Comments on: fatigue?

by: Abundant Blessings

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:36:40 +0000

Delegate, delegate, delegate. I think this is something a lot of pastors find hard to do, but what a great difference it could make.
There have been many times I would have loved to have called my pastor to kick around a theological concept or ask them what their view was on some piece of scripture, but I truly felt they would not have the time for it. I felt like I would be imposing on their time. And that is a sad thing.

by: Steve Lancaster

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:37:05 +0000

Hey guys,

You do know there’s a whole decentralised church-worth of us outside the walls of the institution, don’t you?

Not to say that the air is necessarily clearer out here (though some, myself included, find it so). But to say that we are there for you too. Just as we know that you are there for us.

We don’t always come trumpeting our Christian credentials, and you won’t always recognise us until we’ve done our job and left, but we are there.

by: thejust1

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:20:56 +0000

NP, having been where you are on a few occasions. I know exactly what you mean. I pastored for 15 years and cycled through the disillusionment - recommittment cycle a few times.

You have two choices, I figure. Get out of the church altogether, because you are done. If you don’t now, all you will do is cycle through the disillusionment then recommittment cycle over and over again.

Or, you can change the church into something God, you, and the people want.

My situation did not allow me the second option. But option one is sure working out.

Breathe the free air, man.

by: fishon

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:12:11 +0000

SocietyVs,
I certainly do NOT believe in one man leadership/pastor, though there is by nature always someone who rises to be the lead dog.

As far as burn-out, it is not a matter of a pastor[s] totally stressed by the true work of the ministry, but the stress that is added on by the unwillingness for the pastor[s] to say, “No, I am not going to go to that meeting; I am not going to belong to that civic group; I am not going to….”

I realize that the concept of busy work is ingrained into the church and pastor culture. And it will not be, and is not easy for the culture to overturned. But if the church is to be what Jesus intended his church to be, then the culture of busy work must be done away with.

I agree; “More leaders means more help.”
fishon