In response to an article in the Nov. 30, 2006, issue, titled “A Day of Blessing and Burden,” by Leigh Pritchett, I am wondering why the article concerned only pastors. A member of my family is on the staff of a large church, some 1,700 or more, in the capacity of worship pastor.
As such, he serves in three services on Sunday and has many of the same pastoral duties as the pastor. His job requires many extra hours of rehearsals, planning and ordering music, singing at weddings and funerals, meeting with committees, etc., which adds up to his working seven days and most nights every week.
His church gives each staff member a half-day off per week, which he often cannot take because of work pressures.
Yes, he will “burn out” and his children are already alienated from the church.
When will churches care enough to insist that their staff members take a day off every week and provide a vacation time each year?
Ross Cleaveland
Birmingham, Ala.
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