What Staff Pastors Need From Their Lead Pastors
Based on our conversations and research with pastors across America, here’s what staff pastors of all stripes say they need from their lead pastors. Pastor, why not bookmark this blog on your phone and then plan to take each staff member out for coffee and a conversation that will not only build a world class staff, but world class staff relationships.
1. Be a pastor who leads, not a leader who pastors.
Be a spiritual leader. The church is filled with leaders, but lacking in spiritual leaders. No one knows this more than pastoral staff members who yearn for a leader who is spiritual, whose life and ministry are formed in a spiritual nuclear core, as evidenced in his personal worship, family and relationships, the way he does business, the way he treats people, and, most especially, the way he treats his staff.
“Be a pastor who leads, not a leader who pastors.” Jeff Peterson
2. Respect.
See me not as an employee, but as a minister. Be my leader, not my boss. I acknowledge, with respect and joy that you are the lead and that I am a staff member, but like you, I, too, am called: called by the same God, called to the same mission, and called to the same church. Unlike you, I am called to serve God by supporting you as my leader. I can best do this as you see and treat me as a called colleague.
“Let your ceremonies in courtesy be proper to the dignity of someone’s place.” From Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation, written by French Jesuits in 1595
3. Membership.
Allow me to be a member of your pastoral leadership team. It is my calling to be your hands extended, helping to move God’s mission and your vision ahead. You have called me to lead a specific ministry, but I can and want to do more to help you. I can serve God and you as member of a ministry team you invite to contribute to the imagining of possibilities, the implementation of plans – the execution of your vision in an inspired and interactive round table that gives you the benefit of all our gifts, ideas and energy.
“The only way it is possible to have one mind is to have the mind of God derived from the unity of the Spirit of God, a unity which comes only when believers find the will of God and give themselves unselfishly and unstintingly to its fulfillment.” John Walvoord
4. Example.
Be the person before your staff that you want your staff to be. Do the things you ask your staff to do. Live the life you ask your staff to live. It’s difficult to do for a lead pastor what a lead pastor is not herself willing to do. But when a lead pastor leads by example, I am ready to run through walls for her to move the mission of God and the vision of my pastor forward. Lead by example.
“A good example has twice the value of good advice.” Unknown
5. Mentorship.
Joshua and Caleb saw the spiritual life of their leader, Moses, and it moved them. Moses invited Joshua and Caleb into his spiritual life and it formed them. Moses led God’s people to the Promised Land. Joshua and Caleb led God’s people into the Promised Land: they were able to do so because their pastor had mentored and formed them; he had invested in each one. Help me to serve you well now by mentoring me. Even more, help build me for a lifetime of healthy and effective ministry wherever I serve.
“Great leaders know how to lead leaders.” Kenneth A. Tucker (And great pastors know how to pastor pastors)
6. Communication.
Communicate often and clearly. I have heard of pastoral staffs who did not know the mind, much less the heart, of their senior pastor because communication was not a functional part of their staff culture. Staff meetings were rare or one-directional. Individual staff member meetings were even more rare or only called for when the senior pastor wanted to mete out correction or discpline. Give us a culture where communication and questions and re-communication and clarification are the normal, natural, and happy way we do ministry life together.
“The art of communication is the language of leadership.” James Humes
7. Trust.
Trust me with leadership, always under your supervision, of course. It’s your vision, therefore, ministry needs to be done your way. But when you called me to your staff, this was your statement that you had found the right person to do the right ministry the right way. Trust me and release me to do that ministry. I understand that you will want to meet with me for regular updates for your own awareness, as well as to help guide me, help me and even make good ideas even better ideas.
“Leadership is influence based on trust that you have earned. . . A leader is someone who earns trust, sets a clear standard, and then equips and inspires people to meet that standard.” Urban Meyer
8. Support.
Have my back just as I have yours. Believe in me, be loyal to me. I’d like to know that I have the freedom to make mistakes, and when I do, you will gently correct and instruct me, even as you defend me before others. As a member of your staff, I commit to defend you and your leadership, and to do so with joy. It is my hope that you will help me to stand with you by standing behind me as well.
“Good leaders demand loyalty of those they lead. Great leaders demonstrate loyalty to those they lead.”
9. Resources.
As I work to help further God’s mission and your vision in our church, it will require the right resources: please allow me to have what I need to go where you want me to go with you in ministry: sufficient time, appropriate finances, quality people, and the right tools.
“Technology is nothing. What’s important is that you have a faith in people, that they’re basically good and smart, and if you give them (the right) tools, they’ll do wonderful things with them.” Steve Jobs
10. Appreciation.
“Thank you.” “Well done.” “Great job.” “Really nice work.” “What would I do without you.” These words and words like them, sincerely felt and authentically expressed, are worth more than gold to me, for they tell me that you value me, and that I bring value to what I do as a member of your staff.
“A pat on the back, though only a few vertebrae removed from a kick in the pants, is miles ahead in results.” Unknown
In our next blog in two weeks, we will continue to explore the topic of lead and staff pastors.
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