Joe Smith is the pastor of St. John Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Lakewood, WA. Recently, he blogged about how overrated office space is for pastors. Then, a few days later, he continued the discussion of the topic with a guest post by Kirk Jeffery, an ordained United Methodist pastor who currently serves as a church growth consultant. Together these two posts effectively argue that while the pastor’s study served a significant purpose in an earlier era it has outlived its usefulness. Jeffery summarizes:
Today the pastor’s study seems to be more a limiting feature of ministry than an empowering one. If I had my way, I would eliminate it from the church entirely, as an outmoded, non-useful space. It seems that it serves only to have a space where a small group of parishioners can keep a watchful eye on what the pastor is up to—for if our pastor is in his/her office, then we know that he/she is working. Ug. The thought that true ministry happens within the confines of the four walls of the pastor’s study makes me sick.
So What?
Generations ago the church was at the center. When possible, churches were built in near the center of town. People went to church for counsel on almost any topic knowing that the clergy would be accessible and have access to the best resources as some of the most learned people around. Over the last several decades, church has moved from the city to the suburbs and from a position of power to one voice among many in the larger culture. Today, people no longer need to go to the church to meet with their pastor as the pastor and all of the pastor’s resources are mobile. Churches that require their pastors to sit in an office for a set number of hours a week either have trust issues or misunderstand the nature of pastoral work. While pastors must be accountable for the time invested in their ministry, few need to spend a significant amount of time on the church campus in a study.
- How many years has it been since your congregation last reconfigured how office space is utilized by clergy and lay staff? How might a move to downsize the overall space allocated for offices empower ministers and ministry staff to be more effective in their work?
- What are the Session/Council/Leadership Team’s expectations regarding how much (if any) time the pastor(s) should spend in an office/study on the church campus? Is this appropriate for your context? Why or why not?
- Do you agree with Jeffery’s statement: “Today the pastor’s study seems to be more a limiting feature of ministry than an empowering one?” Why or why not?