As I sat down to start preparing this blog, I heard the news of the report into the historical sexual abuse scandal in the French Catholic Church and my heart just sank. Over recent months we have heard stories emerging from churches across the world of abuses of all kinds, (physical, sexual, emotional, mental and controlling) that have taken place not just in the past, but are still happening right now. All areas of the media are quick to jump on these stories, telling the stories of the victims, but relishing in telling of the abuses of power that the ‘church’ has allowed and covered up.
Whilst I deplore and am sickened by all these despicable acts that have taken place and I believe that the victims need to be heard and loved and supported, and that we need to learn from how they were allowed to happen, so that we can ensure that the same things aren’t allowed to happen again. We also need to recognise that we live in a fallen world, a world where the culture is all about ‘me, me, me!’ We’re taught to cheat and lie, to turn a blind eye to injustice, to be selfish and to always put our own needs/wants above others. As Jesus reminds us in the story of the woman caught in adultery, that it is only he who is without sin that should cast the first stone!
The church needs to stand up and be radical, to be counter cultural. To be presenting a different story to the doom and gloom of the world. Rather than copying the world in creating a celebrity culture, putting leaders on pedestals and then watching for them to fail, so that we can then throw our stones (our own failures, temptations and sins) at them, maybe, just maybe we can love our leaders, pray for them, encourage them (a simple thank you either in person or by text, email social media or even more radical in a card!), ensure that they are accountable to someone, a person that they can be real with, and we can also ensure that they have the rest and relaxation that we all need.
As you’ve probably guessed from the title, when I was initially starting this post, it was to highlight what our American cousins do each year, when they have Pastor Appreciation Sunday (10th October this year), which has grown into Pastor Appreciation Month during the whole of October. While I don’t ever want to import another ‘holiday’ from across the pond, complete with cards and specialist gifts etc, it is good to be reminded. But as with any healthy relationship, we wouldn’t only celebrate our love once a year on their birthday, but we should be doing it throughout the year, saying thank you, sending a message, making a call, buying a little treat. So yes, I’d urge you to mark this Sunday in whatever way you wish, but to also do it throughout the year. Make it a habit!
I reread our blog What A Response! As I did, I was drawn again to the quote we included from a leadership expert, who said: "Over the years I have made a career out of studying the most challenging management roles out there. After all of that I am now convinced the two most difficult jobs in the world are these - one, to be President of the United States, and two, to be the leader a church."
At Time2, we will continue to pray for, support and encourage as many leaders as we can, whilst we wait for the Time2 house. Do email us if you’d like us to include your leaders (just give us their name, the church name and an address where we can contact them).
“Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.”
Hebrews 13:7
Here are links to some of our previous blogs on the subject of leadership, that we’d encourage you to read and share.
- It’s OK Not To Be OK!
- I Get Knocked Down But I Get Up Again
- Church Leadership Is A Lonely Place For Many Of Our Leaders
- Love Your Pastor
- Keep Loving Your Pastor
- Do You Long For A Factory Reset?
- It’s Time2 Nominate And Celebrate!
- What A Response!
- Small Beginnings
- Burnt Out, Beaten Up And Downtrodden!
- Opposition Is Exhausting
- What Seasons Reveal
- Summer Reading
Read our blog