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A new nationwide study conducted by the research department of Christianity Today International., dispels some myths about how pastors spend their time. Pastoring is not a one-day-a-week job, that's for sure.

A Longer WeekFor more than eight out of ten pastors, a nine-to-five, 40-hour workweek no longer exists. Typically, pastors start their workday at 8 a.m. and end it at 6:30 p.m. They do that six days a week. The median amount of time pastors spend working each week is 55 hours. When pastors do take a day off, they usually choose Monday.

To check the accuracy of our survey, we conducted a follow-up study. Thirty pastors who participated in the original survey logged their activities for a week. Their journals confirmed the survey results of a typical workweek of 55 hours.

John C. LaRue, Jr., is vice president of research and development for Christianity Today International, in Carol Stream, Illinois. He may be reached by e-mail at yceditor@yourchurch.net. Previous Special Reports can be found online at AOL keyword YC or on the Web at http://www.ChristianityToday.com/cbg/features/report.html.

Buy the rest of this article and get the complete results of the Church Research Report. Download Here.

Copyright © 1998 by the author or Christianity Today International/Leadership Journal.
Click here for reprint information on Leadership Journal.
July/August 1998, Vol. 44, No. 4, Page 80

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