MondayMorningInsight - Leadership & Encouragement for Church Leaders

Leading from the Second Chair: Executive or Pastor?

Posted by: Todd
Posted on: Mon, November 10, 2008
Viewed 44
(7) comments so far

And you can order Mike’s book Leading from the Second Chair here…

Mike Bonem writes, "It recently occurred to me that the executive pastor title may actually be a cause of stress. (Even if you don’t have the title, others like me may function as an executive pastor without the title, so keep reading.) How can a title cause stress? The tension arises as we try to decide whether to lean toward the executive or the pastor side of our job.

On the executive side, we’re running the operations, managing people, and making things happen. When there’s a financial shortfall, we’re figuring out where to cut. When a staff member under-performs, we’re giving clear feedback or sometimes letting someone go. When a new ministry is being launched, we’re thinking through the details that will enable it to succeed. And if we’re not careful, it will feel like we’re running a business rather than a Kingdom-minded enterprise.

On the pastor side, we’re caring for people or teaching God’s Word or “equipping the saints” to serve in areas that fit their gifts and passions. In a church that is large enough to have an executive pastor, there are endless opportunities to jump in and “do” ministry. And if we’re not careful, we may fill our schedules with these ministries, only to miss the more strategic opportunities that will help the entire organization function more effectively...

Comments

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Rick White on Mon, November 10, 2008

Having never read this book, I can’t comment on the book itself. However, I’ve always believed unless this guy was a called pastor first, he’s going to always struggle within the tension of this role OR he’s going to operate more like a business executive to the detriment of the staff.

I can bring the resources and training to the table to help an XP become a better executive or manager…but I can’t give a great executive or manager a “calling” to be a pastor. There’s a huge difference.

Where tension exists, we should lead as a pastor first. That should be our calling. The executive part is simply our role within the church. You can divorce the executive from the pastor, but it would be a travesty to divorce the pastor from the executive.
Randy Ehle on Mon, November 10, 2008

There is certainly a danger with the title “executive pastor”, but I don’t think the role itself is particularly dangerous. The job of running a local church is there, whether there is an XP or not. A lot of people need to get off their high horses about “the church is not a business” and realize that the church has always had the task of managing business-like components. Hey, even the disciples had a treasurer, and the apostles later appointed deacons to manage some of the day-to-day affairs that would have taken them away from their chief ministries of prayer and preaching.

Rick says that an XP needs to be “a called pastor first”, and I would agree with that. That doesn’t mean (nor did he suggest this) that one has to BE a pastor first. There are many people having successful careers in the business world who nonetheless are pastoral at heart, and whom God has called to be pastors. (Very likely, they are already “pastoring” both within the church and in their businesses.) These are the ones who ought to be considered for the role of XP. Yes, you can train a pastor to be more effective in the management and “executive” realms, but I wouldn’t force that any more than I would put a non-pastoral businessperson into an XP role.

FYI - for those unfamiliar with it, I recommend the site, http://www.xpastor.org. Great resources!
Rick White on Mon, November 10, 2008

I would agree with your comments Randy with one quick clarification. I make a clear distinction between one’s call as a pastor and one’s vocation…which sometimes is working for a church and sometimes working in the corporate sector, etc.

Thus, when I speak of “calling” I’m never talking about someone that’s working for a church necessarily. This is an artificial marriage (one’s calling and working vocationally for a church) that does not need to be made…and in my opinion, has been damaging to many living out their call faithfully.
Dan Smith on Mon, November 10, 2008

Mike,

Thanks for the post. I, too, feel this tension on a regular basis. Although, My experience in the pastor role and education in the executive role make for a great fit for me. This tension is something that I understand and expect. The biggest challenge of balance I face is that of my “doing” hat and my “equipping” hat.

Now for the tension… let me tell you how it is minimized for me:

1. I work with a Lead pastor who lets me lead. He trusts me to do the work for which I have been hired. Plus we are great friends and we both own the vision of our church. And I get it that my job is to support his work as lead pastor.

2. I lead a great staff who submit to my authority. Plus I trust them to do their jobs. Did I mention we are great friends? We take our responsilibity very seriously, but we don’t take ourselves very seriously. We have learned how to have illegitimate amounts of fun serving God and serving/leading people.

3. We serve in a church community that embraces the Biblical philosophy of an equipping culture. We really believe is Eph 4:11-13. We know we are not doing our work alone.

4. Finally, I get it that my calling is to the “second chair”. I do not aspire to a “higher” chair of leadership. God has gifted and called me to this role and I embrace it with my whole heart.
Randy Ehle on Mon, November 10, 2008

Rick, thanks for the clarification. I think I understood that, but my comments may not have made my understanding clear! (Is that clear? Oh well.)

Dan, I think you have captured extremely well the role of an XP. That’s very helpful for me, as it is a role I am trying to get into now after 14 years in business. (Connections welcome!)
ipod transfer on Mon, November 10, 2008

God has gifted and called me ,too0
jack on Tue, November 11, 2008

Really Good Question! I am a new “executive pastor” (about a year in) after years of youth/assistant pastor tasks. First off, if you haven’t read the book, I would highly suggest it. It brought alot of clarity for me. (I’ll skip the book report here). On the spiritual side, I think the challenge is to not become a full time pastor and part time Christian (quote stolen from Craig Groechel). That is that challenge for anyone in ft ministry at any position. For me, and most of the exec. pastors I have connected with, this is the key to keeping it all in perspective.

The other key to this position is that it is all about relationship. One Exec pastor I followed around for a couple of days (to learn) told me to expect it to take 3 or so years to truly know the lines, expectations, and the gift mix balance that will be most productive between yourself and your senior pastor (then add staff into the mix).

Once again, I highly recommend the book.