Week 5 _ PEOPLE - Anton Folz (dated for Feb 12th, 09)

Week 5 - People (essay) Anton Folz March 22nd 09

With all of the demands of the common senior pastor or staff pastor in our common day, it can become very easy to focus on all of the stuff that ones has to do to the neglect of the people that one is called to serve. The paper work piles up, and the district has obligations to fulfill, but a pastor must not forget the people in the midst of it all. Thus a pastor must learn to work on getting the administration stuff completed, while at the same time work with people. This can be accomplished if a pastor makes the very most of their time, both inside and outside the office, and if they all the while carefully and prayerfully complete the tasks in the most productive way they can.
Looking first at time management, a senior or supporting pastor may try and incorporate some of their people work into the administration stuff that they have to accomplish. For example, there are many times that a pastor could take the time and opportunity that they have to get some administrative stuff accomplished to at the same time work at training someone in the church to help with the task. This principle applies best to youth and children’s pastors, but not exclusively. If one has interested volunteers, then allow them to learn and get them involved.
Next, one can also do many of the administrative tasks while at the same time be working with others. For example, if you have some hospital visitations or traveling to do, one might consider taking a person or two along with them if the situation is appropriate. The travel time can be meaningful and productive, as well as the experience of the actual visitation or session that one needs to attend.
Thirdly, one might consider spending time to create a planed schedule of time that they will specifically devote to alone time, and other time that is in office yet available to others, and finally time that they specifically devote to people work. This allows a pastor to know when they can be interrupted by others, and when they need to retreat to a closet and get their work accomplished.
Overall, a pastor must always keep people in mind as they complete their work. Often the administrative tasks can be overwhelming and boring, but if one does them with the people in mind, they might be encouraged to get them done and help them to remember why it is that they are doing it. God calls pastors to the work and service of his people, and that includes the office work that needs to get done to keep the church running smoothly. Keep God’s people in mind at all times, and allow them to be the focus of your ministry, not the administrative stuff.