Unintended Lessons from Ted Haggard

Note: It is not the purpose of this series to heap further
scorn on Ted Haggard, or in any other way to make
his life more miserable. Rather, I want to use what has
happened to him as an opportunity for learning some
valuable lessons. These are, to be sure, not something
Ted Haggard intended. But I expect that if others can
learn valuable lessons from his experience, this would
be something that even Ted Haggard himself could appreciate.

by Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts

Note: You may download this resource at no cost, for personal use or for use in a Christian ministry, as long as you are not publishing it for sale. All I ask is that you give credit where credit is due. For all other uses, please contact me at mark@markdroberts.com . Thank you.

How to Be Rightly Wrong: The Example of Ted Haggard
Posted for Tuesday, November 7, 2006

Eight months ago I wrote a post called "How to Be Rightly Wrong: The Example of Oprah." The context was the controversy over the book A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. When his purported autobiography was shown to be full of exaggeration, Oprah, who had promoted the book, initially defended it. But then, a couple of weeks later, she admitted her error on her television show. She said, plainly, "I was wrong."

In my blog post on Oprah's admission I wrote:

How refreshing! When is the last time you heard a public person – an elected official caught with his hand in the cookie jar, a CEO of a failed company, or even a pastor who committed some grievous offense – say, flat out, "I was wrong." Such people usually find ways to appear to be sorry, without admitting error. "Mistakes were made," is a familiar refrain. Or "I apologize for any confusion." Sometimes a leader will appear to admit error, "I take responsibility for what happened," while actually blaming others.

You may have read a line or two from the letter of admission Haggard sent to his congregation, since these have appeared in press stories everywhere. You can find the whole letter here (PDF only). I want to quote several passages from Haggard's letter. My point is not to hold him up for scorn, but rather as an example of somebody who has the courage to take responsibility for his sins:

I am so sorry. I am sorry for the disappointment, the betrayal, and the hurt. I am sorry for the horrible example I have set for you.

The last four days have been so difficult for me, my family and all of you, and I have further confused the situation with some of the things I've said during interviews with reporters who would catch me coming or going from my home. But I alone am responsible for the confusion caused by my inconsistent statements. The fact is, I am guilty of sexual immorality, and I take responsibility for the entire problem. 

I am a deceiver and a liar. There is a part of my life that is so repulsive and dark that I’ve been warring against it all of my adult life. For extended periods of time, I would enjoy victory and rejoice in freedom. Then, from time to time, the dirt that I thought was gone would resurface, and I would find myself thinking thoughts and experiencing desires that were contrary to everything I believe and teach.

The accusations that have been leveled against me are not all true, but enough of them are true that I have been appropriately and lovingly removed from ministry.

I created this entire situation. The things that I did opened the door for additional allegations. But I am responsible; I alone need to be disciplined and corrected.

Please forgive me. I am so embarrassed and ashamed. I caused this and I have no excuse. I am a sinner. I have fallen. I desperately need to be forgiven and healed.

Please forgive my accuser. He is revealing the deception and sensuality that was in my life. Those sins, and others, need to be dealt with harshly. So, forgive him and, actually, thank God for him. I am trusting that his actions will make me, my wife and family, and ultimately all of you, stronger. He didn’t violate you; I did.

We will never return to a leadership role at New Life Church. In our hearts, we will always be members of this body. We love you as our family. I know this situation will put you to the test. I’m sorry I’ve created the test, but please rise to this challenge and demonstrate the incredible grace that is available to all of us. 

Now this is being "rightly wrong." Haggard doesn't try to blame others. He doesn't lash out at the media. He doesn't even condemn his accuser for exaggeration.

I'll admit that when I first heard about Haggard's moral failures, I was angry and sad. Both emotions had to do primarily with the damage Haggard has done to the church of Jesus Christ, including but not limited to his own church. Now, after reading Haggard's letter of confession, I am still upset, but sadness has overtaken anger in my heart. My sorrow has been multiplied by reading the letter written by Ted Haggard's wife, Gayle (PDF only).

I am not suggesting, by the way, that Haggard's being "rightly wrong" means that he should be restored to leadership in his church. Forgiveness, which Haggard deserves as a brother in Christ, does not necessarily imply restoration of this kind. My point is simply that Haggard, though having messed up in a huge way, has shown his true character by admitting his error and taking full responsibility for it. In this he has set an example for all who would find themselves in a position like his, even in much smaller and less public indiscretions.

