Pastor's Secretary

From Bill Easum

There are two schools of thought about whether or not the pastor's secretary should be a member of the church.  I don't think they should, but it is probably no big deal.

Turn everything you can over to your secretary.  I mean Everything can you can --  appointment making, opening and classifying your mail, screening your calls, reminding you to be places,  answering as many of the members questions as possible without bothering you.  Mine always tried to find out what they wanted and if  possible answer the questions or pass them off to someone else if someone else could do it.  My secretary also had a list of people that if they called, no matter what I wanted to talk with them wherever I was, even on the golf course or fishing.   I still do this now when I fish inshore.  I carry a phone.  The goal is not to be exclusive but to be  available to do those things that no one else can do.   My secretary also had a list of people I did not want to talk to no matter what, such as salespeople.  They were never ever to get through.  This person could also edit my letters, articles, etc.  I came to learn that I could never look any better than this person decided to make me look. This person freed up more time for me than any other person in the church.  If she/he could do it, I never even attempted.   One more, thing, this person should go out of their way to guard your door.   This person's loyalty  should be to you, not the church.