There is an old joke that likes to be repeated often and that being a pastor is an easy job since you only work one day a week. It can be funny from the right person at the right time. It also makes me wonder if people do not understand all we do or what we do. They know what they see or, perhaps, what we tell them or what they hear.
Pastors in general always have more to do than they can do. There are endless to-do lists and new things popping up that have urgency to them. In the midst of this, there is prep for classes, preaching, and meetings. The pastor’s role has expanded in many churches.
Given the variables and contextual issues, I am wondering how pastors use their time in a given week. Please respond below using these categories and give a range or a number. If there is a lot of “Other,” I am really curious what that is. If you like to explain your number, that would be appreciated too.
- Sermon prep
- Worship prep
- Visitation (sick, hospital, counseling, etc.)
- Teaching
- Church admin.
- Meetings (boards, staff, leadership, etc.)
- Time in the community – serving or networking
- Ministry training
- One on one or small group discipleship
- Planning
- Connecting with new people
- Personal/professional growth
- Other
by: Rev. Jason Scheler, Mission Executive of the LCMS Southern District
One Reply to “Doesn’t the Pastor Work Only One Day a Week?”
1. 4 to 6 hours
2. 1 to 2 hours
3. 2 to 4 hours
4 and 9. 4 to 5 hours
5. 3 hours
6. 1 to 2 hours
7. 3 to 5 hours
8. 0 to 1 hours
10. 2 hours
11. 1 to 2 hours
12. 3 to 5 hours
13. Working with teens – 4 hours
14. Sunday Morning – 6 hours
15. Prayer/reflection Time – 3 hours