This is Kerrick Thomas – Executive Pastor at The Journey.  Nelson asked me to share this recent question and my answer about the role of an Executive Pastor:

Q: Would it be possible to send me your Staff Expectation Sheet for your position (Executive Pastor). I’m working on that right now with my two executive staff members and it would be very helpful.

A: We don’t have a specific position description for me, because I sort of grew into this role instead of being hired into a pre-existing position.

An Executive Pastor’s position description will vary from church to church depending on the type of church and the relative strengths of both that person and the lead pastor.

Some questions to consider:

1) What are your strengths? What responsibilities that you now carry would you delegate to the new XP?  Do you need someone that can implement and create strategies for the big ideas you have?  An administrator?

2) Are you looking for an XP of ministry (leads staff and oversees different ministry areas) or an XP of finances or both? I serve in some of both – although recently I have moved out of financial more and am just there in more of an oversight role rather than hands on every day.

3) Do you want someone to be a teacher? I serve as the 2nd teacher after Nelson.  Do you need someone to fill that role and to be a #2 to the lead guy so that he can help shoulder some of what to this point have been lead pastor responsibilities?

4) Does he need to have a pastors heart (counseling/marriage/public) or be a behind the scenes administrator?

An XP can look different depending on what your needs are and what your strengths are.  You want someone who will complement your strengths, make your job easier so you can focus on what is most important for you to focus on and who is comfortable speaking his mind and is equally comfortable if he speaks his mind but you go in a different direction.

These are some of the questions I would ask myself as I filled the role and I would look for someone who fits.  Don’t use someone else’s position description if they are looking for a different type of person.

I hope this helps!

Kerrick

P.S. For help in setting up your church’s policies and structures, consider investing in The Journey Church’s Policy Manual, available here:
https://nelsonsearcy.infusionsoft.com/cart/store.jsp?view=4&i=p109&navicat=33

© Nelson Searcy. All Rights Reserved.

About Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy is an experienced church growth strategist, pastor, church planter and coach, consulting with churches around the world. As founder of Church Leader Insights and the Renegade Pastors Network, he has personally trained more than 3,500 church leaders in over 45 denominations through live events, seminars and monthly coaching. Nelson is also the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.” He is the author of over 100 church growth resources and 18+ books, including The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life, Ministry and The Difference Maker: Using Your Everyday Life for Eternal Impact, and At the Cross with the People Who Were There. He and his wife, Kelley, have one son, Alexander.