Kerrick Thomas here – Executive Pastor at The Journey Church. Nelson’s on vacation this week, so I’m writing a couple of guest blog posts for you about mastering the relationship between the Lead Pastor and the Executive (or Associate) Pastor:
For all of you Lead Pastors out there…have you ever looked at your Executive or Associate Pastor and said to them, “We need to get on the same page!”
And did your second in command give you a look as if to say, “And what page would that be? I didn’t know we had a page. That would have been helpful to know!”
In my years of coaching Executive and Associate Pastors in growing their leadership capacity and in becoming experts in the 8 systems of the church – one of the biggest frustrations I’ve found from both Executive Pastors (XP’s) and Lead Pastors is that they don’t always share the same vision. They are not always headed in the same direction.
And this can lead to a lot of frustration!
I really believe that if there is one relationship on your staff where the leaders need to think, step and speak in unison – it’s the relationship between the Lead Pastor and the XP/Associate Pastor.
Here are 4 BIG reasons why:
(1) Besides the Lead Pastor, the Executive Pastor is the only other staff member responsible for having a church-wide focus. While most staff focus on their specific area of ministry – the Lead Pastor has an indispensible comrade in arms when it comes to an XP who has a church-wide view that is in unison with the Lead Pastor…and not just a ministry specific view or a differing church-wide view.
Why is this a big deal? As you try to implement, evaluate and improve the 8 Church Systems in your church – the Lead Pastor needs someone who “is on the same page” and can carry the vision into all 8 areas of the church.
(2) The XP/Associate Pastor represents the Lead Pastor’s ideas and vision to the staff and the congregation many times when the Lead Pastor is not there. Although not the primary vision-caster for the church – he or she is an important secondary sharer to the staff and key leaders in the church.
It’s a given that you need someone who will do that faithfully, honestly and selflessly. But if the XP doesn’t understand the direction the Lead Pastor is going – or doesn’t buy into it completely – the Associate Pastor will never be able to be a good spokesperson for the vision.
(3) Just as an important role of the XP is to help communicate the Lead Pastor’s vision to the staff, leaders and church… an equally important role is to communicate to the Lead Pastor what is going on with the staff and with people and leaders in the church.
A good XP is on the “same page” with the Lead Pastor so much so that he or she learns what the Lead Pastor needs to know and when. They make sure the Lead Pastor is never surprised or put in a bad situation. They know when the Lead Pastor needs to make the decision and when it’s okay for someone else to make the call.
(4) Finally – having the Lead Pastor and the XP on the same page is vitally important so that both individuals can be focusing on the tasks that bring the greatest benefit to the church and to God’s Kingdom.
There are some tasks that only the Lead Pastor can do. There are some tasks that if the Lead Pastor does well will bring the greatest blessing to the church. The role of the XP is to take on the roles that the Lead Pastor does not “have” to do and the roles that would take the Lead Pastor’s focus off of other tasks that bring the greatest benefit to the church.
If the Lead Pastor and XP are on the same page here – a real synergy can begin to form.
Part of my ministry is dedicated to helping Lead Pastors and Executive/Associate Pastors get on “the same page” in ministry and improving the XP/Lead Pastor relationship. And I am passionate about it because I have seen the frustration and lack of results that happen when it’s not there.
That’s why every year I lead an ever-growing Coaching Network just for Executive Pastors and Associate Pastors that focuses on:
- Growing the leadership capacity of XP’s
- Teaching the 8 Systems of the Church from an Executive or Associate Pastor’s perspective
- Getting the XP on the “same page” as the Lead Pastor so that the XP can be a real blessings and boost to the Lead Pastor’s ministry and so that the church can begin to reach its full redemptive potential
If you are an Executive or Associate Pastor – I want to invite you to consider applying for my 2011 Executive Pastor Tele-Coaching Network that begins on January 27, 2011.
You can find out more and apply today here:
http://www.churchleaderinsights.com/coaching/exe.php
AND…if you are a Lead Pastor…and you’re in Nelson’s Senior Pastor Coaching Network or have already been through it…I really believe one of the best gifts you could get for your ministry and for your church is to invest in the leadership of your Executive or Associate Pastor.
Get them up to speed with you. Get them on the same page. Get them in the XP Coaching Network for 2011:
http://www.churchleaderinsights.com/coaching/exe.php
“The Executive Tele-Coaching Network has stretched my faith in Christ, my leadership skills and my relationship with my Lead Pastor. I recommend enrolling in the Executive Tele-Coaching network at the same time when your senior pastor is enrolled in the Senior Pastor Coaching network (if possible) so that you will be able to debrief about each other’s learning’s. The Executive Tele-Coaching Network has provided me with many tools that I began implementing to our new church plant and can be implemented to your established church. I’ve gotten so much out of the network and I recommend it to all Executive Pastors or Associate Pastors. Kerrick Thomas has done a thorough professional job in encouraging us, challenging us and celebrating with us.”
Luis Rivera
Associate Pastor
Crossroads Church – Long Island, New York
I had been studying the church systems for the about a year prior to joining the XP Coaching network and discovered I had all kinds of questions as to how different parts fit together as it tried initiating them at Hope Church. By being in the network, I’ve been able to hear about the systems in the context of my role in the church and have the opportunity to ask questions. Rather than trying to figure it all out alone, the network has been a tremendous resource for me personally as and my church as we implement the church systems.
Matt Sturdevant
Executive Pastor
Hope Church – Forth Worth, TX
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