11. Study Leave ~ For a pastor who is not working on a Board approved study program, two weeks per year is standard with the time being taken out for any Board approved educational activity. In addition to this time, a pastor who is working on a Board approved study program should be given ___ number of hours/week to study for that program. This means that the average number of hours is reduced on church business by 10 hours per week to 40.
12. Days Off ~ Pastors work on Sundays (and often on Saturdays as well). Make sure the pastor has at least one day completely off each week {1.5 days/week off is reasonable and workable}. Allow him to pick this day when possible, taking into consideration the rhythms and realities of your church schedule and culture.
13. Sabbatical ~ Arrange to give the pastor two months off after five years of service as Senior Pastor. The time is in addition to vacation. He would submit a Sabbatical Plan for Board approval. Then, a Sabbatical of six weeks every three years after the initial five years is wise for long term ministry health of the Pastor and the Church.
14. Books and Ministry Materials Allowance ~ Pastors can easily spend hundreds of dollars a year on commentaries, ministry books, computer research tools, etc. A church that provides a generous reimbursable allowance for this expense communicates to the pastor that study and research is important to an effective church.
16. Cell Phone and Voicemail ~ Have the church pay for a cell phone for the pastor with a reasonable plan that fits the needs of the church ministry. This allows the pastor to be more of a mobile office, freeing him from having to be present at the church site by allowing him to stay in touch with the Administrative Staff and Church Leadership.
17. Ministry Meals ~ Pastors are expected and need to meet with church members, missionaries, other pastors, community leaders, homeless people, etc. as a part of their positional responsibilities. One way a church can encourage a pastor is to provide a reasonable Expense Account that is wise and appropriate for “your church culture and pastoral expectations.”
17. Equity Sharing ~ The high cost of housing in many areas requires the church to enter into an Equity Sharing Agreement with their pastor {and perhaps associate pastors as well}. Samples of proven Equity Share Agreements can be provided.
18. Personal Projects ~ Does the pastor need help remodeling or painting his house? fixing his car? working on a hobby? Arrange to have someone check with him periodically about these kinds of issues and then to ask various members of the congregation if they would help out.
19. Bonus Gifts ~ Have the Board periodically send the pastor and his wife to a nice restaurant, a weekend away at a bed and breakfast or _______. “Share the Love!”
20. Accountability Reviews ~ Have the pastor list out five to seven personal and ministry areas in which he would be accountable to the Board (E.g. excellent sermon preparation, moving the congregation to be people of prayer, etc.). Each Board Meeting would have an Agenda Item where the pastor reviews and reports for five to ten minutes on two of the agreed to ministry areas {sometimes referred to as KRAs}. E.g. "I am 80% in compliance in this area. I've done X, Y, and Z, but I really need to be doing Z more often." The Board then prays specifically with and for the pastor.
If more attention needs to be paid to an issue, the Board can either talk about it immediately or put a more extended conversation on the Agenda for the next meeting. (It's essential that this is a list of items for which the pastor wants to be accountable, as opposed to a list the Board would generate for accountability.)
21. Marriage Encouragement ~ "If the wife is happy, the husband will stay." So what will make his wife happy? This needs to be addressed by the Board on a regular basis. Twice a year is very doable. Have the Board Chair call her and ask her how they can help out. The Board needs to be both proactive and intentional in providing for the health of the pastor’s marriage and family life.
Posted by Dennis Baker, CAM Senior Ministry Consultant
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