I’m a member of a church that is fortunate to have five elders who shepherd, teach, and oversee our congregation. All five pastors work full-time jobs which enable them to provide for their families. Since we are currently in a transition period to hire a staff pastor, they take on all the pastoral tasks. These five men counsel our members, fill the pulpit, and make tough decisions—all while working 40 to 50 hours a week in their jobs.
Here are four ways to care for lay pastors who go the extra mile for their flocks.
1. Provide an honorarium for lay elders who labor in preaching.
Throughout the year, the senior pastor will need time to rest. Typically, a lay elder will fill the pulpit when the senior pastor takes a Sunday off. For this to happen, lay pastors make sacrifices to ensure their congregation will have a message from the Word of God on Sunday. Sermon prep takes time, which may temporarily take them away from family and other weekly commitments.
Paul tells Timothy: “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching” (1 Tim. 5:17). Paul has in mind
To continue...read the full-length post originally published on this site.
