RIGHT or WRONG? Pastoral duties

What pastoral duties drain your character development? What pastoral responsibilities help you grow?

I was asked to conduct a funeral, and on the same day at the same time, another funeral, which I felt that I needed to attend, also was scheduled. A kind widow, Francis Dixon, told me: "I understand. Your time is not your own." She was right. Often ministry needs set a pastor's schedule. Funerals, Sunday schedules, midweek obligations, counseling, hospital and other kinds of visitation, outreach endeavors, denominational involvement and administrative tasks crowd a pastor's schedule.

A pastor's schedule also is about choice, and choice is both a product of and shaper of character. The pastor's ethic should be seeking what is best for the gospel and for the church he/she serves. The effective minister will make choices that build up and strengthen the church.

But every pastor—every person, actually—lives with the temptation to take the path of least resistance. Here is a common choice: A church member's son is repeating his wedding vows 100 miles away on a 100-degree day. The pastor can choose to celebrate with the members of the flock or to monitor the thermostat from an easy chair. But at some point, the pastor will have to say to the groom's parents, "We could not make it because … ." The acceptable conclusion to this sentence does not include "easy chair." Choices go to character.

These choices manifest themselves in dozens of ways. Every pastor makes the choice of reading for necessary self-edification but also for one's congregation or purchasing a sermon from an Internet service. A pastor must sort out what kind of recreation or hobby to pursue. How many hours of TV watched are required to edify the congregation? Choices always go to character.

The power of these choices is magnified over time. Once trust is built between a pastor and a congregation, the temptation arises: "I have been here 10 years. I do not need to … ." A pastor constantly should review choices.

While much of a pastor's schedule is set by others, the choices when available reveal who a pastor is and is becoming. Now, back to your question. Those choices either can drain or strengthen your pastor. Elements of growth come in making the right choices. And it follows that we are drained by our poor choices. Misuse of time and ministry cannot be retrieved. These irretrievable choices are draining, both spiritually and personally.

On the other side of the coin, when we choose rightly, there is a great deal of satisfaction. Knowing one has made an effort to encourage, support and be present in the cause of Christ for a congregation is gratifying. And every now and then, after making one of these best choices, one discovers growth as a pastor has come and is coming.

Stacy Conner, pastor

First Baptist Church

Muleshoe

?Right or Wrong? is co-sponsored by the Texas Baptist theological education office and Christian Life Commission. Send your questions about how to apply your faith to bill.tillman@texasbaptists.org.