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The Surprise of the National Association of Evangelicals
Posted for Wednesday, November 8, 2006

The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) has been in the news recently for the sad reason that its former president was the now-disgraced Ted Haggard. If you have read new stories referencing the NAE, you may well think of it as a hyper-right-wing organization of Christian fundamentalists . . . at least this is how the NAE is often portrayed by the secular press.

In fact, however, the NAE reflects a much wider spectrum of theological, social, and political perspective than one might think. In June of 2005 I did an extended blog series on what was then a new statement of the NAE. The statement was called "For the Health of the Nation: An Evangelical Call to Civic Responsibility." (Click here for a PDF version of the 12-page statment.) In my blog series I commended this statement for its theological wisdom and for how this wisdom was worked out in practical ways.

Certain elements of the statement are what one might expect, such as opposition to abortion or same-sex "marriage." Both other elements might surprise you. Here are several unexpected excerpts:

God identifies with the poor (Ps. 146:5-9), and says that those who “are kind to the poor lend to the Lord” (Prov. 19:17), while those who oppress the poor “show contempt for their Maker” (Prov. 14:31). Jesus said that those who do not care for the needy and the imprisoned will depart eternally from the living God (Matt. 25:31-46). The vulnerable may include not only the poor, but women, children, the aged, persons with disabilities, immigrants, refugees, minorities, the persecuted, and prisoners. God measures societies by how they treat the people at the bottom.

Economic justice includes both the mitigation of suffering and also the restoration of wholeness. Wholeness includes full participation in the life of the community. Health care, nutrition, and education are important ingredients in helping people transcend the stigma andagonyof poverty and re-enter community.

We further believe that care for the vulnerable should extend beyond our national borders. American foreign policy and trade policies often have an impact on the poor. We should try to persuade our leaders to change patterns of trade that harm the poor and to make the reduction of global poverty a central concern of American foreign policy.

Human beings have responsibility for creation in a variety of ways. We urge Christians to shape their personal lives in creation-friendly ways: practicing effective recycling, conserving resources, and experiencing the joy of contact with nature. We urge government to encourage fuel efficiency, reduce pollution, encourage sustainable use of natural resources, and provide for the proper care of wildlife and their natural habitats.

Now you've got to admit this isn't what you'd expect from in a statement from the National Association of Evangelicals. There is much more wisdom  in this statement, representing an effort at a truly and fully Christian engagement with the world.

So, as you think of the National Association of Evangelicals, I hope you'll consider downloading and reading their excellent statement on Christian civic engagement. It's well worth the time and effort.

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Ted Haggard and Pastoral Pressure
Part 3 of the series: Unintended Lessons from Ted Haggard
Posted for Tuesday, November 14, 2006

I have been known to criticize the Los Angeles Times for its reporting, especially on matters of religion. But often the Times gets its religion stories right. Last Saturday was a fine example. Times staff writer K. Connie Kang wrote an article entitled "In One Week: Counsel, Soaring Hope, War Protest," in which she summarized a strange juxtaposition of events in the religious world, including the installation of Katharine Jefferts Schori as presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church USA and the vote of the National Council of Churches that called for an immediate phased withdrawal from Iraq. (It tells you something about the NCC when you realize the vote was 99% in favor of the motion.)

The bulk of Kang's story focused on the Ted Haggard affair. The point was not to increase Haggard's shame, but rather to reflect on the implications of his situation for the wider church. Several paragraphs struck me as worthy of reflection:

Experts say being a pastor today, especially of a prominent church, is more difficult than in the past because so much is expected of clergy.

"This is one of the greatest points of pain in the church, the expectations we attach to ministers," said the Rev. James P. Wind, president of the Alban Institute, a nonprofit ecumenical group that supports congregations and pastors.

"If you ask people what they want, they want a great preacher, a great administrator, great worship," he said in a telephone interview. "They want you to be available whenever they need you."

Given the fact that I am a pastor, you can see why these paragraphs grabbed my attention.

