Growing up as a pastor’s kid gave me a front row seat to the challenges of ministry. Many times, church members would criticize my dad, and even our family, in wildly unfair ways. I marveled at my father’s composure. He was no door mat, but he would always respond calmly and in a Christlike manner. But even he got worn down by it. At more than one point, he considered quitting.
Now that I’m older, I know that what he faced isn’t unique. It’s par for the course for ministry leaders. You face criticism, and much of it is unfair. So, what’s a pastor to do? There’s the oft-heard advice to grow thicker skin. But Pastor Ike Miller disagrees. He offers a counterintuitive take.
“However tempting it may seem, the secret to dealing with criticism as pastors isn’t to avoid it or hear less of it. The secret to handling criticism well is to create channels and practices that allow for more of it, but in healthier ways.”
Read: Pastors Don’t Need Thicker Skin.
For a more comprehensive look at the topic, check out our Overcoming Criticism Assessment Pack. This download will help you assess the criticism you receive and evaluate how you can--or should--respond to it.
