HOW MANY MEETINGS DO WE NEED?
Paul Caminiti
January 1, 1986
A pastor I know was recently rushed to the hospital with sudden paralysis on his right side. While out on a call, a chilling numbness had begun crawling up his right leg. By the time he reached home, he thought he was dying.
Four doctors worked on him into the wee hours of the morning but found nothing. Finally they began quizzing his wife about unusual pressures her husband might be facing. Their diagnosis: "We suspect your husband is suffering from stress; he's not the first pastor we've seen in this condition." Later they explained that recovery would most likely involve treatment at a mental hospital.
Survival in the ministry today depends in part on pastors' ability to understand and diagnose their own stress. One of the great stress producers in the pastorate is the inordinate number of meetings we are expected to attend. During a "normal" week, I attend four formal meetings and at least two committee meetings. To say I attend these meetings is misleading; usually I'm in charge, which means I have to come prepared with a message, a devotional, an agenda, or some other presentation. Being in charge is an enormous emotional drain, a drain the congregation does not fully comprehend.
Pastors who love Jesus seldom complain about spending themselves for the kingdom. Being wise as serpents, however, demands that we spend ourselves in something productive. Many church leaders are beginning to see that our present structure of multiplied meetings is unproductive, many times even counterproductive.
How do you gauge the number of meetings that are healthy for you and the church? There are no easy formulas. The size of the church and staff, your geographic location, and the church's goals must all be factored into the decision. There ...
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