A Cloak of Busyness

Dear Pastors

A Cloak of Busyness

My topic today is unlikely to give you the warm and fuzzies. But I hope it acts as an opportunity for review of your work-style………what you actually do for 40 hours each week AND how you get it done.

With the consultancy work I do I get to see quite a few Job Descriptions¹ that church Boards (and Christian Organisations) have written when they are recruiting a new pastor for their church or a new Director for their organisation. You’ve heard it said, “even Jesus wouldn’t qualify for this position” which is actually is very true. The words on a job spec are often incredibly demanding and set a very high bar. To be honest a too higher bar.

What concerns me is how quickly in many churches the JD is forgotten after the new person wins the position. It is forgotten by everyone both by the Elders (Board) and the incumbent themselves. It’s like this very important document is now filed away never to see the light of day again.

It is easy in pastoral ministry to appear ever so busy, right? I hear it all the time. In the early days of my Christian leadership journey I was the same which incidentally I am not proud of.

But let me cut to the chase, busy doing what? It’s a very important question, I believe.

JD’s require you to ‘do’ stuff. JD’s require you to deliver (ministry) services and sermons. JD’s require outcomes. JD’s require you to fulfil the ‘tasks and responsibilities’ that are clearly stated on your JD or Position Description. And if you do deliver on them then you will receive a salary of between $60,000 and $80,000² a year.

So………….

1. Does your JD guide your work every day?
2. Do you give an account for your work based on the outcomes stated on your JD? Do the Elders and/or Board even think about that?
3. Are you clear about the difference of productive work and busy work?
4. Have you figured out how to ensure all your meetings (and conversations) in ‘work time’ are indeed necessary and result in action steps rather than another ‘talk fest’.
5. Have you figured out a ‘system’ of how to deal with your inbox super efficiently?
6. Do you have control of your work or does your work control you?

That’s enough for today. But one last comment. I hold a view that there are times when it is entirely appropriate to review a JD but such a review must be done transparently and by agreement. But that is whole other subject.

Pastor, God wants you to be a good steward of your time and your role. He is also calling you to be a good ‘employee’. He calls us to be accountable and open to guidance and if need be correction. Most of all He really does want to use you powerfully as a minister of the gospel because that is what your calling and by definition your job is fundamentally about. Your congregation and your community (suburb) need you to be productive, on point and open for business.

Blessings
Alan

¹ Next week I will share some thoughts about JD’s for Sole/Senior Pastors.

² The recent Baptist Union of NZ guidelines recommend a salary for a full time senior or sole pastor at around $75,000 - $85,000 ($36 - $41 per hour) depending on housing cost. Add onto that another between $5000 and $8000 in superannuation, reimbursements and allowances. Most other church groups and denominations in New Zealand sit around these figures.

Alan Vink is currently the Executive Director for LeadershipWorx. Prior to this role he has been the Executive Director of Willow Creek Association NZ (WillowNZ), a Baptist pastor (23 years), Bible College teacher, and church consultant.