Should Pastors Announce Their Upcoming Vacation?

Podcast Episode #559

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Pastoral vacations can lead to some disagreements between church members—mainly on whether or not the church should know it’s coming. Today we discuss both sides of the issue.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

• When church members know that a pastor is out of town and won’t be preaching, attendance usually drops.
• When a pastor is on vacation, leaders and members should step up to help with pastoral care needs within the church.
• Announcing you will be on vacation sometimes can leave your home vulnerable to burglaries.
• Some churches require the pastor to announce vacations publicly prior to taking them.

The six perspectives we discuss are:

1. Yes: It is a matter of integrity.
2. No: It will affect attendance negatively.
3. Yes: Members and leaders will pick up the slack.
4. No: It is not safe to announce your home will be vacant.
5. Yes: It can be a reason for prayer.
6. No: Pastors can “announce” it after they return from vacation.

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast

Episode Sponsors

The mission at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. The school offers more than 40 different degree programs, including the new Master of Arts in Church Revitalization in partnership with Church Answers and the Revitalization Network. This 37-hour degree is designed to…