Pity the Poor Pastor

Find me on Facebook and visit my website, http://www.bfoswaldauthor.com. Thank you.

(Note: Although I believe in politically correct speech, it sometimes makes writing difficult. So please read clergy as referring to the ordained religious of both genders.)

Although often used as a synonym for clergyperson, Pastor is actually a job title, just one of many job titles reflecting the responsibilities incumbent upon a man or woman after their ordination by a Christian denomination. In the office of pastor, the clergy are responsible for offering succor to parishioners with personal problems, comfort to the lonely, encouragement to the sick, and solace to the dying and the bereaved.

The clergy are also priests. They are in charge of administering the Christian sacraments of Baptism, Communion, Marriage, Funeral Rites and Interment, and sometimes Ordination. Depending on the denomination they may also hear confessions and offer Absolution. Preparing for and performing these priestly duties often occupy a significant part of the clergy's time.

Preacher is another role incumbent on the clergy. Preparing and delivering the weekly sermon(s) is the lot of almost all and the bane of many clergy (and not a few parishioners). The sermon must edify, and sometimes castigate, always with the aim of helping its hearers to lead a more fulfilling spiritual life. It has been said that a great sermon comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable.

Administrator is an umbrella under which hides a variety of responsibilities that are part of the clergy's daily life. Churches, regardless of size and denomination are businesses and clergy are the CEOs of these. Income and the ways of maintaining and increasing this require a good deal of time and expertise—not all clergy have the ability to raise money effectively, although some are appointed (hired) to do primarily this because they are skilled at it. Because most churches are connectional, they must also insure that the local congregation contributes to the upkeep of the bureaucracy. Sometimes administration also includes overseeing major improvement or building programs. All this can only be done effectively by maintaining an active, committed and contributing membership, so the clergy must have good public relations skills, and not all do. TBC