I did a bit of web-surfing to see if anyone else had made a similar observation about the implications of the Haggard affair. I found a quotation by H.B. London, Jr., of Focus on the Family. His statement came out in the Agape Press, providentially, just a week before Haggard's public disgrace:

H.B. London, Jr., is vice president of pastoral ministries with Focus on the Family. London says pastors often face enormous pressure and unrealistic expectations. "There's no way to know the pressure that most pastors are under just simply because the clock never stops running and the day never runs out, and unrealistic expectations seem to accompany the role of a servant pastor," says London. "In a sense, if you're a pastor to a congregation, you're everybody's private pastor, too. There's a constant need for you, especially in the smaller to middle-sized church." According to London, the unreasonable demands faced by members of the clergy can negatively affect their families. "I used to try to preach a lot about balance and how to have balance [but] I'm not sure that's even possible anymore," he concedes. "As pastors and as Christian leaders, we just have to make the most of what we can. And we've got to try to find those moments to get rest and to be refreshed and to be with our family and to minister effectively."
		H. B. London, Jr.

Both James Wind and H.B. London agree that the expectations for pastors are problematic both for pastors and for the church. This suggests that the predicament is widespread among Christian churches, since Wind represents the theologically centrist-to-liberal Alban Institute, while London comes from the theologically conservative Focus on the Family.

I'm especially struck, and troubled, by London's sense that it's not even possible anymore for pastors to have balance in their lives. His conclusion, "As pastors and Christian leaders, we just have to make the most of what we can" is chilling to me, given that I am a pastor and a Christian leader who seeks to find balance in his work and his overall life.

Let me say that I can understand completely what Wind and London are saying, both from my observation of the church today and from my personal experience as a pastor. But I'm not yet willing to throw in the towel and simply try to make the most of what I can. I'm still idealistic enough, yes, even after 22 years of full-time work in the church, to believe that there are some things churches and pastors can do to make the problem of unrealistic expectations less burdensome for pastors and less frustrating for churches that feel as if their pastors aren't measuring up.

In my next post I'll offer some of my thoughts on how pastors and churches can work to overcome the problem of pressure placed upon pastors.

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A Pastoral Privilege in the Midst of Pastoral Expectations
Part 4 of the series: Unintended Lessons from Ted Haggard
Posted for Wednesday, November 15, 2006

I had intended to begin today to offer some thoughts on how pastors and churches can work to overcome the problem of pressure placed upon pastors. But something happened today to interrupt my train of thought. I officiated at the graveside service for a member of my church, Glenn Wintermute (about whom I offered tribute in Monday's post). Yesterday we had the memorial service for Glenn, a time for a large group of friends and family to remember his life and celebrate his eternal life. Today was the graveside service, a much smaller and more informal gathering of close family and a couple of friends.

When I mentioned to a neighbor that I was doing these services, she said, "Oh my, that must be really hard!" Her comment got me thinking. No, I'd want to say to her, this isn't a particular hard part of my ministry. In fact, to tell the truth, it's one of the things I most value. I wouldn't want to say that I enjoy doing memorial services, since it is emotionally and spiritually taxing to be with grieving people. But I consider my role as pastor in times of loss to be a central part of my calling. It's something I find quite meaningful. In fact, it's a great privilege. This might sound strange to you. I'm sure it would to my neighbor. But let me explain what I mean. Along the way there will be points of connection to the pastoral expectations and pressure issue.
		Graveside services happen every day throughout the world.

When a loved one dies, people come to a pastor, not only for help with a memorial service, but also for help with sorting out their feelings and their faith. They open up their hearts and their lives. When I meet with family members to plan a service, even if I've never met them before, they often share some of their deepest feelings with me. They laugh; they cry; they doubt; they hope. Thus I am welcomed into the inner sanctum of their lives. This is a huge privilege, one that continues to touch my heart after 22 years of "professional" ministry and dozens of memorial services.

Moreover, when I meet with people in this context, our conversation doesn't get mired in trivia, even though we're planning a memorial service. Rather, we talk about precious memories. We talk about family, friendship, and love. And we talk openly about God, faith, and heaven. In ordinary life, it sometimes takes a lot of relationship to get to the place where people openly share about such things, even with a pastor. But death has a way of helping us confront the most important things in life. So I get the privilege of talking with folks about the things that matter most of all.

