A Pastor’s Daily Struggle as Both Sinner and Saint to Strive for Excellence while Avoiding Perfectionism

Abstract

In a world where pastors are expected to complete an infinite number of tasks and do all of them to the highest degree, these expectations can affect a pastor both mentally and physically. The pressures pastors experience are due in part not because of the many tasks, but rather the souls who are impacted by the tasks. The pastor feels additional stress and pressure because he knows the time of grace for these souls is running out. The expectations and pressures may lead a pastor to perfectionism. The primary goal of this thesis is to reveal what perfectionism is and how it impacts the pastor. It also encourages the pastor as both sinner and saint to wrestle with the daily struggle against perfectionism and to strive for excellence instead. Though this thesis is directed toward the pastor, the information that is spoken of in this thesis can be applied to all called workers. The thesis intends to encourage conversation about the impact of perfectionism on the ministry of pastors, teachers, and staff ministers in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS).