It is the plight of all pastors, I am sure. I spend my time doing what I don’t want to do, and increasingly I wonder if I am not doing what I can’t do.
I deal with a steady trickle of complaints. “This place doesn’t feel like family.” “I don’t like the coffee.” “I am not being fed.” “It is too loud.” “Why didn’t you tell us about…” “I don’t like the bulletin.” “I don’t have email, why can’t we do a regular newsletter.” “We need a ______ ministry. We are going to have to find a church that offers it.”
Closely related to the complaints is the barrage of people who are sure they know how to do my job and that I don’t. “You need to preach about _____.” “You are not personal enough.” “Talk to more people.” “Send more emails.” “Send less email.” “You should have a calling program.” “You should end your sermons with a prayer time.” “Why don’t you bring all the prayer requests you know to us?” “You should circulate among the small groups.” “You need to ______.”
Add to all of that the constant money pressures, demands at home, etc, etc, etc.
I look at all of this and I wonder, “Do I have what it takes to be a pastor?” “Is this even what it means to be a pastor?”
I went to a large church to attend a “music” program for one of my kids. I sat in the auditorium and pitied the guy who had more people making him feel less adequate.
UGH….sounds really, really depressing. Don’t have any advice or knowledge of what pastor’s go through. I’ll pray for your family. If money were no object, what would you want to do?
I’d like to say, “How about I be a pastor and you guys run the church.”
I should add…I love being a pastor. I know it doesn’t sound like it, but I do.
I would just don’t count some of this stuff in that category.
(this feels a bit like a pity party, but it is not intended as such.)
you have 1 faithful reader even if you don’t update or blog as often as I like. In like often blogs because it is a way we communicate. I also know that a pastor is s freakin busy with the dross of ministry that the Gold often gets lost. I know that you have what it takes to be a Pastor but I am not certain that the church even knowswhat it needs let alone what you are supposed to do. I always loved how I could get yelled at for both sides of the coin on the same day. Glad things went well down south, you looked pretty happy with your pix, great to be appreciated sometimes! Keep the faith I know you love God and His people in spite of themselves