Since you're not teaching, what do you do all week?

As mentioned earlier, our faith community has been in a series called 'Living in Context' where we've invited in guest teachers for the month of July. Of course, this means that I am not teaching for the month of July. I've gotten a lot of questions about this:

I thought pastors invited guest teachers only when they were out of town or sick. You're here...why are you not teaching?
Do you miss teaching? Are you bored?
Was this your choice or were you told that you had to get others to come in and teach?

No, I wasn't told to get others to come in and teach. I wanted to bring them in. It's not because I don't like to teach. In fact, I love to teach and usually say yes to almost every opportunity that presents itself.

There are a few reasons I do this:
(1) We need to hear from the larger Body of Christ from time to time. Diversity of topics, variety of teaching styles and different passions and perspectives broaden and enlarge our understanding of God's character.
(2) Sometimes I get sick of hearing myself teach - so I am sure that others get sick of hearing me teach from time to time.
(3) It reminds the community that I am a part of this community too. I need to learn and grow and hear God's truth from others as well. I am not the Bible Answer Man. we are a community together.
(4) Though I was here for most of July it gives me a bit of a mental break, a bit of a different rhythm.
(5) It allows me to use the time and mental/emotional energy I would normally use for teaching prep to plan and pray and think towards the fall in regards to teaching, teaching series, vision, direction, etc.

But there is one question that is a bit puzzling for me. I can't tell you how many people each week in July have asked the same question: "Since you're not teaching for the entire month what do you do all week long?"

Teaching prep is a part of my week, but it certainly is not the only thing I do. 
I am not certain, but I wonder if the assumption is that a pastor spends his entire work week cooped up in his office preparing his sermon for 40 hours a week. I can assure you: this is not the case. What I told our senior pastor last week was I feel as though the rhythm of busyness and fullness of schedule has been the same in July as when I am teaching regularly. (How does that happen?)

For those of you who are curious (though I don't feel the need to defend myself) the average pastor's week is spent on others things besides just doing teaching preparation. Weeks this month have included counseling, connecting with our leadership team, Calvary staff and other pastors in the area, attending programming meetings and other leadership meetings of the church, taking a day to fast and pray specifically for Calvary and resonate, connecting in conversation with those far from God, doing teaching prep to teach in other settings where I have been asked to teach outside of Calvary/resonate this month, serving beside other resonate guys at a camp, visiting a drug and alcohol rehab recovery center to spend time with someone from the church, listening to people and praying about the direction of the fall.

Ministry should never imply that it's done only within the four walls of a building. I hope that whether I am teaching or not, this concept is fleshed out in my life as a minister of the gospel.

   

Comments

[Stan]

I think it is good that you got the chance to be asked these questions and in turn answer them. It is easy for a congregation to immortalize the pastor in the context of the church and forget that “pastors are people too”.
My brother-in law, a friend and family member of mine for nearly thirty years. pastors at a small Calvary Chapel congregation in Chambersburg, PA. We have often talked long and in depth of the alienation and disconnection of being the go to guy. It is very difficult for him in his small community with very little outside help. He has shared that he fears sometimes that in his alienation he may be stifled in his own spiritual growth and render him less effective at being part of the congregation that he serves.
It is good to be reminded that we are all apart of this community growing in God’s Grace and Love.

[DougG]

JR,
My grandfather, a Pastor for 50+ years, used to say that every Pastor should memorize his sermon and spend 40 hours preparing it a week. Then he had to run the church, visit folks, get late night emergency calls, do funerals and weddings mostly for friends, develop budgets and write checks, make sure the lay people were there for stuff, etc. Then be ready for Sunday.
At his first church during the Depression, he did all this for $100/month and sometimes there wasn't enough money so he would get rabbits, chickens, etc. in the offering.
I wish I would have been a Christian when I knew him, DougG
PS I always loved the joke by a guy, before he became a Christian, that thought Pastors were the laziest people on earth since they only worked one day a week.

[J.R.]

Here's a fun question: if Jesus were here today and asked to teach how much time might he spend in preparation for it?

Or better yet, how might Jesus spend his time if he were a pastor in 2007?

[Tina]

My dad is pastor for over 25 years and I learned alot from what he does. He visits different people, has meetings, occasionally does a guest speaker somewhere and of course he takes time away from all that to prepare for his sermons. So I understand what JR is going through.

[Amber]

Hey J.R., To be honest, I always wondered how a pastor at Calvary spends his week, never would have gotten the nerve to ask one of you in person, and I thank you for answering these questions. The entire staff at Calvary are an interesting and phenomenal bunch. Many times when I've passed Calvary while driving and I would see the physical building, and I would think to myself, "what are all those pastors up to in there?" I have trusted you were doing great and exciting things that are community, church and God oriented. Thanks for letting me get a glimpse on what happens in your week. I see many of the staff busy doing great work, but it's neat to know more specifically what's happening in and out of the physical building of Calvary. Certainly, you take both pride and humility in your work and it extends way beyond the four walls of your office or the table at your staff meetings. You are appreciated and prayed for, J.R.! :o)

[Amber]

Also, you would never strike me as someone who would get bored! as if! :o)