By PW: It's that time of year when we as a family usually realize we haven't made a plan for vacation yet this year! Sometimes we make vacation plans at the last minute due to the lack of discretionary funds, but other times it seems that we just get sucked into the busy-ness of ministry to the point where we lose track of what we need in order to recharge our own batteries.What are pastors and spouses doing these days about vacations? What are your struggles about vacations? Do you struggle with taking one? Do you enjoy your vacations?
There are a lot of dynamics at play with this. How do you know the right balance for the minister to have time off and get away from the demands of ministry? Often it is not discussed because the pastor is not taking the time off they need to or deserve, or they do not feel they can take the time off they need to because there is no one to "cover for them" while they are away. Still other times the time off they do take is consumed with visiting their own extended family, rather than taking a needed break from people.
Because the minister's time off affects his/her family, what IS enough time off? How do you decide as a family what you need and must do for you or your family? Do you feel your congregation understands and encourages your need to get away?
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Brian,
We need balance - and I am not advocating an overboard response. But ask an engineer at one of the auto companies these days - or many other worker for that matter - about the wisdom of being viewed as "replaceable." To be easily replaceable can rapidly come to mean unemployed.
My pastor/spouse goes on the National Pastor's Conference Retreats (a group that extends to meeting over the course of 2 years), and this has been great for him--and us. I get the benefit of him having had his time away for reflection by the time he goes on vacation with me! Our church has now come to support these times for him to get away. They realize he gets recharged in a fresh way from these. So, they treat it as some of his "conference time."
RJS,
I agree...we need balance. But! I never said anything about *easily* replaceable. Also, I should've emphasized this in my last post...it is probably difficult or impossible in most jobs to take four consecutive weeks off and I don't mean to minimize the difficulty of many of our jobs. However, I do stand by my statement that thinking of ourselves as "irreplaceable" is unhealthy. (And un-true.)
When we recognize that we are replaceable it can help us keep our priorities straight- including the priority to do our jobs so well so as to NOT be replaced and doing so without working to the point of tears or a heart attack. (I'm referring again to what Joseph wrote.)
Time off, vacation, etc. is very important. Taking a day off each week is very important. Doing this is an investment in your own health, your family and your church.
I have been with one congregation for almost sixteen years. I believe that taking time off, getting away, vacation, etc. has been an investment. I have more to give, more to offer, etc. when I take care of my body/mind/emotions. I do the church no favor when all I have to offer is an exhausted self who does not take time off.
Having said this I realize this is going to be easier in some churches than in others. Some churches have had very poor models to look to (the minister who for whatever reason just refuses to take time off).
Ministry can be very, very stressful. Troubled marriages, conflicted relationships, being with people near death, funerals, etc. can take their toll after awhile. Time away can allow a person to do this kind of work with energy over a long period of time.
This has been a helpful discussion for me to engage. Re: Joseph's comment: When we move back to the US I would not expect to take 4+ weeks of vacation all at once, but in this position it makes sense. I get one set of home-visit air tickets per year provided by my church (I'm from Los Angeles, but am the pastor of the American Church in London). Many of our congregation are on similar arrangements, and our attendance is dramatically reduced during August. Being gone during that time--and consistently present during the rest of the year--actually works pretty well for us right now. As I've read through the other comments I'm aware of how strange my situation is in comparison to a typical pastorate. Thanks for letting me dip in!
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