Tuesday #4 - Hours worked in ministry

I interview Pastor Dave Drury at College Wesleyan Church last week. He said that he does more administrative work in a week than a typical staff pastor or senior pastor. His role is mainly administration, although he does many other things including study and relational ministry. He spends about one hour a day on purely administration work and then one hour a day on email.

On average he spends 3 hours a week on study if he is not preparing for a seminar or preaching. If he is preparing to lead a seminar, he spends about 5-6 hours a week. If he is preaching, he spends 15 hours a week for two weeks before the preaching experience. Weekly he spends about 10 in service prep and attending, leading and participating in the services. And at least one day a month, he will spend the whole day away from the office and spend time alone with God.

Leading meetings is a big part of what he does, so he spends at least 8 hours a week leading group meetings and investing in those people in those meetings. And then he spends about 8 hours a week meeting one on one with people in a relational ministry setting.

I think that as an executive pastor, all these things are important. I believe that Pastor Dave spends most of his time investing in people, whether that is directly or indirectly. I notice that he protects his schedule and his time. This is important because he needs to not get too busy to lose his sense of purpose and not to diminish his effectiveness by burnout.