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3. Caring for Our Pastors, Other Church Workers, and Their Families
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Professional church workers sacrifice in their service to the church. Just as the members they serve, they, too, need to be cared for and spiritually well fed. The lay leadership has the privilege and opportunity to minister to the ministers, so they can remain healthy together.
This section summarizes some of the principles and provides discussion questions from Chapter 11 “Ministering to the Ministers” (Built on the Rock, pages 194-205).
To learn more about caring for professional church workers, see Bruce Hartung’s book Holding Up the Prophet’s Hand: Supporting Church Workers (Concordia Publishing House, 2011).
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Read Philippians 4:14-19 and 2 Timothy 1:16-18. What kind of care did the Philippians and Onesiphorus show St. Paul?
Responses | Author | Created Date |
|---|---|---|
1. Commit to regularly attending Bible study. 2. Commit to personal daily devotions. 3. Commit to personally visiting members in my assigned zone of responsibility. 4. Preparing one or more devotions that I can use in my home visits. 5. (If not the chairperson) Commit to preparing any reports for my board and sending them to the chairperson at the time requested. 6. (If the chairperson) Commit to requesting reports well ahead of meetings, preparing, and sending in advance the agenda, minutes, and all reports to those responsible for attending the meeting. 1. Commit at least 30 minutes per meeting for studying the Word together as a board. 2. Commit at least 15 minutes per meeting for prayer together as a board. Each board person will pray for someone in his/her zone. 4. Commit to reviewing all reports between meetings so that our time together can be better spent discussing and making decisions. 5. Commit to organizing our board so that every member is visited regularly every year. 6. Commit as a board to getting together one Sunday evening per month for calling to make appointments for home visits to members. 7. Commit to regular performance reviews for our pastor(s), prioritizing listing things that he does well, identifying one or two areas for improvement, and together developing a continuing education plan supported by the congregation. PLUS: Meet with the Pastor, Board of Elders and Church Councel and share what I've learned on this course and how I've been inspired to be a better Chairperson through better devotions and meetings with congregation members. Voter's member meetings will include better devotional time through scripture reading and including members of the congregation not yet serving on a board etc. | danoystryk@gmail.com | 10/27/2025 |
The Prophet Isaiah in 50:4 wrote, "The Soverereign Lord Has given me a well-instructed tongue to know the Word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed." In this busy world we may feal weary or just too old to grow in spiritual wisdom and perhaps to weary to serve him. All of us need to strengthen our resolve through Bible study and prayer. All of us should stive to take on s renewed Christian Spirit every day. As members of God's Kingdom God calls us to rely on Him to conquer the barriers between who we think we are and who God wants us to be. God wants us to be a blessing to each other and assures us that He will help us do this. All we need to do is ask it in prayer. No matter what age we are we are assured we can face the future knowing God will always lead us to victory. This is what it means to be an overcomer. Remember, if your Bible is falling apart, it usually means that you are not. Obeying the Bible may be difficult, but is eccentual to live in harmony and humility. Let us pray: Loving Jesus, You are the one who goes before us to provide the way. As in John 14:6 it says that You are the way, and the truth, and the life. We humbly confess that we do not always know where we are going or how best to get there. You are the light of the world; be our light in a world of spiritual darkness. Keep our hearts and our feet moving in the right direction always. Jesus in Your heavenly and glorious name we pray. Amen | danoystryk@gmail.com | 10/27/2025 |
Acts 6:2-4 Lay Leader: Lay leaders should run things like food programs, VBS, etc. 1 Timothy 3:1-7 Lay Leader: Elders, which are lay leaders, a man above reproach that helps the Pastor lead the church. 1 Timothy 3:8:13 Lay Leader: Deacons, men of good character and high moral standards. | danoystryk@gmail.com | 10/27/2025 |
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2.
Read Galatians 6:6-7, 1 Timothy 5:17-20, and 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13. Considering these passages as well as the ones from the previous question, how should church members support their pastors and other professional church workers?
