In a recent article, I noted nine things church members would like to say to their pastors. In this article, I represent the pastors. Please hear me clearly. Most pastors love church members dearly. They truly care for those they serve.
But pastors are human.
And there are times they would like church members to know some things about them. In my conversations with pastors via social media, in person, by phone and by email, here are the nine most common themes:
1. "When you criticize a family member, you hurt me deeply." Please understand that neither my spouse nor my children are employed by the church. Do your best to treat them as regular church members, and do not place unreasonable expectations on them.
2. "I will have bad days, and it will show at times." A pastor is supposed to be "on" all the time. But it is difficult. I know there are times I speak out of turn. I know there are times when I'm too tired to listen well. I will try not to show my bad days, but I will slip at times.
3. "Not all of my sermons will be 'home runs.'" I wish they were. But with the number of different messages I have to prepare and preach in a year, I won't always be the stellar preacher you want me to be. Indeed, I won't always be the stellar preacher I want to be.
4. "I am sensitive about my salary." There are few people who work in a place where everyone in the organization is the boss. That is the nature of church work. But when you make disparaging comments about my pay and my related work, it cuts me to the core.
5. "I struggle when the church numbers are down." I know I shouldn't. I know I shouldn't derive my worth based on attendance and offerings. But when attendance declines or offerings drop, I question my own leadership at the church.
6. "I would love a true friend in the church." I'm talking about someone who would let me be myself, someone who wouldn't mind if I let my hair down. It seems like everyone wants me to put on my pastor face all the time.
7. "Please don't criticize me or ask me to do something right before I preach." I put many hours into sermon preparation. I have prayed with intensity about the message. Please don't tell me the worship center is too cold right before I preach.
8. "I cannot show up at every place all of you would like me to be." I jokingly told a pastor friend that I wish I could be omnipresent, and he laughed and agreed. I love you church members, but it is physically impossible to be all the places you expect me to be.
9. "I hurt deeply when good people don't defend me." Every leader will have his or her critics; and that is certainly the case with pastors. I don't expect to be immune from criticisms. But what hurts me the most is the silence of "good" members when I am attacked unfairly. Please say a kind word about me in response to the negativity you hear. Don't let the few critics dominate the conversation.
Most pastors do indeed love their church members. But most pastors have a challenging work, one that is impossible without God's strength.
Pastors, what would you add or change on this list? Church members, what do you think about these nine items?
Thom S. Rainer is the president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. Previously, he served the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for 12 years, where he was a founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism.
For the original article, visit thomrainer.com.
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