We’ve made the distinction between leadership and management too stark. Are they separate? Yes. Is there much overlap between them? Absolutely. Is there such a thing as a pure leader, one who never manages? Maybe, though I struggle for an example. Is there such a thing as a pastor who never manages? Absolutely not. Let me make a bold statement: If you’re not willing to manage a church, then you’re not qualified to lead a church. Any church leader who would delegate all managerial roles to Read more [...]
Healthy churches have many points of tension. For example, churches grow by adding new believers. New believers are immature (and typically passionate), which means church programming must balance between immature congregants and mature congregants. Most every pastor has experienced the volley: Yes, deeper! No, too deep! This tension is like a taut tightrope; it tugs in both directions. You don’t want it slack. It’s the same with your church. Good church leaders are expert balancers. One of Read more [...]
Shepherding a church comes with plenty of highs and lows. Some days feel like a roller-coaster ride right after eating two pounds of funnel cake. But leading a church isn’t just peaks and valleys. Plateaus exist. Plateaus can last for a long season. In fact, plateaus are more common for most leaders. The highs and lows are simply more memorable—they stand out more. We talk more about them. These plateaus are not necessarily connected to the leader’s emotional state. Though I experience a Read more [...]
On Tuesday my brothers (Art and Jess) and I launched Rainer Publishing. We’re an e-book publishing company with an emphasis on local church health. Our goal is to provide clear and concise books that church leaders and laity will enjoy reading. Here’s a selection of books we’ve published from a group of authors we’re excited to have writing for us. Christology: The Study of Christ by Daniel L. Akin Church Building Programs: When, Why, & How by Bill Couchenour How to Survive Read more [...]
There are as many definitions of a healthy church as there are people who have attempted to define one. The emphasis of church health often falls on numerical growth, but weekly attendance averages are inadequate metrics of health on their own. Doctrine is key, but denominations exist for a reason. Even non-denominational churches cannot (or should not) be atheological. So a wide theological consensus on what is healthy is unlikely. Throw in small groups, mission work, and diversity, among many other Read more [...]
Local churches are like families. Some are healthier than others. All have issues. Unfortunately, many churches are suffering from a serious case of consumerism. The cultural norm of too many congregations has become “How can you serve me?” rather than “How can I serve Christ and others?” But I believe many pastors and church leaders are to blame as much as their flocks. We pastors simply have not done a good job of communicating upfront what we expect of church members. I have a high Read more [...]
I rarely encounter a normal church member. Now don’t misread me. My church is full of everyday folks, but I don’t often interact with them in their normal routines. Like most pastors, I see people more on the highs and lows. Nobody has ever called me and said, “Pastor, I ate oatmeal this morning. Nothing much happened at work. I came home, loved on my family, and watched the evening news. I just thought you might want to know.” Most people don’t call when it’s a normal day. In Read more [...]
Church leaders should love their churches where they are now, not where they wish their congregations could be in the future. That’s a given, or at least should be. But what about the community? Church leaders should love their communities as much as their churches. Granted, some churches are easier to love than others, and some communities are easier to love than others. A calling to a place, however, requires a love for that place. One of the pitfalls of church leadership involves the call Read more [...]
In my previous post, I revealed a critical yet overlooked trait of executive pastors. I will do the same for worship pastors in this post. A good worship pastor knows how to lead artists. Indeed, observing a worship pastor lead a group of artists is a work of art in itself. Worship pastors often get labeled as innovate yet quirky, creative but peculiar. Let’s be honest—many fit the label. But quite frankly, I believe far too many churches squelch the creative passion of artists for the sake Read more [...]
In many churches, the senior pastor leans on the executive pastor more than any other person. The executive pastor position is often paradoxical. Executive pastors feel the tension of submitting as a subordinate to the senior pastor while at the same time leading with a high level of influence. Their roles can change quickly, since they are the ones often tasked with adding structure to the vision of senior pastor. Executive pastors become the operations of the big picture. In this way, executive Read more [...]
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Leading a Whiteboard Session with Your Staff or Church Leaders