Responses | Author | Created Date |
|---|---|---|
1. Commit to regularly attending Bible study. 2. Commit to personal daily devotions. 3. Commit to personally visiting members in my assigned zone of responsibility. 4. Preparing one or more devotions that I can use in my home visits. 5. (If not the chairperson) Commit to preparing any reports for my board and sending them to the chairperson at the time requested. 6. (If the chairperson) Commit to requesting reports well ahead of meetings, preparing, and sending in advance the agenda, minutes, and all reports to those responsible for attending the meeting. 1. Commit at least 30 minutes per meeting for studying the Word together as a board. 2. Commit at least 15 minutes per meeting for prayer together as a board. Each board person will pray for someone in his/her zone. 4. Commit to reviewing all reports between meetings so that our time together can be better spent discussing and making decisions. 5. Commit to organizing our board so that every member is visited regularly every year. 6. Commit as a board to getting together one Sunday evening per month for calling to make appointments for home visits to members. 7. Commit to regular performance reviews for our pastor(s), prioritizing listing things that he does well, identifying one or two areas for improvement, and together developing a continuing education plan supported by the congregation. PLUS: Meet with the Pastor, Board of Elders and Church Councel and share what I've learned on this course and how I've been inspired to be a better Chairperson through better devotions and meetings with congregation members. Voter's member meetings will include better devotional time through scripture reading and including members of the congregation not yet serving on a board etc. | danoystryk@gmail.com | 10/27/2025 |
The Prophet Isaiah in 50:4 wrote, "The Soverereign Lord Has given me a well-instructed tongue to know the Word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed." In this busy world we may feal weary or just too old to grow in spiritual wisdom and perhaps to weary to serve him. All of us need to strengthen our resolve through Bible study and prayer. All of us should stive to take on s renewed Christian Spirit every day. As members of God's Kingdom God calls us to rely on Him to conquer the barriers between who we think we are and who God wants us to be. God wants us to be a blessing to each other and assures us that He will help us do this. All we need to do is ask it in prayer. No matter what age we are we are assured we can face the future knowing God will always lead us to victory. This is what it means to be an overcomer. Remember, if your Bible is falling apart, it usually means that you are not. Obeying the Bible may be difficult, but is eccentual to live in harmony and humility. Let us pray: Loving Jesus, You are the one who goes before us to provide the way. As in John 14:6 it says that You are the way, and the truth, and the life. We humbly confess that we do not always know where we are going or how best to get there. You are the light of the world; be our light in a world of spiritual darkness. Keep our hearts and our feet moving in the right direction always. Jesus in Your heavenly and glorious name we pray. Amen | danoystryk@gmail.com | 10/27/2025 |
Acts 6:2-4 Lay Leader: Lay leaders should run things like food programs, VBS, etc. 1 Timothy 3:1-7 Lay Leader: Elders, which are lay leaders, a man above reproach that helps the Pastor lead the church. 1 Timothy 3:8:13 Lay Leader: Deacons, men of good character and high moral standards. | danoystryk@gmail.com | 10/27/2025 |
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3.
How can lay leaders serve their professional church workers and their families in the following areas (add response to each area to enable submit button):
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Spiritual
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Ministry responsibilities
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Family
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Physical
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Mental
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Social
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Financial
Responses | Author | Created Date |
|---|---|---|
1. Commit to regularly attending Bible study. 2. Commit to personal daily devotions. 3. Commit to personally visiting members in my assigned zone of responsibility. 4. Preparing one or more devotions that I can use in my home visits. 5. (If not the chairperson) Commit to preparing any reports for my board and sending them to the chairperson at the time requested. 6. (If the chairperson) Commit to requesting reports well ahead of meetings, preparing, and sending in advance the agenda, minutes, and all reports to those responsible for attending the meeting. 1. Commit at least 30 minutes per meeting for studying the Word together as a board. 2. Commit at least 15 minutes per meeting for prayer together as a board. Each board person will pray for someone in his/her zone. 4. Commit to reviewing all reports between meetings so that our time together can be better spent discussing and making decisions. 5. Commit to organizing our board so that every member is visited regularly every year. 6. Commit as a board to getting together one Sunday evening per month for calling to make appointments for home visits to members. 7. Commit to regular performance reviews for our pastor(s), prioritizing listing things that he does well, identifying one or two areas for improvement, and together developing a continuing education plan supported by the congregation. PLUS: Meet with the Pastor, Board of Elders and Church Councel and share what I've learned on this course and how I've been inspired to be a better Chairperson through better devotions and meetings with congregation members. Voter's member meetings will include better devotional time through scripture reading and including members of the congregation not yet serving on a board etc. | danoystryk@gmail.com | 10/27/2025 |
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4.
Who currently provides pastoral care for our pastors and their families? Who should provide such care?
