The Loneliest Place in the World

7/26/2018

Pastor Simpson had longed for the day for four years. He was finally graduating from Seminary and excited to enter the ministry for which he had dreamed for years. As a teenager, active in his local Church, he had always admired his Pastor and the seemingly positive effect his Pastor’s influence exuded in the lives of his parishioners.

It had been 12 months since Pastor Simpson accepted the role of Senior Pastor for the little country Church. Looking in from the outside it seemed this was a storybook connection—he loved and cherished his members and they reciprocated it back to him. But, then the bottom fell out.

Pastor Admits Himself to Rehab

Having been in his Pastoral position for less than 13 months, Pastor Simpson was faced with the necessity to enter rehab. The pressure of Pastoring the little country Church had taken its toll and Pastor Simpson turned to alcohol and pornography to help escape the emotional pain connected to his position.

Four years of Seminary training, graduating with a bachelor’s degree and a 3.9 GPA, had not prepared the young man for that which he would soon experience. In addition to Pastor’s emotional problem, the Church split down the middle. Half of the little congregation wanted to kick the Pastor to the curb, while the other half was sympathetic to his plight and desired to see him healed, delivered, and whole.

Seminary Is only Part of the Process

Seminaries and Bible Colleges are good for what they do, but the problem is they don’t do enough. Any Seminary student will leave the institution with more Biblical knowledge and insight than probably will ever be used in the life of their ministry. The students learn how to properly exegete the Scripture, while writing papers explaining the Hebrew and Greek definitions of a text.

In addition to the study of the Scriptures most Seminaries and Bible Colleges demand for the students to engage in an active prayer life and serve locally in some form of ministry within a Church setting.
What the Seminary does not do is provide in depth training to successfully navigate the stormy seas which a Pastor must sail. If all a Pastor had to do was preach his or her job would be the easiest in the world. Unfortunately, preaching and teaching is only a small percentage of the average Pastor’s job duties.

Pastors Must be Jack-of-All-Trades

In addition to spending much time in prayer and meditation to arrive at the appropriate message for a Sunday Service, the Pastor will spend most of his or her time performing duties which most members take for granted. The below is only a partial list of what an average Pastor will do weekly in his or her role.

CEO
The Pastor is automatically thrown into the position of Chief Executive Officer the moment he or she accepts the role of Pastor. This means the Pastor is automatically responsible for everything that transpires in that Church. While most CEOs are well compensated for their role, many Pastors live at the edge of poverty.

Financial Planner
The Pastor is not only responsible to ensure the Church is meeting its budget, but he or she often is required to sit with families who are struggling to make ends meet from week to week.

Recruiter
A Church cannot operate without a sufficient volunteer staff. With the Church struggling week to week just to meet its budget, there are no extra funds to pay those needed to do ministry. A Church needs volunteers for Children’s Ministry, to oversee the Benevolence Fund, to operate its Women’s and Men’s Ministry, and then there are musicians and singers needed to lead worship service. Someone has to gather and oversee those volunteers and more often than not, that lot falls on the shoulders of the Pastor.

In the above list I have omitted the various other duties such as Arbitrator/Peace-Keeper, Janitor, Maintenance Supervisor, Events Planner, Public Relations Expert, Social Worker, and countless more that could be named.

Is it any wonder that only 10% of Pastors actually retire in the pulpit? Is it any wonder why the position of Pastor is considered as the fourth highest suicide attempt rate of any profession?

Why It Is Lonely at the Top

When a member of the Church has an issue, whether it is a sin issue, or relational or emotional issue, they can go to the Pastor. They know what they confess and the assistance they receive will be confidential because of Priest-Penitent Privilege. But, to whom does a Pastor go? If the Pastor was to confide in a Church member, that member would no longer hold the Pastor in high esteem because of his or her failure, and most of the Church would know about it before the next Sunday Service. The Pastor can’t go to another Pastor because unfortunately, Pastors consider other Pastors and Churches as their competition. If he confided in another Pastor he would be afraid the news would be all over town so that the Pastor in whom he confided could grow his Church at the expense of the fallen man or woman of God. Most of the time the Pastor does not even feel comfortable relating his or her troubles to their spouse.

The Pastor finds himself or herself alone—no one to lean on and no one in which to confide. The emotional pain becomes so severe, that the Pastor seeks relief wherever he or she can find it. Too often, in order to find solace the Pastor turns to the dark world of something like alcohol or pornography as their escape. This is why the Pastor should be the most prayed for person in any congregation.

Why You Need Us

No one knows the throes of ministry, especially Pastoral, better than Chitwood & Chitwood. We have been the ultimate Church Management firm for 80 years. During this time we have always been the place which can assist the Pastor in his or her day-to-day challenges. At our Church Management Conferences across the nation we teach and make resources available to Pastors which can alleviate some of the pressure and stress they encounter on a weekly basis.

I strongly urge every Pastor, Pastor’s Spouse, and Church Leader to enroll for the next available Church Management Conference. It will be the best investment you can make in yourself and your ministry. To register please call us at 800-344-0076.

By Dr. Michael Chitwood

What You Will Learn at our Conferences

Our Church Management Conferences will arm you with the information you must have to shield your Church or Ministry from IRS intrusiveness; teach you how to get your Taxes to the lowest possible rate; and daily operate your Church or Ministry within IRS acceptable guidelines.

Our Conferences have been taught across the Nation for over 48 years. Because of the Penalties, Fines, and even Imprisonment that the IRS imposed on many Churches and Pastors, Dr. Chitwood felt led by the Holy Spirit to become a buffer between Churches, Ministers, and the IRS.

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