These are the sorts of encounters that refuel my pastoral commitment. After all, I didn't enter the ordained ministry to deal with budgets, personnel policies, worship-style conflicts, and countless personal agendas for the church. Rather, I wanted to deal with people concerning the core issues of life. So, even though memorial services add a good chunk of busyness to my otherwise busy life, they allow me to do what I value most as a pastor. I get to talk with people about God. I get to help them find God's presence and comfort. People are almost never offended when this happens in the planning of a memorial service or during the service itself. They expect a pastor to do, well, pastoral things.

In this case, expectations for a pastor line up with what a pastor is supposed to do, at least in my opinion. When people come to me for a memorial service, they want me to point them to God. They want me to stand up in the service, read the Bible and share a few words of inspired truth. And that's exactly what I love to do. More importantly, that's what I'm called to do.

One of the other privileges associated with doing memorial services is the opportunity for me personally to think about what it means to live a good, full, meaningful life. I'm not talking only about faith, though that's certainly a key part of life lived to the max. I'm also talking about how a person lives each day. When I hear about how someone was consistently kind and giving–as in the case of Glenn Wintermute–I inevitably ask myself: Am I consistently kind and giving? If not, why not?

A few hours ago I watched as Glenn's casket was lowered into the ground. I thought about the fact that someday my body will be in such a casket. For me, this isn't a scary or morose thought, though I hope it won't happen for many years. But the fact that my life on this earth will come to an end is something I need to remember. It helps me make sure I'm living each day by faith in Christ. And it encourages me to renew my commitment to living each day to the fullest, making love my highest priority.

So, one of the unexpected privileges of being a pastor includes, not only being able to care for people in their time of loss, but also being reminded again and again of what really counts in life. This makes me want to focus my pastoral energies more and more on the important stuff, and somehow find a way to let the other stuff get less attention. But, this, in turn, raises once again the whole issues of expectations for a pastor. I'll have more to say about this tomorrow.

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Pastoral Expectations and Pastoral Pressure: Further Reflections
Part 5 of the series: Unintended Lessons from Ted Haggard
Posted for Thursday, November 16, 2006

Two posts ago I quoted from two Christian leaders who were reflecting on the Ted Haggard debacle. One of these, James P. Wind, president of the ecumenical Alban Institute, connected this sad situation with the high expectations placed upon clergy today. "This is one of the greatest points of pain in the church, the expectations we attach to ministers," Wind said. H.B. London Jr., from the conservative Focus on the Family, expressed similar thoughts: "There's no way to know the pressure that most pastors are under just simply because the clock never stops running and the day never runs out, and unrealistic expectations seem to accompany the role of the servant pastor." London, who has been working with pastors for many years, added, "I used to try to preach a lot about balance and how to have balance [but] I'm not sure that's even possible anymore." Pastors, therefore, "just have to make the most of what we can."

As a pastor, when I read things like this I have a mix of feelings. On the one hand I feel relieved. I realize that when I feel the pressure and pain of the unquenchable expectations of my congregation, I'm not alone. I'm encouraged to know that my experience is like that of many if not most pastors because it suggests that I'm not the sole source of the problem. On the other hand, I feel discouraged, because if the problem of "unrealistic expectations" is as widespread as claimed by Wind and London, then it seems unlikely that I'll ever be able to solve it or escape from it. And if this is true, then at some point I have to decide whether I'm simply going to live with people's disappointment in me when I fail to meet their expectations, or decide to do something else in service to the Lord besides being a parish pastor.

But I am not quite as resigned as H.B. London seems to be, though I would concur with his recognition of the problem of pastoral pressure connected to expectations for pastors. One of the hardest things I have dealt with in my ministry–and continue to deal with–is people's unhappiness in me when I don't live up to their expectations. This is especially true when I believe that what they expect is unreasonable, or even impossible for an ordinary mortal. (Actually, in many places Jesus Himself disappointed people when He didn't live up to their expectations for Him!)

