Sometimes I read about it online. Or I hear a story about something from a colleague about working in a coffee shop or...Whatever it is, it may be time to think seriously about the relevance of the pastor's study and the possibility of being officeless. With the promulgation of internet and cellular technology and their marriage in the "crackberry" or i-phone...and the ever-increasing need for an extroverted posture for most congregations, is it now a liability to have the pastor in his/her study all day long?
I'm not certain. There's a balance that should be struck, of course, but there is something to the idea. I have a cell phone and a lap top computer. I can do the vast majority of my "office" work from anywhere. The only work I cannot do technologically is visit people and that takes me out of the office anyway.
Now there can be benefits to the pastor's study. If the church building is used heavily, it may be beneficial for the pastor to be present in the building a certain portion of every day. Certainly a pastor can benefit from drawing a line between his/her work life and home life. A study can help achieve that. But a study is seldom used for pastoral care any longer. And in a very busy building, it may be hard for a pastor to find a place for study, prayer, and sermon preparation. A home office or some other location may be just the place for such work.
I'm going to spend some more time working this out. What are your thoughts?
other posts of note:
The Pope is talking about the love of money. It ain't a good thing.
There's a new book out that addresses the growing economic divide in America. The Boston Globe interviewed the authors.
William Brosend wants you to know that there is no "I" in preach.
Sometimes I read about it online. Or I hear a story about something from a colleague about working in a coffee shop or...Whatever it is, it may be time to think seriously about the relevance of the pastor's study and the possibility of being officeless. With the promulgation of internet and cellular technology and their marriage in the "crackberry" or i-phone...and the ever-increasing need for an extroverted posture for most congregations, is it now a liability to have the pastor in his/her study all day long?
I'm not certain. There's a balance that should be struck, of course, but there is something to the idea. I have a cell phone and a lap top computer. I can do the vast majority of my "office" work from anywhere. The only work I cannot do technologically is visit people and that takes me out of the office anyway.
Now there can be benefits to the pastor's study. If the church building is used heavily, it may be beneficial for the pastor to be present in the building a certain portion of every day. Certainly a pastor can benefit from drawing a line between his/her work life and home life. A study can help achieve that. But a study is seldom used for pastoral care any longer. And in a very busy building, it may be hard for a pastor to find a place for study, prayer, and sermon preparation. A home office or some other location may be just the place for such work.
I'm going to spend some more time working this out. What are your thoughts?
other posts of note:
The Pope is talking about the love of money. It ain't a good thing.
There's a new book out that addresses the growing economic divide in America. The Boston Globe interviewed the authors.
William Brosend wants you to know that there is no "I" in preach. 
