Days Off, Sick Days, and Vacations for Ministers--Conscientious to a Fault?

I know some ministers who impose schedules on themselves that nobody in their right mind would accept if compelled to do so by an employer.  They refuse to take days off.  They're extremely reluctant to take sick days, and they practically have to be forced to take vacations.  Of course, not all ministers are like this; but some are.  Some ministers would have you believe that their churches force them to such extremes.  Personally, I think they probably didn't insist on days off and sick days when they accepted the call.  I've never had any trouble with any of these things.  And I use all my vacation each year! 

 

Ministers just need to let the officers of their church know from the very beginning that they intend to take a day off each week.  If they're sick, they need to stay home and get somebody else to preach.  I've even known ministers who didn't insist on a church taking responsibility for moving them on to the field when accepting a new call.  I think some ministers believe  they're being very conscientious or pious when they conduct their affairs this way; but I think it's being conscientious to a fault.  Allowing a church to take advantage of a minister to this extent simply cheapens the office and does nothing to improve the stewardship, commitment, or general spiritual tone of the church.

 

I remember that at one General Assembly of the EPC, we practically had to pass a resolution to force the denomination's stated clerk to take his vacation.  One of my church officers at the time commented that it was so encouraging and refreshing to see a man with such dedication.  I commented to someone that it was neither encouraging or refreshing, and that I thought the man was badly mistaken to refuse to take his vacation.  I said that in my opinion, it didn't indicate dedication, but stupidity!  It was bad for the executive, for the denomination, for the man's family, and for the rest of us ministers who some might expect to follow his example.

 

 

Straight ahead!  See my blog at:   www.noblindbluff.blogspot.com