Any answer to this question has to be framed by the particular context of the congregation. Here are four real life examples:
A rural church where the parsonage is across the parking lot of the church building and most of the congregation lives within 10 miles. This pastor keeps a full schedule of office hours because it’s convenient, it’s a quieter space to study than an office in his home, and he serves as the “church secretary”. He also wants to preserve a distinction between his home life and pastoral duties and prefers that his congregation meets him at the church office. He does let the congregation know what days are his days off and asks that they be respected.
A small urban church where the pastor has a thirty minute commute to the church office and the congregation is widely dispersed throughout the urban area. This pastor does not keep daily office hours, but does maintain a few days of the week when she spends most or part of the day at the office. Cell phone and email keep the congregation and their pastor in 24/7 conversation.
A large urban church where the pastor lives within walking distance of the church building and the congregation is a lively mix of distance and proximity; some members live in the neighborhood and some commute 40 minutes. This pastor tries to spend at least two full week days in the office so that folks can drop in, but also to interact with staff. Those days vary because of other needs in the congregation and involvement in community activities. If someone wants to meet with the pastor, he often suggests meeting at a place closer to where the congregation member lives or works than the church office.
Another urban church—the only CRC church in the city—where the pastor lives within a short commute of the church building but the majority of the congregation lives further away. Again, this pastor has flexible office hours based on other demands on his time, but does hold himself to one consistent day a week to be in the office—the day he and church secretary pull together the liturgy and bulletin for the coming Sunday.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to this question. It’s a balance that needs to be worked out between the pastor, the elders, and other church staff. Most pastors would also point out that their participation in and attendance at church events during the week often offer better times for those casual conversations. Pastors who volunteer at the church’s food pantry, help serve the neighborhood dinner, attend the local high school football games, or read a story at the church’s daycare center are creating informal opportunities for interacting with congregational members that can build caring relationships without the need to be “in the office”.
Posted in: In the Digital Age, How Many Hours Should a Pastor Be in the Office?
Any answer to this question has to be framed by the particular context of the congregation. Here are four real life examples:
A rural church where the parsonage is across the parking lot of the church building and most of the congregation lives within 10 miles. This pastor keeps a full schedule of office hours because it’s convenient, it’s a quieter space to study than an office in his home, and he serves as the “church secretary”. He also wants to preserve a distinction between his home life and pastoral duties and prefers that his congregation meets him at the church office. He does let the congregation know what days are his days off and asks that they be respected.
A small urban church where the pastor has a thirty minute commute to the church office and the congregation is widely dispersed throughout the urban area. This pastor does not keep daily office hours, but does maintain a few days of the week when she spends most or part of the day at the office. Cell phone and email keep the congregation and their pastor in 24/7 conversation.
A large urban church where the pastor lives within walking distance of the church building and the congregation is a lively mix of distance and proximity; some members live in the neighborhood and some commute 40 minutes. This pastor tries to spend at least two full week days in the office so that folks can drop in, but also to interact with staff. Those days vary because of other needs in the congregation and involvement in community activities. If someone wants to meet with the pastor, he often suggests meeting at a place closer to where the congregation member lives or works than the church office.
Another urban church—the only CRC church in the city—where the pastor lives within a short commute of the church building but the majority of the congregation lives further away. Again, this pastor has flexible office hours based on other demands on his time, but does hold himself to one consistent day a week to be in the office—the day he and church secretary pull together the liturgy and bulletin for the coming Sunday.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to this question. It’s a balance that needs to be worked out between the pastor, the elders, and other church staff. Most pastors would also point out that their participation in and attendance at church events during the week often offer better times for those casual conversations. Pastors who volunteer at the church’s food pantry, help serve the neighborhood dinner, attend the local high school football games, or read a story at the church’s daycare center are creating informal opportunities for interacting with congregational members that can build caring relationships without the need to be “in the office”.
Posted in: "What Were We Doing Here?" (An Elder's Musings)
"...not only would he come to know.."
Let's not forget the shes who are elders and deacons at classis.