Serve them joyfully.
Listen to their stories carefully.
Hear what they are not saying.
Laugh and cry with them.
When they hurt each other, forgive them.
When they hurt you, don’t take it personally.
Affirm good things out loud.
Pray for them and with them.
Preach good news faithfully.
See the big picture, and address it.
Love everyone, in every age group.
Visit people when they are ill or grieving.
Be humble, sharing your own struggles and doubts.
Provide prophetic leadership.
Follow Jesus even if your congregation disagrees.
Say sorry when you make a mistake.
Be a calm and non-judgmental presence.
Encourage everyone to share their gifts and creativity.
Maintain healthy boundaries with them.
Take care of yourself.
Know when it’s time to say good-bye.
Tell them you love them.
[In response to April Yamasaki’s excellent blog post, “22 Ways to Love Your Pastor”http://aprilyamasaki.com/2015/04/20/22-time-tested-ways-to-love-your-pastor/ ]
I am a Mennonite pastor currently teaching theology at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, Ontario. I’ve served congregations in Ontario and most recently, Alberta.