I am a self-confessed etymology nerd.
I love words and I enjoy reading about their origins with the aim of understanding their different meanings. As we approach Pastor Appreciation Day on Sunday 13th October, I have been toying with the word ‘appreciation’.
‘Appreciation’ derives from the Latin word appretiare (i), which means ‘to estimate the quality of’ something. It entered the English language with this particular meaning via French in around 1600. Within a few decades, it had come to be used with the positive connotation it now has—encouragement. To appreciate something became not simply the act of evaluation, but the valuing of something good.
This was surely the meaning in the minds of those who came up with the idea of Pastor Appreciation Day. They were not merely hoping that people would evaluate their ministers. They wanted people to encourage them.
WHERE IS THE ENCOURAGEMENT?
The historical morphing of a word meaning ‘evaluation’ into a word meaning ‘encouragement’ suggests to me that seventeenth century English speakers must have been a more positive lot than we are today. Modern English speakers, at least those on this side of the Atlantic, have a cultural disposition towards grumbling. Our evaluations often tend more towards criticism than compliments.
Sadly, the church is not exempt from this tendency. Christians are often quicker to see their ministers’ shortcomings than their strengths. I am not talking about abusive or lazy leaders, but faithful ministers who give themselves wholeheartedly to the task of shepherding God’s flock. Leaders should be held to account and godly leaders will seek robust accountability.
But where is the encouragement for those who lead well?
Scripture commands us to appreciate our leaders. The apostle Paul tells us to ‘esteem them very highly in love because of their work’ (1 Thess 5.13a). Esteem them very highly. Not evaluate them very harshly, or, eviscerate them very hastily. Too many ministers are wounded by the unloving words and actions of those they seek to serve. More are discouraged by neglect.
In Living Leadership’s annual survey of the spiritual health of leaders and their spouses this year, we asked about their experience of annual reviews. 47% of ministers who responded to the survey said they do not have an annual review. Most of those who do said it focuses primarily on performance and professional development, without considering the physical and emotional health of the minister and the minister’s family.
It seems that many churches are some way off appreciating their ministers, even in the original, lesser sense of evaluation, let alone the later, fuller sense of the word, encouragement.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Pastor Appreciation Day provides an opportunity to address this problem. Why not ask whether your minister has an evaluation and, if so, whether it goes beyond a performance review to offer support with personal needs?
If you need help to establish a process or to improve upon your existing processes, Living Leadership can assist. Our Leadership Commitments Scheme includes toolkits for evaluations, which can also be purchased as standalone resources. We are also making plans for a 'ministry check up' for Christian leaders in May or June 2025, which will guide them through self-reflection on their growth in relationship to the Lord, as well as their development in ministry skills and wisdom. We'll let everyone on our mailing list know about this as plans unfold, so make sure you sign up if you haven't already.
Formal evaluation for leaders is good if its aim is both accountability under Christ and encouragement in Christ. But you don’t have to wait for a formal evaluation process before you show appreciation for your minister.
My research into the word ‘appreciation’ revealed three meanings, each of which can help us think about to show appreciation for our ministers.
Recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something.
A full understanding of a situation.
Increase in monetary value.
RECOGNISE A MINISTER’S GOOD QUALITIES
First, we can tell our ministers that we recognise and enjoy good qualities in their character, personality, and work. Why not take out a piece of paper or open a Word document now and start to list them? Do this prayerfully, giving thanks as you go. Then form those ideas into sentences of gratitude and encouragement and put them in an email or card to your minister.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE WORK OF YOUR MINISTER
Second, we can try to get a fuller understanding of the work of our ministers and how it impacts them and their families. The best way to do that is to ask them! Why not take your minister for a coffee? Or if that’s not possible, take the minister aside on a Sunday and simply ask how their life is going and how you can pray for them.
MONEY
Third, we can think about money.
A minister’s work does not have a simple monetary value, as the third meaning of ‘appreciation’ might suggest. Some things cannot be valued with a pound sign. Faithful ministers live from a sense of God’s calling, seeking to serve him faithfully and not for personal gain. But we do need to ask whether our ministers are paid at a level that could rightly be described as ‘double honour’ (1 Tim 5.17) If we cannot pay them at a rate we think shows honour, perhaps there are other ways to make their work easier, like additional leave or allowances? Or maybe you could gift them something they might not be able to afford otherwise?
Do you appreciate your minister?
Does your minister know it?
How can you show it?
These are always good questions to ask, but especially on a day marked out as Pastor Appreciation Day.
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