What a wonderful concept! Many conferences and local churches select a special time of the year to emphasize the importance of the pastor to the local congregation. Pastors should clip this article and read it to their elders and church boards. I'm eager to see Adventists more widely experience the blessing of affirming and expressing tangible appreciation for their own pastor.
Local congregations might select a specific day or even an entire month suggested and coordinated by the union or division to express gratitude for God's work through the pastoral leaders assigned to the local churches. This is also an appropriate time to remember the inclusive ministry of the pastoral family.
In my own church, we typically choose the anniversary of our pastor's arrival to acknowledge his ministry in our midst. Typically we organize a special part of the worship service to pray for the pastor, thank him verbally and with an appropriate gift of gratitude. One year we arranged for the pastor and his family to enjoy a three-day holiday away from the pressures of the job courtesy of their members. Other years we have provided him with a book, video, or other professional tool which will enhance his ministry and increase his joy in service. The process of expressing gratitude to God for pastoral leadership is far more important than a specific gift. For pastors with young children, a congregation might want to coordinate child-care one night a week to allow the pastor and spouse some free time together.
Perhaps no other job requires as much selfless sacrifice as pastoral ministry—not only that of the pastor, but also every member of the pastoral family. In fact, recognition of this important reality is why the General Conference instituted its ministry to pastoral spouses and children through Shepherdess International. Today that emphasis is expanded in virtually every division through the leadership of the Ministerial Association's entity, Shepherdess International.
As a PK (pastor's kid) myself, I can reflect on both strong and weak points of pastoral families. Special opportunities and benefits come to pastoral families as well as significant challenges.
First, a significant benefit to pastoral families is the sense of mission which the entire family can experience as they work together to hasten Jesus' coming. Ministry, after all, is not just a career. It is a calling for every believer which includes, of course, the pastor's family. By viewing ministry as the "family's work" rather than just the parent's career, each person in the pastoral family can experience joy in the baptisms of converts, earnest labor for souls, and personal satisfaction in the lives of members who grow and mature. For example, my own love for personal Bible studies and evangelistic visitation came because even as a pre-schooler my dad took me with him on his "pastoral assignments." I was assigned simple tasks such as operating the filmstrip projector, praying for and with those who were studying, or participating in repeating a verse of Scripture. I firmly believed that I was "giving Bible studies" myself and that participation developed a life-long desire to do personal evangelism.
As second benefit that comes to pastoral families is an expanded world view. When weekly mission stories and daily devotions focus on the advance of the gospel in faraway places or the ventures of missionaries in challenging circumstances, those brave souls become family members for whom we pray and the needs of the mission work become projects for which we willingly give. As a child, I listened intently to great missionaries such as Eric B. Hare or Josephine Cunnington Edwards and declared to anyone who would listen that I was personal friends with these noteworthy heroes. When my mother's sister married a man whose last name was the same as my hero from the Voice of Prophecy, I called my new uncle "Elder" Richards and could not grasp that he was not part of H. M. S. Richards' own family. I was astounded that he did not even know that great man and assured him that I could arrange an introduction at the next camp meeting. Long before the church ever asked me to travel internationally on an assignment, I had eagerly sought to know more about Africa, Asia, South America, because that is where my heroes ministered. I was much more familiar with names like Kata Rhangaso from the Solomon Islands or the Stahls from South America than I was with any sports or entertainment personalities.
Likewise, pastoral families have opportunities for travel and fellowship with others in similar circumstances. Wise administrators have learned the value of including pastoral spouses and children in professional meetings. In addition to appropriate seminars on issues of interest to pastoral spouses or age-appropriate programming for PKs, just the opportunity for interaction and fellowship with those whose life assignments are similar to your own will increase both mission comprehension and ministry satisfaction for the pastoral families.
Financial challenges often may seem overwhelming for pastoral families. A benefit of that reality, however, is the necessity for PKs to earn some extra money, either to contribute to a special activity for the family or to pay some of their own educational or recreational expenses. A strong work ethic is easier to develop in the seemingly harsh light of limited resources. I remember that in fourth grade I accepted the assignment to serve as janitor for our church facility. My Father was careful to see that I earned my money and when it was time to receive my pay, I was proud to report to the treasurer that I had completed my work.
Another benefit is the binding cohesiveness of common purpose, some times at the sacrifice of proximity to other relatives. You might feel some what isolated to be far from your extended family, but these same challenges can bind together a family who recognizes that they are on the frontlines together and must support each others endeavors. Parents who strategize ways to emphasize family fun, projects, outings, and special occasions will grow ever closer together.
Frequent relocation adds to the challenges. Typically, pastoral families move farther away from their kin rather than closer to the hometowns of their relatives. As a PK, I never experienced the constant proximity of extended family members. We traveled to "visit" grand parents or cousins. Sharon, on the other hand, grew up in a small town with both sets of grandparents as well as several cousins, aunts, and uncles, near by. Holidays always involved the whole family, and impromptu family occasions occurred several times per month. When pastoral families are not located near to their own relatives, sensitive members of the local congregation can "grandparent" PKs with eternal consequences for their efforts.
Reasonable expectations for PKs let them be appreciated as individuals and understood as normal, active children. Expressions such as, "you must set an example" not only should be avoided, but actually stifle the spirit. The steps of child development, the challenges of adolescence, and the process of maturing physically, socially, intellectually, and spiritually should be the interest of the whole church family.
Above all else, congregations can strengthen pastoral homes by affirming leadership, emphasizing the value of pastoral ministry, and encouraging all youngsters, including PKs to model Jesus' own caring ministry.
