March 31, 2005

Twice-Blessed:

Help for hurting pastors

By Dale Holloway
Bivocational Specialist
Miss. Baptist Conv. Board

I see more than a legion of hurting, frustrated, unfulfilled, and depressed pastors. Jesus is so sensitive and kind. He hurts in His heart over these suffering servants. We are commanded, “Weep with them who weep.” (Romans 12:15).

Half of all Southern Baptist Convention churches (a total of 18,000) have less than 60 people in Sunday School attendance. Over 11,000 of these churches have a bivocational pastor. (Many bivocationally-led churches have more than 60 people in Sunday School attendance.)

Therefore, over 7,000 fully-supported pastors are in these churches with less than 60 people in Sunday School attendance. I challenge all our “double duty” pastors to feel their frustration and make a commitment to compliment their ministry.

Consider their painful frustrations. They agonize over their families not having basic economic necessities. Some salaries are such that pastors barely meet minimum wage and qualify for food stamps. They are the most vulnerable to forced termination that may require moving out of a church-owned home. They have no immediate opportunity for church employment, and their secular skills or credentials may be limited.

The income from the church requires the pastor’s wife to work. This puts an unbalanced burden on her with three full-time responsibilities: the home, the church, and work. This can lead to unbearable stress on harmony in the home. Church members have an unrealistic expectation of the pastor performing all the ministry since, “We pay him full-time.” This diminishes their willingness to connect to their ministry; they are robbed of the blessing of shared ministry.

What can we bivocational pastors do to lift some of his burden as we walk with him through the Valley of Shadows? We can intentionally choose one of these brothers in our local associations and become a Barnabus — a partner to him and his church.

Share fifth Sunday services on a rotating basis. Explore with him ways he can elevate his economic situation, such as substitute teaching or contract work that fits his ministry schedule. Join him in attending association and convention meetings or ministry courses. Plan leisure or recreation activities in which your family and his family can both benefit. Become a prayer partner so you can connect with God and the Holy Spirit in strengthening both your lives and ministries.

I trust that our love and sincere concerns for our “single-role” brothers will be picked up and amplified by associations and state conventions. Have Baptist leaders and writers caused this dilemma by insisting that a “worthy” church will call a full-time seminary graduate who will live on the field in the house the church has built?

Many congregations with less than 60 people in average Sunday School attendance may love their pastors dearly, but they simply do not have the resources to care for his financial needs and still have funds to participate admirably in mission causes.

I believe all of those who hurt in our hearts for these brothers will find ways to help.

Holloway, a retired Mississippi educator and active bivocational pastor, can be reached at 1758 Florence-Byram Road, Florence, MS 39073. Telephone: (601) 845-2107 or (601) 845-6496. E-mail: bivoldr@aol.com.