An Examination of Loneliness
A major challenge for good pastors is how to handle the loneliness inherent in the pastorate. Think of your own experience of ministry and try to identify the experiences in ministry that most generates in you a sense of loneliness.
1. Is it when you’ve been entrusted with a painful secret of a member and you have no answers for that person but also can’t share it with someone else?
2. Is it when you are being criticized for a budget shortfall in your church and you have no power to change things?
3. Is it when you’ve been working 70 hours a week trying to meet the needs of the congregation and someone criticizes you for not having enough humor in your sermons?
4. Is it when the denomination has made a controversial decision and a member thinks you should do something about it?
5. Is it when you want to preach on profound theological issues and people want a sermon with four easy steps to ease stress in life?
6. Is it when your family is feeling your absence and your congregation wants you to be more active in attracting new members?
7. Is it when your church responsibilities are exhausting but you are bored because all the work is repetitive and the creative challenge is nil?
8. Is it when you feel your integrity is challenged because the church wants you to please people and be successful?
9. Is it when you feel the Gospel demands you be inclusive of all people and your church or denomination is fearful of diversity?
10. Is it when you are feeling you are the only one who wants to talk about what God would want for the church?
Pick your top three and write no more than three sentences about how these situations make you feel lonely.
