Honour Your Pastor by Contributing to their Whole Health

October has traditionally been designated as Pastors' Appreciation Month. During the season of Thanksgiving, it's a time when those whom pastors serve are encouraged to be intentional about thanking and honouring their pastor(s). Appreciation and honour of pastors is not limited to one month, but October is a time to make space for thanking those who lead and shepherd congregations.

Most church attendees see their pastor(s) once a week, usually at a weekend gathering and may not fully know what the role of pastoring entails. A solo pastor is the only pastor in a local church, wears many hats, and bears most of the responsibility for effectively leading the church and its mission. In a multi-staff setting, pastors each have unique areas of emphasis that they are responsible for that serve the larger whole of the church's ministry. They must work in integrated harmony within a team towards collective goals and ministries that serve their faith community and reach lost people.

In a 2019 CBC article, it was noted that the Clergy is one of the most stressful jobs of all professions due to its diversity of responsibilities, cumulative trauma, and high people demands. Pastors carry heavy burdens, much of which they may not be able to share with others due to confidentiality. Their job and roles are not confined to business hours. They must be peacemakers, community builders, leader developers, counsellors, teachers, preachers, event planners, conflict resolvers, administrators, project managers, vision casters, a friend, and so much more.

Pastoral ministry is a calling, and for one to have longevity and health in living out this life calling, a pastor needs to care for their whole self and attend to their spiritual growth and vitality consistently.

Here are some ways to appreciate and honour your pastor(s) by contributing to their whole health.

Soul Care

• Keep your pastor(s) accountable for taking and keeping a day of Sabbath rest.

• Ensure that they have access to a spiritual director, time for a personal retreat once a year that is not a part of their vacation days and other enrichment to their being.

• Build flexibility in your pastor(s) work schedule and the church calendar for periods of rest, unexpected demands, or crises.

• Know how to access ABNWT District/Credential holder counselling, care services, and resources. Encourage your pastor(s) to make use of them as needed. Visit www.abnwt.com to learn more about the resources available to your pastor(s) and local church.

Mental Care

• Ensure that your pastor(s) have safe spaces to share in an ABNWT District-led cohort, peer groups, ministerial and other vital places and times of connection. Consider giving an extra day for your pastor(s) to enjoy Banff, AB, following the annual Minister's Gathering.

• Support your pastor(s) in creating and utilizing safe spaces, acknowledging their need for these spaces.

• Emphasize the significance of critical incident debriefs for overall well-being and ensure accessible avenues for access.

• Watch for signs of overload, fatigue, life/work balance and times of high stress and demands on your pastor(s) and assist where you can.

• Celebrate good and healthy things happening in the church's life and your pastor's leadership.

Emotional Care

• Affirm your pastor(s) more than you criticize them; when you need to address issues or concerns, do so in a posture of Christlike character.

• Be honest and be fair, but speak the truth in love with care and respect.

• Recognize that a pastor(s) has a life beyond the church - family, friends, spouse and others who are significant to them and may not live nearby.

• Keep in mind that pastors are human. They will make mistakes, may not always meet your expectations, and even disappoint you sometimes; be kind and considerate in addressing differences of opinion.

• Be intentional about planning ways to thank and honour your pastor(s) regularly. It does not need to be costly. A card, email, small gift card, or some expression that you appreciate them, value them and the leadership they give to your congregation and the community.

Physical Care

• In keeping Sabbath, encourage your pastor(s) to have interests, involvement, and hobbies outside of the life of the church.

• Provide a membership to your pastor(s) to the local recreation centre or another place that provides an outlet for healthy physical exercise.

• Check-in with your pastor(s) in Board meetings; what's happening in their life, how are they doing during seasons of busyness, when there has been a loss or crisis in the life of the church.

• Consider providing additional paid days off to your pastor(s) during busy and demanding seasons like Christmas. This year, Christmas Eve is on a Sunday, a significant workday. Some pastors may have to travel to be with family or cannot be with family at all. Whether single married, with or without children, don't assume that your pastor(s) have places to be and celebrate holidays and events.

Whatever you do to appreciate your pastor(s) in October and beyond, do something – anything, and do it with gratitude and thanks.

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