Should a full time Pastor have office hours why or why not?

1. 61

   glmclendonposted 12 years ago

   Should a full time Pastor have office hours why or why not?

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2. 0

   msorenssonposted 12 years ago

   Ideally he should be available for counselling whenever there is a need..however having office hours may make it easier for the secretary to keep track of the appointments..

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3. 61

   Jaggedfrostposted 12 years ago

   Payed clergy should share the same type of fun as medical staff.  After all they provide spiritual guidance at the price of their plate.  Lay clergy should have office hours as their duty is to God and not the people.  If they give their all in the hours they have to serve, the rest aught to be theirs so that they can recharge to keep on giving.

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4. 60

   duffsmomposted 12 years ago

   My husband was a Lutheran pastor for years and had regular office hours.  It was nice because when people wanted to chat with him or needed him, they could just drop in.  But office hours, whatever they are, is only a small part of his time with his parishioners.  They also would call him at home during all hours, but that was his job and if they needed him, he went.
   
   A pastor must be available to his members as all times of the day or night because people's crises don't always fall during office hours.  I remember many Christmas Eves where he had to go to someone's bedside or home due to their illness and on one occasion, death.

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5. 79

   Attikosposted 12 years ago

   I don't know one who hasn't. The reason, I think, is that having regular hours in which the preacher can be found in the office works better for everyone, including him. He needs desk, telephone and online time, people need times they know they can find him without an appointment. It's a practical issue, not a principle.

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6. 73

   SidKempposted 12 years ago

   I think, in general, the answer would be yes. I think the pastor's productivity and opportunity to be well rested improve, and then we can serve better. Also, standard office hours can be part of a program of clarity with the parish about how you serve. Setting up a clear structure of office hours, plus by appointment, plus emergency times allows the pastor to take better care of all church, family, and life responsibilities, and also helps parishioners reflect on what they are asking for from their pastor, and what is a reasonable request. That's healthy for the whole parish.

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7. 61

   Dave Mathewsposted 12 years ago

   Time is a constraint that we all must deal with. YES

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8. 0

   blake4dposted 12 years ago

   Even Pastors have to eat, sleep, and take a shower sometimes. Yes, I believe it is only fair that part of their day be dedicated to making sure they are fit for their Godly duties. Plus it is just a nice thing to do for your representatives of the Allmighty. Even we pagans can only counsel well, if we are taking proper care of ourselves. Blessed Be G.
   
   Keep on Hubbing. Blake4d

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9. 92

   MsDoraposted 12 years ago

   Of course, pastors should have office hours to make them available to their members.  They should also have personal study hours to prepare their sermons, as well as family time to meet the needs of their households.  Those who are well-organized have a system in place to make sure that members in emergency situations are shepherded by co-shepherds when they (the chief shepherd) are not available.

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10. 78

    DoubleScorpionposted 12 years ago

    Having office hours allows church members to know exactly when you are available. While many Pastors are also "on call" outside of Office hours, having hours does allow for a somewhat more set schedule for handling many clerical matters.

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11. 60

    IDONOposted 12 years ago

    Absolutely! If this person devoted their time, education and committment to helping people to live a happy life with their families, jobs, neighbors and friends, they should have the time to enjoy those very things themselves. Why should they rearrange their life schedule around MY problems?
        If my issues are serious enough, I will arrange my schedule to fit their hours.

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12. 61

    flashmakeitposted 12 years ago

    Yes a full time Pastor should have an office hour.  The reason the Pastor should have his own office would to speak with people in need of spiritual help, people who may want to use the church for a purpose, and to help members on a committee at the church.  He should be in his office because that is where most of his reading matters are and all the office equipment he will be needing for programs at the church.

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13. 61

    luckykarmaposted 12 years ago

    Yes, how else is he supposed to keep up with everything else? Of course if there is an emergency then he will be expected to attend people who are calling him outside of these hours. When you take on this role you really don't own yourself, you are there for many people and the hours in office don't count when someone is in distress or dying.

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