Pastors and businesspeople: Bridging the gap their members in hospital. Through the visits they could When businesspeople have a tough decision to make, see what their members do during the week, and get a how often do they go to their pastors? firsthand perspective on some of the tough decisions busiAlmost never. nesspeople have to make — hiring and firing, expansion, In a study done a few years ago, businesspeople dealing with unions, etc. ranked clergy ninth — behind “no one” — when asked Likewise, businesspeople could take time to hear how whom they consult in making decisions about business. a pastor has to juggle various interests and personalities When the chair of the business department at a to reach a decision in the church, how carefully they have Christian college conducted a similar survey, he found that to weigh what they say on Sunday morning, and how only 9.4 percent of the businesspeople in his community they struggle with the enormous expectations that others would consult their pastors in dealing with financial difplace on them. ficulties. Seminaries can play a role, too. Just as they teach pro“That says something about our relationship to the spective pastors how to make hospital visits, they could church,” he wrote. “It also says something about the help them learn the importance of workplace visits. Just church’s relationship to business.” as they teach liturgies for weddings and funerals, they Now, to be fair, not all business decisions require a call could teach liturgies to commission Christian teachers, to a pastor. But still, the fact that clergy register so low on plumbers, lawyers and other people in the workplace. the list of who to call doesn’t bode well for the church — Maybe then pastors can move ahead of “no one” on and maybe not for Christian businesspeople, either. the list of whom businesspeople consult when making a Why so little contact between clergy and businessdecision. — John Longhurst people? One reason is that businesspeople may be reluctant to talk on Monday to someone who was preaching on Sunday about the evils of money, materialism and consumerism. Why ask advice from someone who seemingly has nothing good to say about money or spending it? Another reason may be that the only time some businesspeople expect to hear from their pastors is at budget time — money is the root of all evil until the annual fundraising campaign kicks in. An old adage about Christians and business goes: “If possible, avoid getting into business; but if you do get into business, avoid making lots of money; but if you end up making a lot of money, the church sure needs it.” Finally, pastors and businesspeople may have different ways of viewing the world. For example, businesspeople prefer practical measurements such as profit and loss, while pastors may talk about “kingdom values.” Pastors are more comfortable with process and consultation, while businesspeople often have to make quick decisions with a minimum of discussion. Pastors may describe justice for the poor in terms of redistribution of wealth, while a businessperson may talk of it in terms of wealth creation “Follow your heart and passion and find a way to contribute to the — jobs and improved economic opportunities. world beyond simply making money. Truly serving others the way How can pastors and businesspeople bridge you want to be treated is much more fulfilling than simply making this gap? One way would be for pastors to visit money. Just making money is boring.” — Dan Price, co-founder their members’ workplaces, just as they visit and CEO of Gravity Payments and winner of the 2010 Small Busi-
Advice to aspiring entrepreneurs
ness Association’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year award The Marketplace March April 2011
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