The SBC Plodder is blessing us again with his unique perspective. Thank you, William.
…if you check the latest job rankings. Clergy are ranked number 110 out of 200 job categories by CareerCast.com which analyzed data from the U.S. Labor Department, Bureau of Labor Statistics, other government agencies, trade associations and private survey firms.
Depressed on Monday? You chose this rather meager and unsatisfying career path, but take heart:
Your job ranking beats that of attorney (117) perhaps because attorneys slink around courthouses trying to scare up a retainer or two and others are well paid but work brutal hours slaving away reading tedious documents for a couple hundred bucks an hour.
And you are way ahead of military general (180) even if no one takes your orders and staff undermines you sometimes.
You might complain about how many hats you have to wear as you carry out your clergy responsibility but painters (174), meter readers (194), dishwashers (187), and bank tellers (162) likely look with envy at your job with all of its variety rather than the mind numbing tedium they face each day.
But then do you look with envy at the job of bricklayer (53) which ranks far above yours. You do a lot of small scale building up but just don’t always finish the day and are able to look back with satisfaction at what you have accomplished.
I hate to share the news, brethren, but your job ranks far below that of sewage plant operator (87), and you thought your job stunk at times. Here a new career path where you could bring some related experience and raw sewage doesn’t call you in the middle of the night or whisper about your deficiencies in the hallways.
And you are behind truck drivers (108), automobile mechanics (103), parole officers (27), and even social workers (49).
One might think that clergy, who have some of the same job demands of museum curators (57), psychologists (58), pest control workers (95), recruiters (69), and human resources managers (31), might rank higher than 110th, far below these.
One of the constants in my several decades of pastoral ministry is the presence of a steady supply of my clergy colleagues who are whiners and complainers – not paid enough, always on display, constant job pressures, unappreciated, etc., etc.
My advice is to give some of the brethren an opportunity to blow off a little steam and vent a bit but to stay away from those who are always sitting on ready to share their latest job woes.
And stay away from job ranking articles.
Stick with this:
This saying is trustworthy: “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work.”
What God calls “noble” let no job ranking survey diminish.
Now, it’s Monday, take the rest of the day off.
(Editor’s Note: This was published Monday at SBC Plodder, hence the dated reference in the last sentence – but if you want to take Tuesday off, you have my permission!)
William,
You have the gift of perspective. Yes, ministry has its challenges, but so do many other positions. It is a high calling and a great privilege. Thanks for the reminder.
A pastor is a servant of the Most High and the (under-)shepherd of the Flock that is also the Bride of Christ Jesus and therefore is also the friend of the Bridegroom. There simply is no greater responsibility than that. Part of the reward is realizing the importance of the role and using that realization as a source of contentment and satisfaction.
Now, of course, it reminds me of that old joke about the customer complaining about a fly in his soup. His waiter famously asked him to “shh, otherwise everyone will want one.” We should be careful about celebrating the importance of pastors. We don’t want to sort through thousands and thousands in this economy when there is a job opening, after all…
Who were the pastors surveyed to get this God given position ranked at 110. It should be #1. If God has called us to a position, we better think twice how we think about it whether it is pastor or funeral director. My job as sales person goes against my desire to do nothing but blog. We must do what God has called us to do without complaining. Obstacles conform us to the image of Christ and we must count it all joy for the kingdom. I enjoy selling but my company drags its feet on orders. I have opportunities to deal with the foot draggers. I love my job.
Bruce, the rankings were based on an aggregate of salary, job satisfaction reports, opinion surveys, benefits, intangibles, etc. Dare we say, “Subjective”?
But let me offer the conjecture that if a survey of actual pastors (the job category was ‘clergy’ much broader than pastors) was made that winnowed out the pro forma responses and got honest opinions, the job of pastor would rank far below the top. I have heard too much complaining to regularly to believe otherwise.
William,
I understand. I was called to be a Salesman. Complaining rebukes God. I must take my position as God’s will. If we saw it that way we would have a different church out there. Hopefully!
The office of pastor is not only noble, it is most admirable and carries the weight of a great purpose and the charge of Almighty God with caring for his people, not merely in the physical sense, but in the spiritual sense.
I have never felt called to the pastorate and only a couple of people have ever indicated their confidence that such should be my calling. Nevertheless, I doubt I could turn down the calling if it ever fell on me albeit without much fear and trembling at the responsibility of such a charge.
God bless all of you who are pastors. May you carry out your calling faithfully and honorably as is fitting for such servants of God.
Jim,
If you are a teacher you are not far from the pastor. You get closer to people than the pastor does in most cases.
Thanks, Bruce. That’s very encouraging.
Great post,
I did not choose to be a pastor God chose me. For 35 years I’ve been a bi-vocational pastor. I worked in the underground coal mines as a roof bolt operator, the most physically demanding and dangerous job in the mines.
I’ll have to say it was a breeze compared to pastoring. Mental stress will wipe you out. Pastoring is also a great blessing, to see folks saved makes it all worth while. I will never understand why God chose someone like
me to preach the Gospel.
I can see why sewage workers rank higher than a pastor as far as jobs.