Responses | Author | Created Date |
|---|---|---|
1. Commit to regularly attending Bible study. 2. Commit to personal daily devotions. 3. Commit to personally visiting members in my assigned zone of responsibility. 4. Preparing one or more devotions that I can use in my home visits. 5. (If not the chairperson) Commit to preparing any reports for my board and sending them to the chairperson at the time requested. 6. (If the chairperson) Commit to requesting reports well ahead of meetings, preparing, and sending in advance the agenda, minutes, and all reports to those responsible for attending the meeting. 1. Commit at least 30 minutes per meeting for studying the Word together as a board. 2. Commit at least 15 minutes per meeting for prayer together as a board. Each board person will pray for someone in his/her zone. 4. Commit to reviewing all reports between meetings so that our time together can be better spent discussing and making decisions. 5. Commit to organizing our board so that every member is visited regularly every year. 6. Commit as a board to getting together one Sunday evening per month for calling to make appointments for home visits to members. 7. Commit to regular performance reviews for our pastor(s), prioritizing listing things that he does well, identifying one or two areas for improvement, and together developing a continuing education plan supported by the congregation. PLUS: Meet with the Pastor, Board of Elders and Church Councel and share what I've learned on this course and how I've been inspired to be a better Chairperson through better devotions and meetings with congregation members. Voter's member meetings will include better devotional time through scripture reading and including members of the congregation not yet serving on a board etc. | danoystryk@gmail.com | 10/27/2025 |
The Prophet Isaiah in 50:4 wrote, "The Soverereign Lord Has given me a well-instructed tongue to know the Word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed." In this busy world we may feal weary or just too old to grow in spiritual wisdom and perhaps to weary to serve him. All of us need to strengthen our resolve through Bible study and prayer. All of us should stive to take on s renewed Christian Spirit every day. As members of God's Kingdom God calls us to rely on Him to conquer the barriers between who we think we are and who God wants us to be. God wants us to be a blessing to each other and assures us that He will help us do this. All we need to do is ask it in prayer. No matter what age we are we are assured we can face the future knowing God will always lead us to victory. This is what it means to be an overcomer. Remember, if your Bible is falling apart, it usually means that you are not. Obeying the Bible may be difficult, but is eccentual to live in harmony and humility. Let us pray: Loving Jesus, You are the one who goes before us to provide the way. As in John 14:6 it says that You are the way, and the truth, and the life. We humbly confess that we do not always know where we are going or how best to get there. You are the light of the world; be our light in a world of spiritual darkness. Keep our hearts and our feet moving in the right direction always. Jesus in Your heavenly and glorious name we pray. Amen | danoystryk@gmail.com | 10/27/2025 |
Acts 6:2-4 Lay Leader: Lay leaders should run things like food programs, VBS, etc. 1 Timothy 3:1-7 Lay Leader: Elders, which are lay leaders, a man above reproach that helps the Pastor lead the church. 1 Timothy 3:8:13 Lay Leader: Deacons, men of good character and high moral standards. | danoystryk@gmail.com | 10/27/2025 |
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5.
How can I make a “pastoral call” on my pastors or other professional church workers? On their spouses and children?
Responses | Author | Created Date |
|---|---|---|
1. Commit to regularly attending Bible study. 2. Commit to personal daily devotions. 3. Commit to personally visiting members in my assigned zone of responsibility. 4. Preparing one or more devotions that I can use in my home visits. 5. (If not the chairperson) Commit to preparing any reports for my board and sending them to the chairperson at the time requested. 6. (If the chairperson) Commit to requesting reports well ahead of meetings, preparing, and sending in advance the agenda, minutes, and all reports to those responsible for attending the meeting. 1. Commit at least 30 minutes per meeting for studying the Word together as a board. 2. Commit at least 15 minutes per meeting for prayer together as a board. Each board person will pray for someone in his/her zone. 4. Commit to reviewing all reports between meetings so that our time together can be better spent discussing and making decisions. 5. Commit to organizing our board so that every member is visited regularly every year. 6. Commit as a board to getting together one Sunday evening per month for calling to make appointments for home visits to members. 7. Commit to regular performance reviews for our pastor(s), prioritizing listing things that he does well, identifying one or two areas for improvement, and together developing a continuing education plan supported by the congregation. PLUS: Meet with the Pastor, Board of Elders and Church Councel and share what I've learned on this course and how I've been inspired to be a better Chairperson through better devotions and meetings with congregation members. Voter's member meetings will include better devotional time through scripture reading and including members of the congregation not yet serving on a board etc. | danoystryk@gmail.com | 10/27/2025 |
