Here are some of the questions I hear:
How much vacation should I take? Many churches do not have a clear policy.
How many Sundays can I be out? One pastor told me he was allowed to take three weeks vacation, but he could not be out on a Sunday.
What do I do if my vacation is interrupted? Many pastors return from vacations to conduct funerals or attend to other crises. Should they be allowed to take an additional week? How do they make it up to their families?
Who covers for me while I’m gone? This question is especially common where the pastor is a solo pastor.
Should a pastor have mandatory vacation? Some pastors just refuse to be gone.
The need for clarity and the need for vacations.
Serving as a pastor is a joyful calling. Serving as pastor can be a stressful calling.
Pastors desperately need time, extended time, to rest and recharge. Very few vocations have the emotional highs and lows as that of a pastor.
The pastor’s family deserves vacation time as well. The spouse and the children live through regular interruptions of family time. They know that a pastor is on call 24/7. There is no such thing as a “normal” life.
Husband, wife and children need time together away from the church. Vacations are critical to the health of the pastor’s family.
How do you handle vacations if you are a pastor?
If you are not a pastor, what does your church do to assure that your pastor has adequate vacation time?
What are the policies or guidelines at your church about vacation time?
What should a church do for the pastor if the family’s vacation is interrupted or terminated by a crisis in the church?
I know I have a lot of questions. I would love to hear your perspectives.
