Thread by @Clayton_king

PASTORS IN A PANDEMIC
{A thread}

Everyone has had a truly difficult year and the past 12 months have been brutal, refining and unpredictable. From my perspective, I’ve seen how it’s affected pastors emotionally, mentally and professionally.

The role of a pastor is most akin to that of a shepherd in scripture. They care for, guide, protect, lead and sacrifice for their congregation like a good shepherd would the flock under their care. This takes wisdom, patience, experience, tenacity.

In addition to the responsibilities that pastors shouldered pre-Covid (preaching, sermon prep, funerals, sick visits, weddings, counseling, leading staff, budgets, prayer for the church, emails, hospital visits, etc)...

Pastors had to navigate the new world of Covid. Many of them had family members who got sick, or even got Covid themselves. A good friend of mine hasn’t preached for 8 weeks- the long term effects post-Covid have remained and he’s unable to even drive now.

Some people thought the virus was a hoax at first, and some changed their mind while others doubled down on the conspiracy theories they read online. Pastors feel the frustration and anger of church members who felt betrayed by media / experts / politicians.

Pastors have had to try and lead their churches through the most divisive political season in recent history. They know that they can’t please everyone, but many of them have felt like they can’t please ANYONE. Accused of saying too much one week and too little the next...

A stolen election?
A global pandemic.
Trump, Biden, voting fraud
QAnon. Fox News. MSNBC.
Insurrection at the Capitol. Antifa.
Racism. Protests. Cancel Culture.

And of all the issues pastors have had to address...maybe the one that causes the most disagreement...

M A S K S.
Do we require them? If so, for how long? Should we re-open now or wait a month? What’s the governor saying? The CDC? Should we make them optional? Half our people want them, half refuse to wear them. We want to love our neighbor, value life, protect people...then...

THE VACCINE.
Pastors are constantly questioned about it. Should we get it? Is it the mark of the beast? Is this the New World Order controlling the planet (actual legitimate questions pastors are receiving). Is this the end according to Revelation?
(I got it btw)

Oh yeah-pastors had to learn to do church online for 2-12 months depending on their state. Many of their churches didn’t even have a website or a Facebook page. How do you shepherd people that you can’t even see or talk to because they’re afraid of catching a virus that can kill?

And what about the pastors family? Their marriage? Their children? Their own emotional and mental health? Will they have to let staff go? Will their church even survive this? When will they get a family vacation? Will they ever get a day without worry? Anxiety? Stress?

Meanwhile for many pastors the emails kept pouring in- with links to articles about racism, social justice, conspiracy theories, end-times prophecies, Tucker Carlson clips and Anderson Cooper interviews. Church members asking them to read this, watch this, comment on this & that-

Then the email or text telling the pastor they’re leaving the church.
-We refuse to wear a mask!
-Everyone should wear a mask!
-You shouldn’t have cancelled gatherings
-You shouldn’t have started gathering again
-You talk too much about racism
-You should say more about racism

-You’re “woke”
-Just teach the Bible
-When are you going to preach on social justice?
-Stop being a social justice warrior!
-Why don’t you preach on ______?
-We’ll come back when you ______ (insert personal preference)

Most of my best friends are pastors who deeply love their people and their calling. I don’t want to give the impression that they all want to quit. But some have walked away under the relentless pressure to figure it all out and manage the tensions of the last 12 months.

I just ask you to remember that your pastors are flawed, imperfect humans doing the best they can. They’re not political scientists. They’re not medical experts.
They can’t predict the future.
They have limits like everyone else and they need grace and prayer like we all do.

Pray for them. Call them. Tell them you love them. Send a text with a bible verse. Let them be normal around you. Eat a meal together, get coffee, laugh, watch a movie, build a fire in the backyard and invite them over. We all need normalcy, even shepherds.

Don’t feel sorry for your pastor. Speak life to them. Give them the benefit of the doubt. Understand the weight they’ve carried and verbalize your support for them. Read this thread again and put yourself in their shoes. And maybe the best thing you can do...

Love their family. Be kind to their kids and their spouse. Bless them in some small way, just to let them know that you’ve got their back and they have your support. And when you pray, lift them up by name to you Heavenly Father for rest, perseverance, and protection. (end)