The Prophet Isaiah in 50:4 wrote, "The Soverereign Lord Has given me a well-instructed tongue to know the Word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed." In this busy world we may feal weary or just too old to grow in spiritual wisdom and perhaps to weary to serve him. All of us need to strengthen our resolve through Bible study and prayer. All of us should stive to take on s renewed Christian Spirit every day. As members of God's Kingdom God calls us to rely on Him to conquer the barriers between who we think we are and who God wants us to be. God wants us to be a blessing to each other and assures us that He will help us do this. All we need to do is ask it in prayer. No matter what age we are we are assured we can face the future knowing God will always lead us to victory. This is what it means to be an overcomer. Remember, if your Bible is falling apart, it usually means that you are not. Obeying the Bible may be difficult, but is eccentual to live in harmony and humility. Let us pray: Loving Jesus, You are the one who goes before us to provide the way. As in John 14:6 it says that You are the way, and the truth, and the life. We humbly confess that we do not always know where we are going or how best to get there. You are the light of the world; be our light in a world of spiritual darkness. Keep our hearts and our feet moving in the right direction always. Jesus in Your heavenly and glorious name we pray. Amen | danoystryk@gmail.com | 10/27/2025 |
Acts 6:2-4 Lay Leader: Lay leaders should run things like food programs, VBS, etc. 1 Timothy 3:1-7 Lay Leader: Elders, which are lay leaders, a man above reproach that helps the Pastor lead the church. 1 Timothy 3:8:13 Lay Leader: Deacons, men of good character and high moral standards. | danoystryk@gmail.com | 10/27/2025 |
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6.
Read Colossians 3:15-17. Describe how God intends for us to provide accountability.
Responses | Author | Created Date |
|---|---|---|
1. Commit to regularly attending Bible study. 2. Commit to personal daily devotions. 3. Commit to personally visiting members in my assigned zone of responsibility. 4. Preparing one or more devotions that I can use in my home visits. 5. (If not the chairperson) Commit to preparing any reports for my board and sending them to the chairperson at the time requested. 6. (If the chairperson) Commit to requesting reports well ahead of meetings, preparing, and sending in advance the agenda, minutes, and all reports to those responsible for attending the meeting. 1. Commit at least 30 minutes per meeting for studying the Word together as a board. 2. Commit at least 15 minutes per meeting for prayer together as a board. Each board person will pray for someone in his/her zone. 4. Commit to reviewing all reports between meetings so that our time together can be better spent discussing and making decisions. 5. Commit to organizing our board so that every member is visited regularly every year. 6. Commit as a board to getting together one Sunday evening per month for calling to make appointments for home visits to members. 7. Commit to regular performance reviews for our pastor(s), prioritizing listing things that he does well, identifying one or two areas for improvement, and together developing a continuing education plan supported by the congregation. PLUS: Meet with the Pastor, Board of Elders and Church Councel and share what I've learned on this course and how I've been inspired to be a better Chairperson through better devotions and meetings with congregation members. Voter's member meetings will include better devotional time through scripture reading and including members of the congregation not yet serving on a board etc. | danoystryk@gmail.com | 10/27/2025 |
The Prophet Isaiah in 50:4 wrote, "The Soverereign Lord Has given me a well-instructed tongue to know the Word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed." In this busy world we may feal weary or just too old to grow in spiritual wisdom and perhaps to weary to serve him. All of us need to strengthen our resolve through Bible study and prayer. All of us should stive to take on s renewed Christian Spirit every day. As members of God's Kingdom God calls us to rely on Him to conquer the barriers between who we think we are and who God wants us to be. God wants us to be a blessing to each other and assures us that He will help us do this. All we need to do is ask it in prayer. No matter what age we are we are assured we can face the future knowing God will always lead us to victory. This is what it means to be an overcomer. Remember, if your Bible is falling apart, it usually means that you are not. Obeying the Bible may be difficult, but is eccentual to live in harmony and humility. Let us pray: Loving Jesus, You are the one who goes before us to provide the way. As in John 14:6 it says that You are the way, and the truth, and the life. We humbly confess that we do not always know where we are going or how best to get there. You are the light of the world; be our light in a world of spiritual darkness. Keep our hearts and our feet moving in the right direction always. Jesus in Your heavenly and glorious name we pray. Amen | danoystryk@gmail.com | 10/27/2025 |
Acts 6:2-4 Lay Leader: Lay leaders should run things like food programs, VBS, etc. 1 Timothy 3:1-7 Lay Leader: Elders, which are lay leaders, a man above reproach that helps the Pastor lead the church. 1 Timothy 3:8:13 Lay Leader: Deacons, men of good character and high moral standards. | danoystryk@gmail.com | 10/27/2025 |
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A called pastor or other professional church worker is not to be treated as a hireling for menial work. Instead, Scripture calls us “to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).
