You’re wired to help the church be effective and get things done, but there are other qualities I notice in the best Executive Pastors.
When I was starting out in full-time ministry more than 20 years ago, if you had told me that I would one day serve as an Executive Pastor of a multi-mega church I would have asked you, “What is an Executive Pastor?”
More and more often now, I’m running into young church leaders that aspire to be an Executive Pastor. I’m fielding more and more questions about what young leaders can do to prepare for the role.
With that in mind, here are a couple of recommendations I’d make to any young church leader who thinks they may serve as an Executive Pastor (XP) one day.
These are some qualities of a great executive pastor—
1. Sober-Mindedness
Understand who you are, come to terms with who you are, and then be who you are.
It’s not uncommon for young church leaders to think big and want something bigger than they’re able to handle sooner than they’re ready for it. It takes a deep well of experience built over time to serve well in the XP role—not just talent.
2. Submission to Authority
In Matthew 8:5-13 the Roman Centurion demonstrates an incredible XP mindset (seriously, click the link and read it). He understands what it’s like to be in authority, so he has no problem submitting to authority.
Great XP’s submit to the authority of the Lead Pastor. They challenge appropriately, lead up, and ultimately understand what it means to both be in authority and under authority at the same time.
Great XP’s submit to the authority of the Lead Pastor. They challenge appropriately, lead up, and ultimately understand what it means to both be in authority and under authority at the same time. Share on X3. An Ability to Recruit, Place & Develop People
The church is ultimately about people development.
The theological term is sanctification, the every day church term is discipleship. Whatever label you want to put on it, great Executive Pastors are great at recruiting the right people, putting them in the right seat to succeed, and developing them.
4. An Excellent Sense of Organizational Alignment
The best XP’s I’ve ever been around have an uncanny sense of alignment. They’re playing chess, not checkers. They’re constantly working and reworking the organizational alignment (staff, finances, facilities, communication, and ministries) of the church so it doesn’t become a lid to growth.
5. An Ability to Fill the Gap Between Vision and Reality
Great Executive Pastors fill the gap between vision and reality.
In other words, they’re strategic in nature. They think “how” are we going to get “there?” But they’re not negative about that “how.” They’re solution-oriented.
6. The Drive to Grow
It takes a heart for theology and a head for business to be a great XP. If you’ve got more of a business background, get some solid theological training. If you have a theological background, go get your MBA.
3 Roles an Executive Pastor Can’t Delegate
Great leadership requires great delegation. That’s the conventional wisdom, right? Great leaders don’t try to do everything themselves. They understand their own strengths and weaknesses, and recognize the value—to their organizations, the people they lead, and themselves—of leveraging the strengths of others.
But to delegate well, you need to find clarity around what not to delegate. Once you understand the duties and responsibilities that must always remain in your hands, you can begin the process of handing everything else off to members of your team.
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