For example, most folks in my congregation expect me to preach biblically-solid, well-planned, spiritually-engaging sermons. I think this is a fair expectation, one I have for myself, in fact. But this expectation is inconsistent with what some people also want in terms of my pastoral availability. Some folks just don't realize how much time and emotional/spiritual effort this requires, especially if one is preaching to the same congregation (more or less) for many years in a row. A truly good sermon demands hours of study, reflection, prayer, organization, illustration gathering, writing, etc. etc. Dr. Lloyd Ogilvie, my mentor, former Chaplain of the U.S. Senate, one of the finest preachers in America, and the founder of the new Lloyd John Ogilvie Institute of Preaching at Fuller Theological Seminary, has said that a preacher needs one hour of preparation for every minute of preaching. He may well be right about this, though I think I can do well with a bit less time. But most people who appreciate a good sermon have no idea of how much time is required to prepare one. And not just quantity time, but quality time of quiet and prayer, time that isn't interrupted every other minute by phone calls, e-mails, and drop-in visitors. Thus folks tend to expect the preaching pastor to have much more time for other kinds of ministry than preaching pastors actually have if they're going to be any good at preaching.

I've said before that, though I recognize the problems associated with pastoral expectations and the pressure they produce, I'm not willing to give up trying to solve some of these problems. If a pastor is willing, and if a church (especially the leadership) is willing, then progress can be made on these issues, I believe. At least that has been my experience in the past, and it continues to be my hope. I want to offer some suggestions both for pastors and for churches. I'll begin with pastors, though what I'm saying here would be worth reading for anybody who cares about pastors. I'll get to churches a bit later. Suggestions for Pastors
		Dr. Lloyd Ogilvie preaching up a storm

Suggestion #1: Acknowledge that you have a problem with congregational expectations.

When I was a younger pastor, I wanted to do everything right. And part of doing everything right included being in control, being able to handle every challenge. I thought that if I just worked hard enough and smart enough, if I prayed long enough and faithfully enough, that I'd be able to fulfill the expectations of my congregation. This idealistic course was leading me straight toward burnout, if not depression.

Today, I still want to do everything right. I still want to please every single member of my congregation. I still feel the impact of one critical word as if it were equal to a hundred positive words. But I am now able to admit to myself that I have a problem with congregational expectations. It's almost like I've needed to take the first step of a twelve-step program for pastors: I admitted I was powerless over congregational expectations–that my life had become unmanageable.

I've been helped in this process by the wisdom of more mature pastors, people like James Wind and H.B. London. Several years ago a retired pastor, one who is a highly-regarded national leader, said to me, "I don't know how you do it. People today want everything from a pastor. I don't think I could make it in today's church." His honesty helped me to say to myself, "Yes, this is really hard for me too. I feel the pressure of people's expectations all the time. And sometimes I feel completely overwhelmed."

Suggestion #2: Find a safe place where you can unpack your experiences and your feelings, a place to get at "your stuff."

Once you realize that you've got a problem with congregational expectations, you need a safe place to talk about it. Yes, by all means make this a matter of prayer, the ultimate "Safe Place." But I believe every pastor needs at least one more context in which complete honesty is possible. In most cases this will not be with members of your own church, by the way. You need a place where you can say, "Today I feel like quitting my job" without the other person worrying about how this might impact them.

Safe places might include: a covenant group of pastors; a relationship with a therapist; a prayer partnership with at least one other wise Christian, perhaps a more mature pastor; a relationship with a spiritual director. One advantage in seeing a trained counselor or spiritual director is that this person might help you discover the roots of some of your emotional reactions to other people's expectations. To cite a personal example, my father loved me very much, but didn't express his appreciation of me in words. This left a hole in my psyche. So when a person, especially someone who feels like my father, is disappointed in me because I didn't measure up to his expectations, this can pierce my soul. Knowing my vulnerability and where it comes from doesn't protect me against the pain of such things, but it does help me deal with this pain in a healthy manner, and not simply vow to work longer and harder to fulfill someone's unrealistic expectations.

I'm going to sign off for now. In my next post in this series I'll add a few other suggestions for pastors.

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Pastoral Expectations and Pastoral Pressure:
Suggestions for Pastors (continued)
Part 6 of the series: Unintended Lessons from Ted Haggard
Posted for Monday, November 20, 2006

In my last post in this series, I began offering some suggestions for pastors who are wrestling the problem of pressure that comes from congregational expectations. My first two suggestions were:

Suggestion #1: Acknowledge that you have a problem with congregational expectations.

Suggestion #2: Find a safe place where you can unpack your experiences and your feelings, a place to get at "your stuff."

Today I'll put up a few more suggestions.

Suggestion #3: Talk about the issue of expectations with trusted lay leaders in your church.

