You’ve heard people say, “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” well, not always true. Some of the characteristics that make me a better pastor for my congregation, make me a worse pastor for my family. In particular it is being there for the congregation. Always being available is great, but if you are, your congregation and community will take advantage of you, and you will not be available for your family.
Message to your congregation/community: “You are important to me!”
Message to your family: “Other people are more important to me!”
Spouse and kids can be (and rightly so) hurt and resentful. And how can they argue?!? You are doing good and important stuff. The laundry list of the things I get dragged into each week stuns me, and the little my family hears about it often shocks them. Not only is it good and important, but it is supposed to be God’s work. How can your kids, or your husband or wife, compete with that? How can they say, “I want more of you. Don’t give so much to God.” They can’t. Well actually, they often do, but they do so through rebellion, giving up on the church, God or you.
Your kids just want a dad, or a mom. They don’t want you to be a pastor, or a superhero for St. Whatever’s.
Boundaries are part of the answer. Have inviolable time set aside for the family. Don’t just make sure you are at the important events in their lives, set aside enough space to be part of making the memorable, unimportant moments.
Don't be SuperStupid
Better than boundaries is making sure the ministry of your congregation belongs to the congregation, not you. Don’t worry, you won’t become dispensable. The “S” on your chest may just be standing for “Stupid” instead of “Super.” [That’s a Rick Warren line…] There is more than enough work that you will not be able to pass off to someone else. But the truth is that God pulled the people who make your congregation together because they need each other, not just because they need you. Design the DNA to turn your people to each other. More gifts, more hands, better ministry.
And you… you can do what you are uniquely called and equipped to do. And… you can let your family know that nothing God gave you is more important than they are.
Precarious Pastor 
Amen.
Preach it.
Rock on.
and any other form of encouragement you’d like to put here….
It’s tough to work in ministry and balance the expectations of your family and the congregation your are serving.
I think there’s a delicate balance between respecting your family and using your family as a cop-out to not work. (I’ve met pastors who do both… ugh)
Thanks for the good word.