Boards should develop a procedure for the annual evaluation of their key church worker or ministry staff person. The process should provide opportunity for input from the entire board, as well as from the worker. Larger boards will appoint a small committee to gather information and discuss the information with the worker. The process should be encouraging, reinforcing what is going well. For areas that could use improvement, the committee should discuss with the worker how to address those concerns. It is much more effective and healthful when the worker suggests ideas and develops goals for personal growth.
7.
Lay leaders are responsible for providing encouragement and loving accountability for their called leaders and other professional church workers. One way to regularly accomplish this is through job descriptions and annual evaluations (check each box for recommendations for effective evaluations):
Remember the importance of confidentiality.
Distinguish between the evaluation of an “employee” vs. a “called” pastor or worker.
Reinforce all that is going well – tell your leader what you appreciate most about his/her work.
Seek one or two areas for improvement, and together establish goals.
Include areas for review in the worker’s own spiritual health, physical health, and family’s well-being.
Document your evaluations and decisions. Keep all notes in confidential location.
Review important goals throughout the year to monitor performance for accountability.
Who is providing evaluations for your pastor and other church workers? How do these evaluations compare with these recommendations? What next steps do you suggest for the lay leaders?
Responses | Author | Created Date |
|---|---|---|
1. Commit to regularly attending Bible study. 2. Commit to personal daily devotions. 3. Commit to personally visiting members in my assigned zone of responsibility. 4. Preparing one or more devotions that I can use in my home visits. 5. (If not the chairperson) Commit to preparing any reports for my board and sending them to the chairperson at the time requested. 6. (If the chairperson) Commit to requesting reports well ahead of meetings, preparing, and sending in advance the agenda, minutes, and all reports to those responsible for attending the meeting. 1. Commit at least 30 minutes per meeting for studying the Word together as a board. 2. Commit at least 15 minutes per meeting for prayer together as a board. Each board person will pray for someone in his/her zone. 4. Commit to reviewing all reports between meetings so that our time together can be better spent discussing and making decisions. 5. Commit to organizing our board so that every member is visited regularly every year. 6. Commit as a board to getting together one Sunday evening per month for calling to make appointments for home visits to members. 7. Commit to regular performance reviews for our pastor(s), prioritizing listing things that he does well, identifying one or two areas for improvement, and together developing a continuing education plan supported by the congregation. PLUS: Meet with the Pastor, Board of Elders and Church Councel and share what I've learned on this course and how I've been inspired to be a better Chairperson through better devotions and meetings with congregation members. Voter's member meetings will include better devotional time through scripture reading and including members of the congregation not yet serving on a board etc. | danoystryk@gmail.com | 10/27/2025 |
The Prophet Isaiah in 50:4 wrote, "The Soverereign Lord Has given me a well-instructed tongue to know the Word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed." In this busy world we may feal weary or just too old to grow in spiritual wisdom and perhaps to weary to serve him. All of us need to strengthen our resolve through Bible study and prayer. All of us should stive to take on s renewed Christian Spirit every day. As members of God's Kingdom God calls us to rely on Him to conquer the barriers between who we think we are and who God wants us to be. God wants us to be a blessing to each other and assures us that He will help us do this. All we need to do is ask it in prayer. No matter what age we are we are assured we can face the future knowing God will always lead us to victory. This is what it means to be an overcomer. Remember, if your Bible is falling apart, it usually means that you are not. Obeying the Bible may be difficult, but is eccentual to live in harmony and humility. Let us pray: Loving Jesus, You are the one who goes before us to provide the way. As in John 14:6 it says that You are the way, and the truth, and the life. We humbly confess that we do not always know where we are going or how best to get there. You are the light of the world; be our light in a world of spiritual darkness. Keep our hearts and our feet moving in the right direction always. Jesus in Your heavenly and glorious name we pray. Amen | danoystryk@gmail.com | 10/27/2025 |
Acts 6:2-4 Lay Leader: Lay leaders should run things like food programs, VBS, etc. 1 Timothy 3:1-7 Lay Leader: Elders, which are lay leaders, a man above reproach that helps the Pastor lead the church. 1 Timothy 3:8:13 Lay Leader: Deacons, men of good character and high moral standards. | danoystryk@gmail.com | 10/27/2025 |
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