Lifting the Lid on Natural Church Development Pastors
What does Natural Church Development (NCD) say about church leaders in New Zealand?
If the information generated by its survey is correct, then we have many overworked pastors. The question, 'Our pastor has too much work to do', shows up as an issue in many churches. Perhaps this is because traditionally pastors have been expected to 'pick up the slack'. If there is no one to front up for what is perceived to be a 'necessary' ministry, the pastor steps in and does that work. Something must be done about it If those surveyed are correct and pastors have too much work to do, something must be done about it.
If those surveyed are incorrect and this is only a perception and not the reality, something must be done about it. It is still an issue. Perception is reality for those who are making the observation and the perception is what they will act upon. Some pastors may have too much work to do. But even if they were to work 24/7, they would still have more. One pastor used to say, 'The devil never has a day off; how can I?' We need to remember the devil is not our role model! Of course, it may be that a pastor simply gives the impression of having too much to do because they are always in a hurry to get to their next appointment. And it may be that they have a day off but never talk about it, indicating a communication issue. The work never seems to be finished.
What keeps a pastor running?
Sometimes it's guilt. They cannot rest unless they're almost worn out from the day's activities and still there is guilt because the work is never finished. The pressure to please people might also keep them on the run. They may be trying to measure up to what others expect, but God is the one we really need to please. Perhaps their basic philosophy is pastor-centric and they lack skills and/or will to train and involve lay people. This NCD survey result, coupled with survey findings about the time investment of pastors, also suggests that many are involved in busy rather than productive work.
The joint responsibility of leadership
The authors of the book, It Only Hurts on Monday - Why Pastors Quit and What You Can Do About It (Church Smart Resources) state that if a church believes its pastor is too busy and stressed, it is the joint responsibility of leadership to take steps to address it. It's not enough for lay people to say their pastor is too busy and then watch him and his family try to sort the situation out themselves.