   
Outside the church, pastors can find advocates both in the local association and the State Board of Missions, Thornton said.
   
Ricky Creech, director of missions for Birmingham Association, echoed that. He said his primary goal is to serve the pastors in his association.
   
But he also said the staff and members of the church can be advocates.
   
For instance, they can challenge the pastor to spend time with his family, just as the staff at the associational office encourages Creech to do.
   
Too many pastors are overworked and underpaid, he went on to say. So there should be a committee to whom the pastor is accountable, which sees to it that he has merit raises and benefits. “Part of the role of servanthood is taking care of your leader,” Creech said.
   
Huff said the search committee can take on a new role after the pastor has been called to serve. The committee, he explained, could become a support group for the new pastor and his family for their first year at the church. “They become a go-between group for the pastor and congregation that first year.”
   
In reality, though, it should be the responsibility of every member of the church to be the advocate of both the pastor and the staff, said Creech. “I think that’s the role of every member in the congregation.”
   
That, in fact, is the exact premise of an article in the September issue of Focus on the Family magazine.
   
In an article titled, “Be a Barnabas (Son of Encouragement) to Your Pastor,” readers are implored to take seriously their role as pastor advocates.