I was afraid to read the list because I might find myself there - I pastor a church of 50 people in a town of 25,000, and have been here for going on 7 years.  I constantly struggle with the wondering why we can’t seem to make progress.

But we are taking a hard look at our 121-year-old church, and seeking God’s face.  And I believe that our best days are yet to come.

The list is actually an affirmation for me, because I see myself much more on the second list - and that gives me hope that God can use me to help this church move on to more impact for the kingdom.

Thanks for posting this, Todd!

Brian

My first thought with the characteristics of an unsuccessful pastor was “embittered”.  I know a few of those.

And my other addition with the “successful” pastor, is “dedicated”.  I’ve known too many and they usually end up embittered, that give up too soon.  Maybe that should be doggedly determined or stubborn. 

I can relate to the friends in seminary thing that have a rough time in a rough church.  But so did we and we took a break and got back in and kept serving.  Several of our friends instead dumped God completely, or just checked out, not even serving in lay capacities.

We all at one time served passionately together.  So, I’m not sure what the deal is. But that’s where the bitter thing came from.  That would be the one common factor in all of them.

And I would say we never went there.  Not that we are more talented or smarter, or whatever, just that we refused to let others influence our relationship with God?

sorry, didn’t finish my comment before sending…

But our churches have coped and adapted , moving beyond the cultural assumption and expectation that a successful pastor is a Man his wife and their 2.5 children.

Tommy,

I agree that a lot of the “church improvement” (Church Growth, Health, Emerging, et al) is written by people with little or no experience in the 100 member, 100+ years family church. It frustrates me too.

The question I started with in reading this thread was “what comes first - the negative characteristics associated with less-successful pastorates or the rough pastorates leading to many of the less desirable characteristics of their pastors?” I’m beginning to think a better question is “How would pastor’s avoid developing bitterness and other charracteristics while pastoring churches that are hard?”

One solution that gets thrown around a lot is to avoid pastoring the “hard” churches. Or drive out all the people whose vision isn’t the same as the one God gave you. I don’t like those solutions. They seem to hinge on a wilingness to throw people away. I recognize that strategic reduction is sometimes necessary, but I don’t think it ought to be a leadership strategy.

I’m more attracted to strategies that help pastor’s avoid basing their self-esteem week in and week out of the attendance numbers.

For me - Sabbath rest helps a lot. Prayer helps a lot. Bible study (apart from sermon prep) helps alot. These might sound simplistic but they have kept me grounded (or more grounded) when things have gone really well, and they help stave off depression when things seem to implode.

Other ideas?

I call shenanigans!!

Just admitting that the sample is small and then preceeding to treat it as if it is groundbreaking work is crazy. All you would need is five additional respodents who are outside of norm for these 22 respondents and you now have a possible 10 point drop on the percentages. It could be that the 22 respondents are anamolies and that the true correlating factor is something else that would only be shown through a proper sample.