Clergy Appreciation Month

Clergy Appreciation Month is the time when congregations honour their clergy and clergy families for the dedication, efforts and blessings they provide. Clergy Appreciation Month happens in the month of October every year. However, it can be held at any time convenient for the church and the congregation. Pastors, ministers and their families live under pressure as they are expected to have ideal families and be role models for their communities. It is believed that the concept of clergy appreciation started with the Apostle Paul when he established the first Christian churches. In 1 Timothy, he wrote the instructions from God to recognise His servants, ‘The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching (1 Timothy 5:17). It has been a long standing practice for centuries that clergy have been recognised, formally and informally by different denominations and churches for their contributions. Focus on the Family, a global Christian ministry dedicated to helping families, named and emphasised Clergy Appreciation Month in 1994.