I'll be the first to admit that I don’t always take my own advice here. There have been times when I have kept my feelings of discouragement and exhaustion to myself. But I have also known how good it feels and how helpful it can be to open up with trusted lay leaders in my church. In the best case scenario, at least some of these leaders will be on the official "board" of the church (elders, trustees, deacons, or whatever). And, to be sure, at some point the board will have to work with you on the whole question of expectations. But I'd encourage you to begin with a few (perhaps just one) lay leaders whose wisdom you trust, and who can also be counted on to keep confidence. When I have done this in the past, it has been quite helpful. Now I have sometimes had to hear hard things from the leaders with whom I have opened up, things about my own shortcomings. That's why I use the adjective "trusted" in describing the leaders with whom to be honest. You need to share with people you can trust.

By the way, I'm not suggesting that these lay leaders will constitute the "safe place" where you can open up completely. But they can offer perspective that will be helpful to you.

Suggestion #4: Make sure to keep your most important relationships strong and healthy.

When a pastor is feeling pressured, it's tempting for that pastor to work harder and longer. Often that means that he or she has less time for family and close friends. This generally makes matters worse, rather than better, because we derive strength, health, and wisdom from our primary relationships. On the positive side, there have been times when I've had a hard day at work and have come home to my family without much to offer. But then I started playing a game with my son, and before long I was laughing, enjoying myself in a truly restorative way. If you're married, then make doubly sure (triply sure? quadruply sure!) that your marriage is strong and healthy. In my life, there is nothing that has been more helpful to me in stressful times than the love and support of my wife. Of course this also protects me from the sorts of temptations that sometimes snare overworked and over-pressured pastors.

Suggestion #5: Be sure to take time away from church on a weekly basis, and extended time away from work on a regular basis.

Most pastors I know have a designated "day off." Often it's Monday, a day to recover from the demands of Sunday. Most pastors I know try hard to protect this day, though quite a few end up working a good part of it. Now when real emergencies come along a pastor needs to interrupt a day off. Last week, for example, I spent a good chunk of my Monday doing a memorial service. That was absolutely the right thing for me to do. But too often we pastors let our work flow into the day that serves as our personal Sabbath, and this isn't healthy or right. (A couple of years ago I even stopped looking at e-mail on my day off. It felt strange to do this, but it was essential to my getting the rest I needed.)

In addition to a regular day off, pastors need to take time away from church for vacation and study. (Actually, all people need vacation time to maintain personal health.) The precise configuration of vacations will vary. But all of us need to get away from church for substantial chunks of time. I've found that if I take only a week away at a time, I really don't decompress adequately. Two weeks helps me to get a true break from work. Three weeks is ideal for a genuine, renewing vacation, but I'm not always able to get away for that long.
		Activites like rafting down the Salmon River in Idaho keep me healthy and happy and ready to face the challenges of pastoral life. My family and I are in the second and third rows.

I'm pleased to see that more and more churches have approved sabbatical policies for their pastors. My church was on the cutting edge of this, and I am personally grateful. I also think the leaders who came up with our policy exercised a lot of wisdom. I earn a three-month sabbatical for every seven years of work. So far I've taken two sabbaticals during my 15 and a half years at pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church. I believe, to tell you the truth, that these breaks have helped me to stay on for so many years. They've refreshed my soul, strengthened my mind, renewed my body, and enriched my family life. My sabbaticals have also given the church a break from me, which has been good for the congregation.

I have two more suggestions for pastors, but I'll save them for tomorrow's post.

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Pastoral Expectations and Pastoral Pressure:
Suggestions for Pastors (Section C)
Part 7 of the series: Unintended Lessons from Ted Haggard
Posted for Tuesday, November 21, 2006

In recent posts I've been offering some suggestions for pastors who are struggling to deal with the diverse and often inconsistent expectations of their congregations. So far I've put up five:

Suggestion #1: Acknowledge that you have a problem with congregational expectations.

Suggestion #2: Find a safe place where you can unpack your experiences and your feelings, a place to get at "your stuff."

Suggestion #3: Talk about the issue of expectations with trusted lay leaders in your church.

Suggestion #4: Make sure to keep your most important relationships strong and healthy.

Suggestion #5: Be sure to take time away from church on a weekly basis, and extended time away from work on a regular basis.

Here are my last two suggestions for pastors: