The 40 Hour Pastoral Workweek

by Mark Tidsworth, Team Leader

We hear it from both sides these days. Clergy 10+ years older than I am often express concern over the unwillingness of newer and younger clergy to put in the hours it takes to pastor and serve well. They are also the generation notorious for workaholism followed by burnout or premature death due to health problems. Then, clergy 10+ years younger than I am often complain about unrealistic expectations of churches, older clergy, and denominational ministers. They want to have a life while serving in the clergy role.

So, where do we go from there? I’ve written buckets of articles on this subject over time, yet my perspective continues to evolve. Allow me to share four emerging insights.

You will work more, and less, than you expected.

A couple pastors I’m closely connected with are doing multiple funerals this week. I wouldn’t suggest they keep track of the hours worked since that number would be quite scary. Instead, these are seasoned pastors who recognize the ebb and flow of ministry schedules. They are working far too much this week, yet they can also adjust their work hours in coming weeks. So clergy, drop your efforts to cling to the 40 hour workweek. One week may be 80 while the next may be 30. You will be happier when you drop your expectations about “normal” work hours.

You may need a reality check from time to time.

Remember that most motivated professionals work more than 40 hours per week.

Doctors, lawyers, non-profit executives, farmers, business owners, plumbers, IT managers... there are many vocations wherein people function like it’s their calling, not only vocational ministry. We aren’t so special that we should be radically different than them.

You will have more flexibility and autonomy than many in the workplace.

I’ve worked in a variety of settings, some requiring very strict work hours. Given my personality, I sure do appreciate the ability to order my days found in pastoral ministry. The community nature of ministry, along with the fact that many people have no idea what we do, allows for us to be largely self-directed in our work rhythms.

You will need to practice boundary-making before you are a skilled boundary-maker.

When the outcome of boundary practicing results in cold-hearted and distant pastors, we are probably putting up walls, not healthy boundaries. Healthy boundaries function like fences, including gates which can swing open and closed. Learning how to manage fence gates effectively takes time and practice. Becoming uncaring shepherds who neglect the sheep is not the goal. Neither is becoming available 24/7, pretending to be omnipresent like God.

So clergy, let’s drop whatever expectation we carried about “normal” work hours before we entered ministry. Doing so will open the fence gates to great flexibility and autonomy along with the blessing to be with people in very significant times in their lives. May we all serve faithfully and effectively, looking to the day when we may hear, “Well done, good and faithful servants.”