Three Ways to Honor Your Pastor

By Dr. Mark Dance

Scripture is clear about the importance of showing “double honor” to our pastors. What better time is there to do that than during Pastor Appreciation Month? Your church has the opportunity to join thousands of churches across North America in recognizing your pastoral staff in a public and positive way. From my personal experience as a pastor, I would like to suggest three ways churches can honor their pastors:

• Recognize your pastor publicly. “Now we ask you, brothers, to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you” (I Thess. 5:12 HCSB). Respect is rarely more than a noble sentiment. A special appreciation event gives church members an opportunity to articulate their personal expressions of love, respect and appreciation. At least one of those recognitions needs to be made by a visible lay leader on a Sunday morning. If October is not a good time on your church calendar to bless your pastor publicly, leverage a key anniversary or birthday instead.

• Encourage your pastor personally. “…Regard them very highly in love because of their work…” (I Thess. 5:13).Pastoral staff members are more than mere professionals; they are someone’s spouse, parent and child. Whether they are leading successfully or failing miserably, all pastors need encouragement, love and respect of their church families. Ask them how you can pray for their family, then follow up with a note so they know you are seriously praying for them. Treat your pastoral staff like friends or family members because they are both. Provide a listening ear and safe place for your pastors to share their dreams, as well as his nightmares. Will you join me in pouring into our pastors who have so generously poured into us?

• Bless your pastor tangibly. “The one who is taught the message must share all his good things with the teacher” (Gal. 6:6). “The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching” (I Tim. 5:17). Here are a few tangible ideas to show your pastoral staff you care:

• Express love and encouragement in writing or in person.

• Take your pastor hunting, fishing, golfing, etc.; or provide tickets to a sporting event, concert, or movie.

• Set out a gift basket in October for notes and gifts.

• Mow their lawn/wash their car.

• Provide a night out with a gift card for dinner and childcare.

• Ask them how you can pray for their family.

• Deliver their favorite dessert or meal.

• Take them to lunch.

• Purchase and arrange a couple’s retreat.

• Bless them with a sabbatical (timeshare donations).

I hope these ideas and resources help to prime the pastor appreciation pump in your church. Know that your pastor will be genuinely grateful for anything you do.

— Dr. Mark Dance (@MarkDance) is the Director of Pastoral Wellness for Guidestone Financial Resources (SBC). He was a lead pastor and planter for 27 years before becoming an associate vice president at Lifeway, the director of pastoral development for Oklahoma Baptists and the co-founder/leader of the Care4Pastors Network. Dr. Dance earned degrees from Howard Payne University (BBA), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (D.Min). This article was originally published at research.lifeway.com/2015/09/02/3-ways-to-honor-your-pastors and is shared with permission.