How to Honor a Pastor

Honor your pastor

A pastor can play an important role in a person’s life. A pastor provides spiritual guidance, confidential counseling, bedside support when you are hospitalized and premarital counseling before a wedding, among other services, for his congregation. It is only fair that members of the congregation honor a pastor for his selfless devotion to his congregation. Here is how to honor a pastor.

Things You'll Need

• Courtesy
• Thoughtfulness

Instructions

1. Treat a pastor with respect. A pastor puts in long hours to serve her congregation with minimal financial reward for her time. Respect a pastor for being the professional that she is, and treat her as respectfully as you would treat any other professional in any other profession.

2. Respect a pastor’s privacy. Some churches provide a parsonage for the pastor and his family to live in. Just because the church owns the parsonage does not give the congregation unlimited access to a pastor’s home. Respect the fact that a pastor and his family need just as much privacy as any other family.

3. Remember that a pastor is human, too. Some people hold the pastor and her family to a higher standard, treating the family as if they are living in a fishbowl. Do not gossip about a pastor and her family when they go through a rough time. Instead, provide them with the same compassion that you would expect to receive from a pastor if you were going through the same situation.

4. Say thank you. If a pastor’s sermon spoke to you, then tell him so. Send him an email saying how much the sermon spoke to you. Write him a letter or drop by the church and let him know how much you appreciate all that he does for your congregation.

5. Celebrate Pastor Appreciation Month. October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Do something nice for your pastor during the month of October to thank her for all of her hard work. Write her a personal thank you note that specifically tells her what she has done well. Give her a small token of your appreciation through a gift or gift certificate in honor of Pastor Appreciation Month.

6. Remember your pastor at Christmas. Send your pastor a Christmas card and buy him a modest gift.

7. Say goodbye. Some churches rotate their pastors, so be sure to say goodbye when a pastor rotates out of your church. Encourage your church to hold some kind of ceremony so the congregation can say goodbye and collect a love offering to send with a pastor as he transitions to a new church.

Tips & Warnings

• A pastor can become an important part of a person’s life. Be sure to honor a pastor just as you honor other people who make a positive difference in your life.