30 in 30: Get Out of the Office

This is part of a blog series that has 30 practical tips for the pastor looking to start or restart well. You can get the entire series as a Kindle book. The landing page will be updated with each new post.

If you couldn’t tell I am not a big proponent of long office hours. All the reasons for long mandated office hours are from a negative or reactionary posture. Controlling, micro managing bosses are never fun to work for. Nor are congregations that like to know you are working and where they can find you at any given moment. They never do this to pass along encouragement.

Besides if you think that ministry is all about spending 9 hours a day in a room by yourself staring at a laptop then you need to go read the book of Acts. On top of being theologically empty working by yourself in the same environment isn’t going to do much for your creativity or team building skills.

The first 30 days is all about setting healthy precedents and habits for your own well being and for the sake of those you serve and serve with. 40 hours a week exclusively in an office is not the pattern to establish.

Working from a coffee shop with headphones on doesn’t really count either. Sure you changed your environment but you are still isolating yourself from those you are called to minister to. Hold meetings outside the office. Meet people for lunch letting them know that you want to get to know them and then avoid talking about ministry.

Don’t become a prisoner of your office.