No, really, I think you'll like this. I stumbled on it through seeing friends of friends of friends and I kinda forget where I started from so it's hard to give a hat tip. But the website has several articles of interest like "how to help your pastor" and quizzes on how to know if your church is a cult or not. Suffice to say, if you feel you need to take the test, the answer is probably YES, and your family has been trying to tell you for years...
Anyway...
From the website, a short but sobering snippet with my own comments in blue:
Eighty-five percent of pastors said their greatest problem is they are sick and tired of dealing with problem people, such as disgruntled elders, deacons, worship leaders, worship teams, board members, and associate pastors. Ninety percent said the hardest thing about ministry is dealing with uncooperative people. Good gracious! "People" would be the number one reason I would never go into the ministry. Living in a fishbowl like that, AND my family too? Yuck, no thanks. Number two would be that I'm a woman (LOL ya reading, Daja? I love you! *xo*), so I could never be lead pastor and would "just" be the pastor's "wife," but work just as hard as he does for zero pay and having to say HI to all the visitors even if I *was* just on my way to the bathroom or lunch and do NOT want to deal with people right then... and number three would be that I can't dress well or say anything out loud in front of people or make good eye contact IRL. And you need to have a special pastoring suit for funerals instead of dumpy mu-mus. You need to look good. You know, if I'm going to work my fanny off for uncooperative people who never listen to me anyway at all hours of the day, I'm going to be a doctor so at least the riff-raff can't come to my house in the gated community. And I say that with all the Christian loooove in my heart.
Seventy percent of pastors feel grossly underpaid. Yup, that's what happens when you accept a job with grossly low pay LOL! Sorry. Had to say it.
Eighty percent of pastors' spouses feel their spouse is overworked. Eighty percent of pastor' wives feel left out and unappreciated by the church members. Eighty percent of pastors' spouses wish their spouse would choose another profession. OK, seriously, I can only imagine this, as I've outlined above. What a crappy job. You get lots of spiritual benefits, though, after you reach heaven. Maybe.
Eighty percent of pastors' wives feel pressured to do things and be something in the church that they are really not. The majority of pastor's wives surveyed said that the most destructive event that has occurred in their marriage and family was the day they entered the ministry. OK, that's positively awful! Aren't all you guys glad you're not pastors? Me, too. If even half the statistics are partially true, it's a wonder anyone does this job.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Look Out, Dad!!
My father is the purple dot above the blue weather station. He's juuust outside Milton's evacuation zone. Well! My brother and I jus...
Yep, I'm reading!
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'll change your mind about women pastors sooner or later. You know, when I get time to blog all about it. We'll see....
;-)
One of my favorite pastor's wife was speaking recently. She just oozes warmth. One of those people, you know. Anyway, she said all excitedly, "Guess what? I've been a pastor's wife for 35 years. And I still LOVE going to church! That's my testimony!" LOL!
It is possible to still love it 35 years later!
Mrs. C, you know what I love about your blog? You say so much of what I'm thinking, but in a clear, concise way. I'm kind of a jumbled mess, but this is what I would say if I could say it. :-) I know two pastors, and both of them say that being a pastor would be perfect...without the people. LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd do you know who causes the most trouble at churches? Women. Well, and their husbands who aren't being the spiritual leaders of their families, and therefore their wives walk all over them.
I've heard pastors say that, too, Claire. And it breaks my heart. We've pastored some rough folks who have caused us plenty of trouble, but I would never say such a thing.
ReplyDeleteI've heard my pastors (Che and Sue Ahn)say to the congregation too many times to count, "We love being your pastors. We think we are pastoring the best church."
I think that's the heart of the Father.
For a pastor to say that pastoring would be great, except the people, is like a parent saying they like being parents if only they didn't have kids.
*shaking head*