“Pastor, can I talk to you a minute about some concerns I have?”
There is not a pastor in the state who ever answers that question honestly. What they want to say is, “No. The last thing I want to talk about after a pretty good Sunday is a trivial complaint that has nothing to do with lostness reduction or missionary sending, and I know this conversation is going to take much longer than 60 seconds.”
Be concerned about how to show appreciation to your pastor and love for his family. I have the honor of working with pastors all over this state, and we have some incredible men who have sacrificed a great deal to shepherd and pastor you. They are expected to be a marriage counselor, preacher, custodian, wedding planner, funeral director, moderator, financial planner, interior designer, bus driver, human resource director, computer technician, travel agent, and hospital chaplain. They are on call 24/7 and work hard. They cancel time with their families to be available for your emergencies and will even come back from vacation to be there when someone close to you dies.
Be concerned about the emotional well-being of your pastor. Grant him uninterrupted time away on at least four Sundays and for vacations. Respect his day off.
Be concerned about his physical well-being. Provide health insurance at no cost to him and his family. Separate this from his salary. If the premiums go up, don’t reduce his salary to make up the difference.
Be concerned about his future financial stability. Pay him a competitive salary. Make sure the church gives a percentage of his salary to a retirement account on top of his salary. If he lives in a parsonage, plan to give him the home after serving 30 years. At each decade point, consider giving him a bonus for what he would have in equity if he had been buying his own home. If use of a parsonage is part of his salary, allow him to “rent to own” so he is not homeless when he retires.
Honor your pastor this month and let him know you have a concern to discuss with him. Then slip him a gift card and tell him you’re concerned he needs a date night with his wife. That is a concern that will be well received.