Week 6 - Thurs. - Josh

2/19 - Thurs
Office Work

I see this shift as a negative one. One that may have worked with a baby boomer generation that may want to “see” long hours put in at the office. But in a generation that is driven more on inter-personal and social connections. Slaving to a time-clock will not work in ministry as well as being out and building relationships with people. Ministers should spend as little time as possible holed-up in an “office” or “study”. While time alone to meditate and prepare is of the utmost importance, as much time as possible should be spent outside the church with people. This is especially true in an assistant pastor role when there is less administrative work and you don’t necessarily have to prepare for the Sunday morning sermon. In the past it may have been necessary for pastoral staff, especially the senior pastor, to be in the church office during regular hours so that others knew were to find them, but in a day of cell phones and email, a pastor is freer to be mobile and still remain in contact with other staff and parishioners.
I would hope to spend 50-60 hours a week “doing church stuff” with 20% administrative, 20% preparing, and 60% in relational ministry.