Back in 1992, a person came up with the idea of setting aside the second Sunday in October as Clergy Appreciation Sunday. That eventually moved into “making” October Clergy Appreciation Month or Pastor Appreciation Month. Apparently, the creator said “if there is a day that celebrates groundhogs – why not a day to celebrate clergy?”.

 

 

Well I don’t know how I feel about my DH being equated to a groundhog – but, ok.

 

This has always been an awkward day/month in our lives.

 

Back in October of 1992, we were serving a church in Ohio.  We were also in the throws of resigning from that church. My husband was making a statement about what was right and wrong. What was Christian behavior and what was not.  Telling the world, that he believed in doing what scripture said, not what a person said.  So it was awkward.  There were folks who didn’t appreciate us.  In fact these folks, really didn’t like us.  It becomes obvious how disliked you are when people send you “anonymous” notes and letters telling you how to live your life but leave their lifestyle alone.  But, there were also people who loved us.  They believed that what we had stood for was the correct direction. They supported us – so they did something special for us to commemorate Pastor Appreciation Sunday.  We appreciated it, but it was SOOOOO…. awkward.

 

As we moved from that congregation to the next – this “holiday” didn’t seem to have made itself known to our folks.  In fact, to this day, 23 years later, this “holiday” has not really ever been mentioned.  To be fair, a few folks in the beginning sent a card, and those were greatly appreciated.  But for the most part, as our pastoral family friends shared their special dinners and gifts through social media, we remained silent and watched from afar.

 

I am not sharing this to shame any congregation that we have served.  I apologize in advance if I hurt your feelings.  This is not about the church – it is about the Pastor. I share it so that you can take action in your life towards a person that has impacted you.  I share it because it is a spot of hurt for my DH.  

 

I know this is true, because yesterday, an elderly Anglican Priest friend of my hubby’s treated us to a dinner at a local Orthodox church.  We had such a wonderful time, meeting new folks at our table, enjoying the fabulous meal, strolling through the bake and book sale, and then touring the beautiful cathedral and hearing the history of this branch of brothers and sisters in Christ. After we thanked him and returned home, my DH and I continued to visit about what a treat it had been to be invited, have our lunch paid for and to just enjoy the company of this gentleman. As our conversation was concluding, my guy said to me “well that will be our Pastor Appreciation this year”.

 

He NEVER complains about the shortcomings of the pastoral ministry. At least not out loud.However, this one statement told me that there was some pain from years of feeling that perhaps his role in people’s lives had not been appreciated.  At least not in a way that corporately they would come together and honor him. He is not self seeking on any level, and this small statement that he made, just broke my heart.

 

So – if you attend a church – please stop and take the time to let your “pastor” know of something specific that you appreciate about their service to you and to your congregation.  Take the time to let them know that they make a specific difference in your life. Let them know that what they do is important and why it is important.  It is a lonely road being in the pastoral ministry and a very thankless job. Sometimes, all your clergy needs to continue to minister is to simply be shown that what they do has made a difference in your life.