The Session: How to Support Your Pastor

October is Pastor Appreciation Month.  To celebrate, we bring back a classic episode from 2021, 5 Ways to Support Your Pastor.  We also have ideas for how you can celebrate Pastors at https://www.risefmohio.comThe Session:  5 Ways to Support Your Pastor Hebrews 13:17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. Churches that intentionally create a culture of support for the pastor and their family tend to develop and maintain healthy relationships that allow the congregation to thrive. 1. Temper unrealistic expectations·  Don’t add to this pressure by expecting them to perform unwanted roles within the congregation, especially roles performed by past clergy family members.·  Allow the pastor and his family to use the gifts God gave them and not what the former pastor 2. Prioritize a Pastor Support Group·  The organizational structure of many congregations contains a group designed to advocate for the pastor and their family’s needs.·  Take the group seriously 3. Support a sabbatical·  Pastoral work is an intense, draining experience that constantly draws pastors away from family life to care for others.·  Pastors and their families need time set aside to be together apart from church life.·  Sabbaticals typically last from two to three months·  They happen once every 5 years 4. Provide paid parental leave.·  The church supports family. The pastor’s family should be one.·  Paid parental one off should be there for the pastor’s family too 5 Protect your pastor’s sabbath day.·  Pastors must carve out other time to practice self-care.·  Pastors vary on the day of the week they use  To reach Tom Russell, please call 419-709-8447, email Tom at [email protected], or visit his website at https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com