Pastor Chris

Check out my new article in the St. Clair Times about authentic faith.

http://www.thestclairtimes.com/view/full_story/5759893/article-Clergy-Corner--Christians-need-authentic-faith?instance=top_center_featured

I am sharing some helpful information about Facebook and internet privacy from the NY Times. Be careful out there. Pastor Chris

The New York Times featured an article this week by Sarah Perez on the “bold and controversial” privacy changes made by Facebook since December. The article warned Facebook users to check their privacy settings on the popular social network, even if they opted to keep their personalized settings when prompted by Facebook to do so. The article feared many would simply agree to Facebook's recommended settings without understanding the agreement; users may have inadvertently given Facebook the right to publicize their private information on Google and other search engines.

Perez spoke of a critical privacy change related to status updates. She noted that the default setting for permission to view status updates is “Everyone”, not just referring to those on Facebook, but possibly everyone on the Internet depending on your search settings. She also mentioned Facebook's new default settings for your “personal information”—including your interests, activities and favorites—and suggested that many would rather keep those exclusive to “Only Friends” rather than the default “Everyone” or even “Friends of Friends.” To make changes to your privacy settings on Facebook, go to your Profile page, drag the cursor over the Settings menu (top-right), click Privacy Settings, then click Profile Information.

Perez also recommended FB users review their “Search Settings,” which refers to what you allow Google and other search engines to index in your profile. Anything in the list you've checked “Allow” will permit search engines to access any information you've marked as visible by “Everyone.” To edit these preferences, go to your Profile page, drag the cursor over the Settings menu and click Privacy Settings. Then click Search from the list of choices and close the pop-up that appears there.

It's also a good idea to Google your name and your church's name from time to time to stay aware of the information shared on the Web about you and your church—and make changes to your online privacy settings accordingly.

From Sarah Perez, “The 3 Facebook Settings Every User Should Check Now,” The New York Times, 01/20/10

I thought this might lift the veil on what typical pastors do. Have a great week. Pastor Chris

Anyone still think pastors only work one day per week? According to a new study by LifeWay Research, full-time senior pastors tend to work 55 hours or more per week, and 42% work 60 or more hours. When including bi-vocational pastors, part-time senior pastors and volunteer pastors, 35% work at least 60 hours a week, and 30% work 50-59 hours. Half spend 5-14 hours a week preparing sermons, while 9% spend 25 or more with just 7% spending less than 5. 30% of evangelical pastors spend 20 or more hours a week in sermon preparation vs. 20% of mainline pastors. Other time-consuming activities include meetings, handling e-mail or e-correspondence, counseling others, or in hospital, home or witnessing visits. More than 70% of pastors spend up to 5 hours a week in meetings with 15% doing so 10 hours or more a week. 30% spend 20-29 hours a week with their families, and 16% report spending 40 or more hours with them. 52% spend 1-6 hours in prayer each week, and the same percentage spend 2-5 hours in personal devotions unrelated to sermon prep. 14% spend an hour or less in personal devotions. 24% watch TV 10-14 hours each week.

LifeWay Research 12/28/09

The statistics on mainline churches get worse year after year in the US. Now, some evangelical (non-mainline) churches are feeling the heat. What will be the outcome? Here is the report. Pastor Chris

Since the 1950s, mainline churches have fallen from more than 80,000 churches to about 72,000 today. The growth among evangelical and Pentecostal churches since the 1950s, combined with the shrinking of the mainline sector, has diminished mainline churches to just 20% of all Protestant congregations today. In the past 50 years, mainline church membership dropped by more than 25% to roughly 20 million people. Demographics suggest they may be on the precipice of a period of greater decline unless remedial steps are taken. In the past decade, there has been a 22% drop in the percentage of adults attending mainline congregations who have children under 18 living at home. Single adults now represent 39% of all adult attenders. Although young adults (age 25 or younger) are 6% of the national population and those over 60 are 27%, they account for 25% and 35% respectively of adults attending mainline churches. Hispanics and Asians are also significantly underrepresented. Another factor is only 31% believe they have a personal responsibility to discuss their faith with people who have different beliefs. Cumulatively, mainline denominations generate more than $15 billion in donations each year, now averaging $165,000 annually per congregation, but this is expected to decline, one reason being the relative decline in the household incomes of mainline adherents. In addition, educational achievement of mainline congregants has plateaued, now placing the national average mainline household income 2% lower than the national average. Even more worrisome is that mainline volunteerism is down by an alarming 21% since 1998 and adult Sunday school involvement by 17%. And 86% sense God is motivating people to stay connected to Him through different means and experiences than in the past. Perhaps most telling of all, the median age of mainline senior pastors has jumped from 48 to 55 in just 10 years. On average, these pastors stay just four years with a congregation, about half as long as the average among Protestant pastors in non-mainline churches. Equally significant is that 93% of mainline senior pastors consider themselves to be a leader, yet only 12% claim to have the spiritual gift of leadership.

Barna Update 12/7/09