Signs your congregation might have unrealistic expectations of the pastor, part 1
Clergy are leaving ministry, and unrealistic expectations are a big reason why.
I talk with a lot of pastors who are buried under expectations. Some of them are internal, and some are imposed by their congregations. Here are some of the most common ones:
Pastors don't need a livable wage or raises because ministry is a calling, not a job. Ministry is both a calling and a job. Pastors should be compensated appropriately (including being given cost of living raises, at a minimum) for their work because that practice is just, acknowledges the labor (mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical) that clergy do, shows care for the person, and allows your pastor to focus on ministry.
Pastors should be available to members 24/7/365. This mindset is the most direct route to pastor burnout. Pastors are not just the leaders of congregations. They are whole people with other interests, the need for rest, and relationships to tend.
A pastor's job is to grow/turn around the church. Pastors can guide their congregations in these kinds of changes, but they cannot do the work required for such shifts all on their own. Transformation is a congregational effort.
A pastor's effectiveness can be measured in numbers. Pastors have very little control over how many people come to worship or how much money is in the budget. Instead, take stock of such signs as deepening spirituality in the congregation, a more hope-filled atmosphere, and the presence of new people in the leadership pipeline.
Pastors should be at every meeting and event. This is not an efficient use of ministers’ time, and it has real ramifications for their relationships beyond church and for the energy they have to spend on the aspects of the pastoral role that only they can do.
Pastors are the connection between/representatives of the congregation and larger community. They are a connection, but they shouldn’t be the only one. Being church means showing Christ’s love everywhere we go, and that’s a job for us all.
Pastors should not challenge or try to change the church. There are some aspects of every congregation’s identity that are part of its DNA, but not as many as some members might think. In this time of big shifts, churches have to think differently about why they exist and how they minister, not just come up with easy fixes. It’s a pastor’s job to help lead that reflection and transition.
Pastors shouldn’t preach politics. They should never be partisan in their pastoral role. That’s an abuse of spiritual authority. But the Bible is political. It lays out a clear preference for the overlooked, the despised, and the under-resourced. It tells us that we are responsible for them because they too are made in God’s image. And Jesus engaged in political conversations with all kinds of people.
I’m not done outlining common, unrealistic expectations! Look for part 2 next week.