What Is A Full-Time Pastor?

[The Glory Land]

Because many of them don't work full-time, how many work hours, does your pastor work?

 

I am sorry if I'm steeping on your toes, Just doing my job. Your robbing God and it's members, if you are not doing your duty and getting paid full-time for it.

[candlelight]

Neither my first pastor, nor my current pastor (which is his oldest son) were/are full time pastors.  However, my husband and I went to an IFB church where the pastor was full time and given a salary.

My first pastor worked in a steel mill and then drove a school bus.  He was not paid by my church.  His oldest son, used to be a fireman, then the Lord opened up a door for him to be a Home Inspector.  He receives no salary, as well.

My church, has only 40 adults in attendance.  We are known as being a transient church, where people come through our church, but are relocated to another state or to a location that is quite far from the church. They end up going to a different IFB church.

Have my pastors' ever robbed the flock?  Not in my opinion.  In fact, I was hospitalized in 2008 for Epilepsy.  No one from my other IFB church, not even the pastor, came to the hospital to see me.  And, yes we tithed... sometimes more than 10%, gave to the Benevolent Fund and to the Warehouse Fund, as it is a Missionary church. 

Well, two years later, I fell in a new pair of shoes on a fairly clean hardwood floor, dislocated my shoulder, broke a bone off the size of a silver dollar, and the fracture was impacted.  The pain was worse than childbirth.  And, I thought childbirth was bad.     My pastor arrived from across town in 15 minutes to the hospital emergency room.  I cried tears of joy, b/c I felt like God had walked through the door.  It was one of the most precious experiences of my life in my church, other than salvation.  To have both my husband and pastor by my side was incredible.  All I needed was my son, but he was in college.  My pastor and his wife, are our closest friends.  His brother and wife are missionaries in southeast OH.  They used to be missionaries to Scotland and Europe until God placed them in the area where their dad's roots are.  That would be West Virginia.  They are our closes friends, as well.

I have the kindest undershepard of my church.  My church home and family are the best.  Neither of my pastors, worked a paid position in the church, neither did/do they want it that way.  They are always there for anything the saints ask of them.  The money that comes from the tithes, goes to the Benevolent Fund, missionaries, and our future church... if we aren't Raptured before it is built.   
 

[ASongOfDegrees]

I don't see in scripture where a pastor is called only to be part-time. That's like saying part-time apostle. If he's called to be a pastor then it's full time. Just because he may have a regular job or only hold services one a week doesn't mean he's not full time.

[candlelight]

I don't see in scripture where a pastor is called only to be part-time. That's like saying part-time apostle. If he's called to be a pastor then it's full time. Just because he may have a regular job or only hold services one a week doesn't mean he's not full time.

I believe so, ASOD.  Both my first pastor and his son, work/worked full time jobs in their pastoral positions.  Thanfully, they don't need much sleep.

[quinkie]

To me "full-time" means they are available 24 hours a day. It is not a 9-5 job. If the Pastor has to work a 40 hour a week job somewhere else, then he can not be expected to be available to his people when he should be at work. The studying he does for the sermons of the week also take up much of his time.

[swathdiver]

My pastor picks and chooses his hours, any 18 hours in a given day, seven days a week!  

[candlelight]

To me "full-time" means they are available 24 hours a day. It is not a 9-5 job. If the Pastor has to work a 40 hour a week job somewhere else, then he can not be expected to be available to his people when he should be at work. The studying he does for the sermons of the week also take up much of his tim

 

Somehow my pastor makes the time, quinkie.  He also has two deacons to help out, as well.  I trust the elders in my church. 

[HappyChristian]

Our pastors are on "duty" 24/7.  Sometimes they literally pull all-nighters.  They would all average many more than 40 hours in the work week.

 

My mom's pastor (who is dying of cancer) did work a secular job 40 hrs/week for all the years he was pastoring. (He is still pastor, but no longer works the old job due to the cancer, and he will likely need to step down from pastoring soon, as he is deteriorating quickly) We have always been impressed with his sincere desire to serve the Lord and his flock.  His job started at 4 in the morning so he would be done by noon, and then to the church he would go.  And he spent a lot of time visiting folk who were in the hospital (even non-members!), mentoring new Christians, etc.  I don't know when he slept, but God greatly used him.  We will be sorry to see him go to Glory...(although we are thrilled he will go - I'm sure my Dad is looking forward to the reunion.  They were good friends).

[The Glory Land]

To me "full-time" means they are available 24 hours a day. It is not a 9-5 job. If the Pastor has to work a 40 hour a week job somewhere else, then he can not be expected to be available to his people when he should be at work. The studying he does for the sermons of the week also take up much of his time.

 

 

Just checking, if a pastor have services Wednesday night, Sunday Morning, and evening and thats all, maybe check in to see his emails, is this full time?

[Invicta]

I once read a book entitled:  Secular Work Is Full Time Service.

[quinkie]

Just checking, if a pastor have services Wednesday night, Sunday Morning, and evening and thats all, maybe check in to see his emails, is this full time?

Are you saying that is all a Pastor does? Three services a week and e-mails? Wow, what a cushy job.
I thought they did hospital visits, jail visits, home visits, soul winning, studies the bible for his sermons, planned the yearly schedule, many meetings with other prachers, missionaries, set revivals,
funerals, weddings, praying, business meetings, counseling.

[The Glory Land]

Are you saying that is all a Pastor does? Three services a week and e-mails? Wow, what a cushy job.
I thought they did hospital visits, jail visits, home visits, soul winning, studies the bible for his sermons, planned the yearly schedule, many meetings with other prachers, missionaries, set revivals,
funerals, weddings, praying, business meetings, counseling.

 

That was in the good old days, not anymore.     I not asking the pastors to do all these things, but can thay do some of them?  Please

[DaveW]

Working a full time job makes it very hard to do all that you are supposed to as a pastor, let alone all the things that are not biblically proscribed but still expected.
Personally I think that if a pastor time tracks his time and stops at 40 hours he is doing his people and the Lord a disservice.

[Bro K]

Working a full time job makes it very hard to do all that you are supposed to as a pastor, let alone all the things that are not biblically proscribed but still expected.
Personally I think that if a pastor time tracks his time and stops at 40 hours he is doing his people and the Lord a disservice.

What does the scriptures tell us the pastor is supposed to do? To my understanding they are to be the overseer of the local assembly. An overseer is like a CEO of a company; they don't actually do the work, but ensures that the work is accomplished by those in charge of the task (ie, managers, supervisors, etc).

[DaveW]

That is really my point.
If you look at it, the pastors at Jerusalem church were getting sidetracked away from Prayer and the ministry of the Word. There is the basic rundown.

But people expect so much more - and in some respects rightly. But some of what is expected is tradition not Scripture.

When you work a job as well as (trying to be) a pastor, you have to pick and choose the things you put your time to. Some things 'expected' can't be done around work and family if the spiritual work is to be done.