What do you reckon your job is as a pastor?
- Communicating the vision?
- Loving and visiting the people?
- Developing new leaders?
- Teaching the Word?
I’m not going to argue with you whatever your answer is because we all have to come to our own theology of leadership within the local church.
But
It’s highly likely that you spend a lot less of your time doing these “important” things than you would like too. And conversely you probably spend an inordinate amount of time on mundane, energy sapping administrative type work that may or may not be necessary.
So What Should You Do?
You need to put a system in place that frees you up to do what God called you to do.
For me, that system (or, more correctly, methodology) is GTD (Getting Things Done) by David Allen.
What Are The Benefits for Me?
1. I Spend More Time With God
Obviously Pastors should spend regular time with God but we, along with everyone else, struggle when we’re being nickeled and dimed to death with little things.
I recall Bill Hybels saying (though he may have been quoting somebody), that he was “too busy not to pray”. We all know the truth of this. GTD simply makes it easier to make it happen.
2. I Spend More Time With My Wife
Not because I work with her, (as Salvation Army Officers we are actually joint senior pastors), but because when we’re not at work I don’t have to have lots of ministry stuff racing through my head all the time.
3. I Spend More Time With My Kids
Children of Pastors will often tell you that they feel like second class citizens because Dad (and Mum) make sure they look after their flock before their children.
Being so much more organised has allowed me to be intentional about spending time with my kids.
4. I Spend More Time With My Leaders
This is one of the imperatives to my role but used to get a bit lost amongst the myriad of forms and reports that needed completing. Not any more!
5. I Spend More Time Listening
I used to struggle with actually hearing what people had to say. I’m certainly not perfect now, but I am improving.
What used to happen is that my brain would still be processing something else I had going on at the time. I guess it was worried that I’d forget it. But now I have a trusted system (read eProductivity for Lotus Notes) my brain can let that go and concentrate on the person I’m conversing with.
6. People Trust Me More
Does that mean they didn’t trust me before?
Well, in a way, yes. At least, if they asked me to do something they knew there was a good chance I would forget it. Once again, with my trusted system, that is now a rare occurrence.
I challenge you to give GTD a go. Seriously, you may be dubious about it but the proof of the pudding is in the eating! Buy the book. NZ readers go here and overseas readers here. Note both are affiliate links.
Photo credit: jontintinjordan
Tags: Bill Hybels, David Allen, eProductivity, Getting Things Done, GTD, Lotus Notes, Productivity, trusted system
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I've been GTDing for 3 years now and agree with you. It's a vital tool for ministry! To do what you said you would do by when you said you'd do it is important in life and ministry. And to have the time to do the important things is a must! GTD helps…
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