Climbing the Ecclesiastical Ladder of Success: Do you want to be a REAL Pastor?

Orginally published on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 at 1:08 PM
by Todd Rhoades

“When are you going to be a pastor?” After serving for 12 years in three different churches as a youth pastor, I have heard that question more times than I can count. It comes in many forms and is phrased in many ways. You’re going to make a great pastor one day! When are you going to get your own church? After preaching one day, I even had someone come up to me and say Why are we wasting you on the youth?

I have no doubt that the people making these comments meant them as a compliment.  They had the best intentions and did not mean to be offensive.  But, the way they came across is a lot like someone asking an overweight woman when she is going to have her baby. 

I used to get angry when I was asked these things.  I used to become defensive.  I tried to explain to people why their questions were off-base.  Then I became resigned to the fact that my defenses and explanations were not going to change these perceptions.  So, I would just smile and say thank you.  I have now come to the conclusion that both of these reactions are wrong.

There are many churches that value their youth pastors.  They treat them fairly and as equal members of a pastoral staff.  I am fortunate to be in just such a place.  But, then there are churches where the youth pastor is always the low man on the totem pole.  No matter how long they have been there, no matter how effective their ministry is, they are always viewed as a junior pastor of sorts.  I have been in this situation as well.  There is a third category that applies to both types of churches.  Regardless of where a youth pastor serves or how things run in the church office, there is ALWAYS the perception among many people in the church that their youth pastor is only passing through, only getting experience and learning the ropes.  One day, they will move up the ladder.  When they put in enough time, they will become a REAL pastor.

Why is this perception out there?  Why is the youth ministry position viewed as a training ground for young, unseasoned pastors – an entry-level position?  I believe there are several reasons for this perception and would like to give a few.

#1 We (as in youth pastors) have lied.  We have treated our youth ministries as entry-level positions.  We have graduated from Bible College or Seminary and taken a youth position just so we could get our foot in the door.  After a few years, when we believe we have gained enough experience, we start looking for a senior pastor position.  We never intended to be a youth pastor, but it was a convenient way to make a name for ourselves and pad our resume.  Our choice of youth ministry was more pragmatism than it was calling.

Please do not misunderstand what I am writing.  I am not at all suggesting that this is descriptive of everyone who has ever moved on from youth ministry to another pastoral position.  I AM suggesting that some of us have been dishonest in the way we get to another ministry position.  In the process, we have helped perpetuate the “junior pastor” mentality.  We have communicated to churches that their view of youth ministry as an entry-level profession is correct and we have reinforced the notion that every youth pastor has designs on “moving up” the ecclesiastical ladder of success.  This is evidenced by the turnover rate of youth pastors in churches today.  Our reputation for moving onto greener pastures is well documented.

#2 Church leaders have lied.  How many times have you heard a church leader talk about how important the youth ministry is?  The youth are the future of the church, they say.  But, how do their actions back up their words?  They hire the youngest, most inexperienced person they can find.  Many times this is purely a financial decision.  Churches have limited budgets and they can only afford so much in salary and benefits, so they go for the young, single, inexperienced youth pastor who they can pay as little as possible.  Sadly, churches who CAN afford to pay a youth pastor well choose to do the same and the old saying, “you get what you pay for” holds true in many of these cases.

Again, I am not at all suggesting that every church is like this or that every young youth pastor is a bad youth pastor, but the continual focus on hiring the cheapest, youngest, least-experienced youth pastor perpetuates the “entry-level” mindset.

With all of that in mind, I want to give two suggestions to help demolish this entry-level idea about youth ministry.

#1 Pragmatism is rarely biblical.  If you are a youth pastor or are looking to become one only because you want to be a senior pastor one day, find another way to get there.  Don’t step on the backs of teenagers to get what you want.  Don’t win their trust, tell them you love them and make them believe you really care if all you really care about is padding your resume so you can someday move onto bigger and better things.  That is tremendously dishonest and equally sinful in my mind.

If God has called you to be a senior pastor, don’t pretend to be called to youth ministry.  There are other avenues for you to gain experience.  If you absolutely must take a youth position, please be honest with the students.  Let them know that you have plans to move on, but in the meantime you will love them and help them the best you can.  I hesitate to even write that last sentence, because it does not help those of us who view youth ministry as a true, lifelong calling.  It perpetuates the entry-level mindset and makes it difficult for many of us to be taken seriously.  But, I understand the need to gain experience.  I only ask that if you must gain your experience through youth ministry that you do it honestly. 

#2 Church leaders, let your yes mean yes and your no mean no.  If you really value the youth in your church then show it.  When you are looking to hire a youth pastor, avoid the temptation to look for a bargain.  Question your youth pastor candidates on their commitment to youth ministry.  Ask them if this is truly their calling or if they are merely biding time until a better offer comes along.  Don’t let them get away from this or worm their way out of answering.  If you value your youth, they deserve a youth pastor who is passionate about youth, who loves youth and who desires to minister to youth.

If you truly believe your teens are valuable, look for a youth pastor who has some experience.  Youth pastors don’t have to be 20-year-olds with gotees in order to be effective.  But, if you find one who has little or no experience, HELP HIM.  Find someone who can be a mentor.  Support him.  Encourage him.

Finally, to those of you who view your youth ministry as a true calling and cannot see yourself doing anything else, God bless you.  You are a rare breed and deserve the same respect, honor and value placed on other pastors in your church.

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Brian Hennon currently serves as the Student Ministries Pastor at Living Water Community Church in Harrisburg, PA. He can be reached at .

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Hi... I'm Todd Rhoades. I'm a Christ-follower, husband, father and I love to connect leaders with other leaders. Hopefully you'll find something here at MMI you like and will return often. If you want, you can find out more about me or follow my every step on Twitter.

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