Podcast Episode #017
A look recent post I wrote on a pastor’s work week. I took a survey of my deacons when I was pastoring in St. Petersburg Florida back in the 1980s. I listed several congregational responsibilities and asked them to share the minimum amount of time I should average in each area each week. I listed about twenty areas; but they were free to add other responsibilities to the blank lines.
I’m not sure exactly what I was anticipating. I just know that I was shocked when I tallied the results. In order to meet those twelve deacons minimum expectations I had to fulfill the following responsibilities each week:
- Prayer at the church: 14 hours
- Sermon preparation: 18 hours
- Outreach and evangelism: 10 hours
- Counseling: 10 hours
- Hospital and home visits: 15 hours
- Administrative functions: 18 hours
- Community involvement: 5 hours
- Denominational involvement: 5 hours
- Church meetings: 5 hours
- Worship services/preaching: 4 hours
- Other: 10 hours
Total: 114 hours/week
Some commenters on the post asked about another pastoral duty that was not covered in the survey: weddings and funerals. So in the podcast we touched on that as well as whether or not payments for those services should be included in a pastor’s compensation package.
Episode Sponsor
This week’s podcast is brought to you by Auxano and the Vision Room. VisionRoom.com is an online gathering of articles, tools and resources designed for church leaders like you who value vision clarity and want to live out that vision in meaningful ways. For more information visit VisionRoom.com.
Feedback
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Resources
- Essential Church by Sam Rainer and Thom Rainer