I’ll have to admit sometimes I thought it ought to rank about 200.
God has used me in some very special ways, who am I to complain.
Jess , A sewer worker gets sunburned in spots from the sun coming thru the manhole covers ( Jackie Gleason & Art Carney ) . Are you a member of the UMWA ? and in what State do you work ?
I wasn’t a member of the UMWA, I worked in the mountains of Eastern Ky. Harlan, Bell, Knox, and Laural counties.
Yeah, but the retirement plan’s OUT OF THIS WORLD!
You won’t have a THING to do…..
It is a very sorry job…
But a wonderful calling.
I am retired from 35 years in the computer business. I currently am offering help to churches in the area when the pastor needs some time off from the pulpit. I help a bi-vocational pastor by preaching at his church on the first Sunday of each month. I also offer vacation relief. I say this to state I do what I can even though I am not a full time pastor.
A few years ago I came upon an article that listed occupations based on divorce rate. Computer personnel were ranked No. 2 right after law enforcement. I had a pastor tell me, “If there is anything else you can do, then do it.” I do not have the experience to relate to everything that is blogged on this site. But I do enjoy being available to assist pastors the best I can. I have the ultimate respect for you folks.
That is great. One of the things I would do differently would be to negotiate occasional times away from the pulpit, say, a month or so.
Since finances are strained in many churches, an offer like yours is helpful.
The problem is, in part, that many pastors feel insecure in their church and having anyone take their place is a threat.
William,
I never have taken a sort of sabbatical like what you suggest, but I would actually love the time to refresh. I’ve been in this church for more than 13 years.
Why not sound out a church leader and see what kind of reaction you get?
Or, you could say, “Johnny Hunt gets every August off. I’d like the same deal.”
Strangely, I’m not sure our church uses the “whatever Johnny does standard.” But, not knowing his salary, I’m guessing I wish that they DID use him as a guide!
Dave shut down the post on the CR. OK, that’s fine. Now, some of you guys need to write a post on Tim Tebow and the lowlife New York Jets. . . . and maybe a post on how the SABANATION is going to win a threepeat National Championship.
You write it. I’ll publish it.
No promises I won’t edit it first, though, completely changing the meaning of the post.
Start with Tebow and the Jets, and then expand it out to expose the dastardly nature of all NYC-related sports franchises in general.
Liberal.
The perfect title of the post might be: The Big Apple and the Ghost of George Steinbrenner.
Easily changed to “The REAL Evil Empire: The Alabama Crimson Crud”
Infidel
Imagining SEC CB saying that in the voice of Achmed the Dead Terrorist while wearing an Alabama hat and t-shirt is actually quite amusing to me this morning…..
“Silence! We BEAT you!”
Having now read this post by the noble Georgian, SBC Plodder, I am reminded of the words of another great writer and theologian, Willie Nelson, who just celebrated his eightieth birthday this past Monday. SBC Plodder, Willie, Jimmy Carter, and cb were all in the first grade together and sang in a once famous quartet known as: We Don’t Grow Peanuts No More, ‘Cause We can Sing.
Willie wrote a song about the subject of this post and I want to share it with all you preacher brethren. Our little quartet used to sing this song at the GBC before Charles Billingsly started getting all the good gigs. All the pastors and their wives just loved it.
It is titled: PREACHER LIFE
When the evenin’ sun goes down
You will find me hangin’ ’round
Oh, the preacher’s life, it ain’t no good life
But it’s my life
Many people don’t like me
Screamin’ how it used-to-be
Oh, the preacher’s life, it ain’t no good life
Ah, but it’s my life
Listen to the hymns that they’re playin’
Listen what the deacons are sayin’
Life is just another scene
In this old world of broken dreams
Oh, the preacher’s life, it ain’t no good life
But it’s my life
Oh, the preacher’s life ain’t no good life
Oh, but it’s my life
Yeah, it’s my life
CB,
You haven’t been inhaling any of that funky weed smoke ol’ Willy used, have you?
Alas, my brilliant piece on pastors, full of clever wit, uncommon wisdom, and keen insight has been unalterably hijacked for a base discussion of college football…in May.
I may ask for my money back from our esteemed SBCV moderator.
Dave makes you pay to post articles too?
I’m beginning to wonder if the $5 per word charge is a fair price.
And it’s even worse when you realize that half of that fee is going to CB as protection money.
Did I make my “no refund” policy clear?
Generally, the amount to which a comment stream diverts into a pointless discussion of football is in direct proportion to the involvement of CB Scott in the discussion!
There’s a corollary to Godwin’s Law here. Perhaps it’s Dave’s Coronary: the greater the involvement of certain individuals, the greater the likelihood a discussion extols the virtues of SEC sports and the overall sorriness of the Yankees.
Everyone–May I request that you please pray for Pastor Dave Keith and his wife Vickie? His son and daughter-in-law were killed in a head on collision. Funeral services will be held tomorrow, I believe. Dave pastors Carlton Baptist Church, Carlton, TX. My heart breaks for them and that church fellowship.
Dear Lord thank you for being there for this pastor and his family.
Duckman Dale,
I shall join you in praying for this brother and his wife.