Unfair/Unrealistic/UnScriptural Expectations

[StillStanding]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

The bolded statement is the only one that I'd take issue with.

I believe a pastor should be accessible 24-7, simply because families in crisis can't always schedule their problems during normal working hours, lol.

Now, I do agree that this privilege should never be abused by the congregation.

The pastor shouldn't be called at 3 am if a member wakes up with a stomachache, or a hangnail.

But, if there is a death, or a grave illness, I would expect that it's in the heart of most pastors to react immediately.

The good news is that those situations are usually few and far between.

If a pastor doesn't make himself available 24/7 for crisis situations, he doesn't have the calling of a shepherd and should get a secular job somewhere.

I was raised in a pastor's home, and I realize that some folks will take advantage from time to time over trivial stuff.

But.....being a pastor is a calling, and that calling is 24/7!

[HeavenlyOne]

Originally Posted by Pianoman

If a pastor doesn't make himself available 24/7 for crisis situations, he doesn't have the calling of a shepherd and should get a secular job somewhere.

I was raised in a pastor's home, and I realize that some folks will take advantage from time to time over trivial stuff.

But.....being a pastor is a calling, and that calling is 24/7!

I think her point is that the crisis situations of others don't take precedence over the crisis situation of one's own family. She can speak for herself, but that's how I took it. Not that if the pastor is playing Monopoly with his kids then the saint who is in the ER with a heart attack can wait.

I'm sure your father had less than perfect saints who would call him for insane reasons all hours of the night (and even day), taking away from his family for something that could have waited until a more opportune time.

There was a woman who called the pastor at 2am to ask him to pray for her because she couldn't sleep. The pastor said he hoped God answered that prayer because if He didn't, then he wasn't getting any sleep either!

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by Pianoman

If a pastor doesn't make himself available 24/7 for crisis situations, he doesn't have the calling of a shepherd and should get a secular job somewhere.

I was raised in a pastor's home, and I realize that some folks will take advantage from time to time over trivial stuff.

But.....being a pastor is a calling, and that calling is 24/7!

I tried that, and I'm STILL on call 24/7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!