In a recent article I co-wrote for Presbyterian Outlook, (Vol 191 No. 28, August 17, 2009), I tried to imagine a small church who couldn’t afford to pay great salaries but set themselves a goal to be “the most interesting, challenging, supportive pastorate around.” I think that is a worthwhile goal for any congregation. There are lots of things that could be done within the congregational life that are supportive of the pastor and don’t cost much, if anything.
For example, among the membership of most congregations, there are some who have season tickets to a sporting event, a musical series, the theater, etc. If their schedule is like mine, despite the best planning there are times when I can’t make one of the scheduled events that are part of my season ticket. My wife and I have season tickets to our local college basketball team and occasionally only one of us can make a game so there is one ticket unused. I recall the pleasure I got when a member of my former church called and said that he had tickets for a basketball tournament and his wife was busy so he asked if I could go with him.
Gestues like these are better if they are unexpected surprises rather than some annual gesture that soon becomes part of our expectations. That is the problem with an annual pastor’s appreciation dinner or bonus. They soon become part of our assumption. But an unexpected opportunity to attend the symphony, sport event, or theater is an interruption of our routine and can be received as pure joy. What a congregation needs to do is create a culture in which members are inclined to think about such gestures when the occasion arises.
For young families, it would be extra kind if arrangements for baby-sitting were also thought of. Early in my ministry, a lady in our congregation not only offered the tickets to a local theater but also offered to come and sit with our infant daughter. It made for a perfect evening. Imagine a congregation that expressed their affirmation of your ministry in such a manner. It would be a congregation that you wouldn’t want to leave.
