Page 32 - Pastoral Ministries -Student Textbook

Study Section 5: The Pastor’s Relationships

5.1 Connect

As early as 1928, when Nolan Harmon wrote his classic Ministerial Ethics and Etiquette, he warned
both experienced and prospective pastors that foremost among the duties of a minister are those he
owes to his home and family. This is universally conceded, but too often the minister’s home is
immolated upon the altar of his work. The pastor has a hard task, but the pastor’s family often has a
harder one.”

If a pastor does not take care of his family, and his family fails, the pastor will have disqualified himself from
being pastor. So, it seems a huge priority that a pastor carefully meets the needs of his wife and children
BEFORE he meets the needs of his congregation. Today, we want to look into this important topic further….

5.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to describe the tension a pastor has between his ministry to a
congregation and his ministry to his own family.

2. The student should be able to list the obligations a pastor has to his family.

3. The student should be able to describe ways his pastor must minister to his children.

4. The student will learn about African culture and the obligations a pastor has to extended family in light of the
culture.

5.3 Living in Harmony with His Family

Pressures on the Pastor

1. From the Culture to Succeed

The pastor is not immune from the cultural syndrome that many men experience in the secular
world; to be viewed by their peers as a success.

2. From the Family for Relationship

When on top of all the demands a pastor encounters on the job, to come home and hear from family
members that they have needs to; may be the last straw for some pastors. By then the demands of his job
may have consumed nearly all of his energy and he may have lost sight of the fact that he has a number of
roles to fulfill.

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