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Leadership Network recently conducted a survey of 232 pastors of churches with an average weekend worship attendance of at least 2,000. The following ten statements are taken from a full-length report which can be downloaded HERE.
1. They think of themselves more as teachers and directional leaders than as pastors.
Sure, their business cards may say pastor and their congregants may call them Pastor Smith -- but when these leaders are asked which phrase best describes how they see themselves and their role, the phrase "pastor, shepherd or spiritual guide" ranks a distant fourth.
Which words do today's senior leaders resonate with? When presented with nine options, more than 80% select "preacher/teacher." Half choose the term "directional leader," and slightly more than a third select the word "visionary."
2. Preaching tops the list of things they do best.
Jesus spent a lot of time healing people, but only 1% of senior pastors surveyed say visiting members, the sick and shut in is something they personally do best. Only 7% say they're great at converting others to the faith, and only 10% identify pastoral counseling and spiritual direction as an area of significant strength. These results may seem problematic, but with a high value on lay involvement and an average reported staff of 55, it's likely that others at the church excel in these areas.
So where do senior pastors believe their strengths lie? Seventy nine percent say they're best at "preaching" followed by "thinking about and promoting a vision and goals for the future."
3. They haven't always worked in churches.
Although most attended church regularly at the age of 16, 42% of them spent five or more years working in another field before entering the pastorate. The most popular prior career choice? Business. Meanwhile, a third of senior pastors' spouses work both outside the home and outside the church.
4. Being an extrovert isn't mandatory.
Yes, their role demands that they be comfortable standing on a platform and speaking in front of large crowds. But nearly half...
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3) The Foundations of Missional Community (Reggie McNeal)
4) The Dangerous Church in 2020 (Nancy Ortberg)
5) Risk and Failure (Mark Driscoll)
6) Risk and Failure (Craig Groeschel)
7) Risk and Failure (Stacy Spencer)
8) Shaping the Culture--Monkey and the Fish: An Alternative to the Contrarian Way (Dave Gibbons)
9) Missional Community: What is the Church? (Neil Cole)
10) Shaping the Culture: Engaging Culture AND Deepening Your Church (Matt Chandler)
| HIRING the Right Person: |
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Tips by Dan Reiland |
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1. Never hire anyone you would avoid on your day off.
Chemistry is a big deal. Life is short, you need to enjoy the people you spend significant amounts of time with. Give yourself permission to hire and fire with that in mind. Hiring based heavily on chemistry can feel counter-intuitive when you are considering a person of high character and high competence. In other words, not hiring because you don't connect well may seem dumb. It's not. Let me be blunt. If you don't like someone, eventually, over the long haul, both of you will become less effective, (competence). If you then continue to take a paycheck that's about character! I'm not suggesting that you refrain from hiring someone because of a little personality quirk, that's what makes us all human and frankly interesting. I'm talking about basic chemistry... do you like being around the person or not?
Since joining Leadership Network's Missional Renaissance Leadership Community, Pastor Mike Kessler has observed a movement in his congregation from volunteering and invitational events to more concentrated ministry efforts. Case in point is the church's backpack program, which provides students who would otherwise go hungry with weekend meals. The add-on benefits have been unexpected, and it's now clear the program is about more than nutrition.
2) Christ's Church of the Valley, San Dimas, California
Pastor of Encouragement Ron Hall recognizes that the need for healing extends beyond the church walls. This church's flourishing Recovery Ministry offers people both inside and outside of the congregation practical resources, spiritual tools and community to conquer stuggles. With three distinct pastoral care departments, Christ's Church of the Valley cannot help but make waves.
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We asked five pastors to share a current insight about ministry or about something they see God |
doing around them. Click here to read their quotes.
Here are 5 more quotes from guest speakers that have been on The Show – a weekly, 15-minute webcast followed by a live Q&A session.
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"DNA is divine truth, nurturing relationships, apostolic mission." – Neil Cole – June 30, 2009 |
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