Is your minister suffering from lack of time off?

As a director of missions, I have opportunity to observe the local church in great detail. I see how decisions made by the church affect its ministers, its members and its effectiveness in ministry to the world. Some churches have missed an important theological truth. I have observed that many churches require a new pastor or staff member to wait one full year before receiving any vacation time. This practice is accepted in business but should not be applied to the church.
   
The theological truth I refer to is the biblical concept that the “church is universal.” When a pastor or minister moves from one church to another, he is not changing companies. He is simply moving from one branch office to another. Every church is a part of the universal church. A minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ is employed, not by the church, but by God. Think for a minute how the church calls a minister. Hours of time are spent in prayer seeking God’s will. This tells me the call comes from God, not the church. The church is following instructions given them by God Himself.
   
A minister who loses tenure when he changes churches is wrongly deprived of vacation he has earned by his many years of service in the “church universal” under God’s employment. The minister moves at the instructions of his heavenly Boss. He is not leaving the church, but a church. If he is required to wait a full year each time he changes churches, it would seem the church requiring this does not have a proper understanding of the “universal church” of Jesus Christ, all under one head.
   
This can have great impact on the minster and his family. Think of how a minster’s family suffers each time a minister moves to a church with this policy. The family must give up weeks of vacation time which are greatly needed. And just think, this loss comes simply because the minister was obedient to the leadership of God.
   
What is the purpose of vacation time? Vacation time is an opportunity for families to be together. Each vacation gives time for the minister and his family to get much-needed rest. These days of vacation are needed for the stability of the minister’s family itself. I have observed many times the negative effects of the loss of vacation time. To deprive a minister of these benefits, simply because he followed God’s instruction seems unfair. Every church should check its policy and consider the need for a policy change. Churches may even choose to give some compensatory time to their minister if this policy was applied to them.
   
Each time I share these thoughts with a church, it changes the way the members feel about the vacation policy. This change benefits the church, and the minister and his family. God blesses a church when its members deal lovingly and ethically with those He has called into His service. The church benefits when its ministers are healthy and their families are happy and well attended to. Burnout of many ministers could be avoided with proper time off. It’s possible many marriages could be saved.
   
With this in mind, effort should be made to see that vacation time is used as provided. Often I hear minsters say they are too busy to take vacation time. This could be the results of inadequate staff or unreasonable expectations by the church. Too many ministers feel guilty for being away. Often they put unreasonable expectations on themselves. Many don’t give adequate time to their families. Whatever the reason, the church needs to encourage the minister to use the time allowed for the sake of the church, the minister’s family and for the minister personally.
   
Editor’s Note: Jerry Wilkins is director of missions for Tuscaloosa Baptist Association.