by Rev. Mindi Welton-Mitchell, Regional Executive Minister
Clergy Appreciation Day and Clergy Appreciation Month are both just over thirty years old. In 1992, the second Sunday of October began being observed as Clergy Appreciation Day, to recognize the stress and demands on those who are giving their life in service as pastors, associate pastors, chaplains, campus ministers, and other roles of ministry. In 1994, this was expanded to the entire month to recognize and honor our ministers.
Why? Because the demands on our clergy are 24/7. Ministers never really get to shut off the work that they do. They take a day off; someone is in the hospital and needs a visit. They go on vacation; they get the call that someone has died and the funeral will be the day after they get back, meaning they will spend some of their vacation time now preparing for the funeral. They have a long day of meetings, pastoral counseling, and worship prep, and at 10 pm as they are going to bed they get the call that someone is dying and may not make it through the night. Campus ministers are called in on days off because there is a tragedy on campus, or there are protests and their presence is needed. A chaplain is called in to offer prayers for a family who lost a child to violence.
We need to show appreciation for our ministers and all they do. We ought to acknowledge that while the world may think ministers only work on Sunday mornings, ministers are constantly responding to God’s call and shepherding the people, caring for their spiritual needs. Ministers these days are often burdened by shrinking church budgets and volunteers, taking on more of the responsibilities with less compensation and benefits.
So what can you do to show your minister appreciation this month?
-Send a card.
-Tell your pastor how much you appreciate them.
-Participate in a congregational gift.
-Advocate for your minister to have days off every week, and vacation, and urge your congregation to respect the boundaries your minister sets regarding communication on days off.
-Work together as a congregation to make sure your pastor receives adequate compensation and benefits (feel free to email me for more information and resources).
-If budgets are tight, consider a gift of an extra week of vacation. It doesn’t cost the church anything except pulpit supply, OR perhaps that particular Sunday could be a lay preacher, hymn sing, or other creative way to worship God and give your minister the gift of rest.
Be sure to do something to acknowledge the ministers in your life and how thankful to God we are for their answer of YES to God’s call and continuing to be faithful to God’s service through the church and community.
