From the Editor
April 1, 1996
FROM THE EDITOR
Eight or nine years ago, I wrote a book on the discouragements of ministry—such things as conflict with a few difficult members, or not being able to see any progress. Before I sent the manuscript to the printer, I asked Tim Stafford, a writer I admire, to read it and suggest improvements. When I got the thick package back in the mail, I was relieved to read his many encouraging comments. In the margin of one page, though, Tim had scrawled this question: "I wonder if we really help pastors by pitying them?" It was a rhetorical question, whose obvious answer changed the way I approach Leadership. Take the statistic often given today that 70 percent of pastors do not have someone they consider a close friend. Is that solely the result of ministry? Or do pastors have the freedom to do something about that? I think we do have the power to build friendships, and if we risk, we can. Jesus became such good friends with one man that he became nicknamed "the disciple Jesus loved." Paul had an inner circle, whose names are listed throughout his letters. Luther had Melanchthon and others. Despite the impression from some current sources, friendlessness is not a necessary condition for people in ministry. Another issue often mentioned is that pastors are underpaid. It's true that some ministers, approximately 19 percent, receive inadequate compensation. That's difficult. But according to Leadership's research, pastors' median income is close to the national median. And their median household income is 27 percent higher than the corresponding national figure. It's also pointed out that pastors are shamefully treated by their congregations. Such situations grieve me, and Leadership has published extensively on ways to prevent ...
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