The Overtaxed Leader
During a recent staff meeting several leaders mentioned that many pastors and ministry leaders are tired. They suffer loss of vision and passion, dealing with many crises. My take-away from our prayer time was a concern that pastors are emotionally and spiritually overtaxed. The Spirit in me said “pray for pastors.” This is Pastor Appreciation Month. Lend your support. I invite you to join me in prayer.
Leaders are over-taxed. They must care for their own families during these uncertain times. As well they must care for their church families in ways they couldn’t have imagined before. The burden of the church always occupies the mind of leaders (See 2 Cor 11:28).
Leaders must also learn to master new technologies to meet the changing needs of their congregations. That’s an added responsibility that taxes leaders’ time and energy. Zoom fatigue is now common among pastors.
When church members diverge politically and bring that to church, leaders are overtaxed. Politics is by definition the business of the people. A good thing! But American politics is so polarized that people no longer see eye to eye on practically anything. Talking to one another about what we agree on or disagree with is a lost art. The optimum is to agree to disagree agreeably. Alas, many pastors are at a loss how to do it. Politics is ravaging the bride of Christ they care so much about. Often, the pastor is blamed for the disunity. These are not new problems, but with the added stresses they become overtaxing.
Being overtaxed can bring out the worst in us. Pastors who try to be all things to all people eventually realize it’s not possible. The natural response? Isolate. This act of self-protection exacerbates the emotional and spiritual dis-ease of pastors. They entered ministry to enable church people and society become like Jesus. The emotional fall out of dealing with division is isolation, distancing from others. We need to support our pastors and leaders, helping them stay healthy when they have too much to bear.
I hear that soon pastors will leave their ministry in larger numbers than ever. Barna surveys show that after a few years in ministry, a high percentage of pastors would leave if they could find other suitable employment! That’s in normal circumstances.
Uncertain times breed uncertainty within. When others make decisions that affect us without our input or consent, uncertainty intensifies. Should we gather in-person again? How many can meet? Should we have children’s ministry? What about small groups or Sunday School? What if a segment of the church doesn’t like the decision? Church leaders now make decisions on a weekly basis concerning these matters. This too is taxing.
But the potential for bringing out the best in us is also here. This is the time to slow things down and learn to hear together from God in prayer. We can speak and listen to God without being tech savvy. Spirit to spirit. We can talk with the One who cares about the tired, weary, burdened. We can unyoke ourselves from things that matter little eternally. Yes, Pastor Appreciation Month is a call to prayer. Many are calling us to it. Let prayer become the work of the people during these times. Pray for our overtaxed leaders, churches, members, government and health officials. God knows they need wisdom from above. A lot of it.
Humble yourself and pray. That’s the way to the heart of God. Pray unceasingly! Masks unnecessary!
In my next post I will offer some practical ways to deal with being overtaxed.