Almost twenty years ago, I began to note that the tenure of a pastor often follows a predictable pattern. Now, almost two decades later, I still see many of the same patterns, though I have refined the categories and time spans a bit.
I fully understand that these categories are not definitive, and there will certainly be exceptions to the rule. Nevertheless, I offer this lifecycle as a guide that I hope will prove useful to both pastors and congregations alike.
Honeymoon: Years 0 to 1
The new pastor is perceived to be the answer to all the needs and the problems of the church. He is often viewed as a hero because he is not his predecessor. Though some of his faults begin to show during this period, he is often given a pass. Expectations are high that he will be molded into the image that each congregant would like to have.
Crisis: Years 1 to 3
It is now apparent that the pastor is fully human. He has not lived up to the precise expectations of many of the members. This phase includes a number of conflicts and struggles. Indeed it is the most common time that pastors choose to leave the church or they are force terminated. This single epoch of a pastoral tenure contributes more to short tenures than any other time.
Realignment: Years 3 to 5
The number of crises begins to abate, though they do not disappear altogether. It is at this time that more and more new members come under the tenure of the new pastor. Some of the dissidents have left the church or the community. There is a realignment of loyalty and expectations of the pastor. Thus he is able to lead more effectively, and began to see some more productive years as pastor of the church.
Growth: Years 5 to 10
Not all pastors have productive and joyous ministries in this period, but many do. It is not unusual for the congregation to begin to appreciate the pastor more and to follow his leadership with greater enthusiasm. Many of the battles have already been fought; and many of the conflicts have been resolved. The pastor and the entire congregation are ready to move forward in more productive ministry for the glory of God.
Mystery: Years 10 and Beyond
There are relatively few pastors and congregations that continue their relationships beyond a period of one decade. Thus any perspective I have of long-term pastorates is inconclusive and limited. I am confident, however, that if we see more and more pastors entering their tenth year of ministry and beyond, we will see more productive and fruitful ministries in local churches across the nation.
The Quest Continues
The topic of pastoral tenure fascinates me. I see significant correlation between ministry effectiveness and longer pastoral tenure, though there are certainly exceptions to the rule. I do hope that we will do a more comprehensive and objective study of this important issue in the future.
What is your perspective of pastoral tenure?
Dr. Rainer,
You hit the nail squarely on the head with this post. I’ve seen the same things you mention happen time and time again….with me…and with other Pastors. It’s strange how this seems to happen this way, although there are rare, very rare, situations where all of this is by-passed.
What do you think about the old saying that I hear a lot of people say, which goes “after a Pastor has been at a church for 5 years, then the church begins to be more like him and his beliefs, mission, personality, passion, etc.?”
David
David –
I think there is much truth to that saying. I believe that much of the change is related to the new members who have joined during the pastor’s tenure. Many will join the church because of something they like about the pastor. After five years in many churches, over half of the attendees will have joined in the current pastor’s tenure. Thus the identity of a majority of the congregants is tied to the current pastor.
Thanks for your comments and for dropping by.
Thanks, Dr. Rainer, for your response. I’ve been at the Church I currently Pastor for about 5 1/2 years now. So, I guess they’re a lot like me….that’s humbling.
David
Thom:
My prespective? Most are ill equiped to what awaits them. Seminary does a fine job in teaching pastors in the finer points of understanding the Bible, how to present the Gospel, etc. But does not prepare these (mostly) men for the many pitfalls that lay before them in the day to day operation of a church organization.
Are we as partioners expecting too much out of our leaders? To an extent yes. But I think the blame really falls to the Seminary system and their lack of preparation of the called.
Dave
I’d suggest that after 10+ years of ministry, it’s reinvention/revolution.
I am a Children’s pastor approaching 20 years at my current church. The senior pastor is also approaching 20 years at the church.
Not only is the congregation very different than when we started, so is the culture. We’ve seen the rise of cell phones, social media, and the computer. September 11 and the current national financial crisis have also changed the culture.
Communication is more visual and immediate. Attention spans are shorter.
We’ve had to reinvent and revolutionize how we’ve done ministry to remain relevant to a new generation that has risen up around us.
It’s easy for pastors who have been in their ministries for a long time to recycle messages without updating. To settle into the traditions that got them there rather than push for growth.
Surviving past the 10th year requires that we grow & change and not sit back on our laurels.
Just my two cents…
I have been struggling with these issues now for a few years seeing myself losing some ground after 16 years in the church I am pastoring right now. I have spent a lot of time in self-examination, examining the ministry here, and looking for some pattern. I came across a brother who has been in the ministry longer than myself and we discussed the realities that you have put into words. He and I used different words, and saw some different elements but not that different. Many denominations avoid the downturn that comes at 5-10 years by moving their pastors. I do not know if this on purpose or is only a natural consequence of moving their people. This older brother told me of a book he had read decades ago that spoke of how a pastor must reinvent himself and his ministry every 5-6 years or they will become irrelevant in the city they are ministering in. Quite insightful. I wish someone would have told me this a long time ago.
I have only known a few men who have successfully made it to over thirty years in one pastorate, I have known more in pastorates that were 10-20 years, and a good number at 10 years.
I have been a pastor since 1983 and have labored in three states and have done many other activities along the way. Now that I have these new insights, I think I would like to write a book on this, but I am pretty busy with reinventing myself and my ministry.
I’m currently in my fourth year as pastor of FBC Hazard, Ky. I came in on the heels of a bad situation so I can completely affirm the proverbial “honeymoon” year. However, we have managed to steer clear of any major controversy or dissention to this point. I think much of that is because I have intentionally not made dramatic changes. We have changed in places where it was needed, but it was slow and methodical. We are seeing new blood infused into the body now and that is beginning to make a positive difference. Your observations are pretty spot on. Actually, the greatest fear folks here have had is that I would leave at the end of three years. Many acutally voiced that concern to me. I’ve had others reluctant to join the church because they thought I wouldn’t proabably be around much longer. I’m afraid we’ve created a conditioned response and expectation that is harmful to our ministry because the door to the pastor’s office is a revolving door. Thanks for all your good work.
Daryl
@ David – Actually more and more pastors are being trained in-house rather than in a seminary. Churches in large number are creating their own school of ministry or some sort of a Bible college so they can train their people in a manner that is more compatible to their ministry. I don’t think it is fair to blame the seminaries for how things have gone.
I will say this as a defense of your position though, many of the seminaries have professors who do not pastor and some who have never pastored a church at all. This makes for limited training ability from those professors since they do not know what it takes to actually be a pastor day in and day out. My better professors are always those who have pastored or are pastoring currently.
That said, far too many people entering ministry simply do not know the realities of ministry. I did not know about this type of life-cycle that Thom is speaking about until this year and I have been pastoring for 28 years. Too many of us have had to learn too much the hard way.
David, Greg, Mark, and Daryl –
Great comments. Thanks for your time.
I would live to see a similar timeline for the life cycle if a church planter
Thom
Very interesting observation. I just passed my 20th year annviversary here at CBC in Winston OR. At this point in my life (at 55 yrs of age) I honestly think I could stay till I retire (hopefully around age 70…although Guidestone suggests maybe I can retire closer to 90!). I do know that in this small community (Winston is abiut 6,000; our ministry area about 15,000; the county in which we live is right at 100,000) I am now the longest tenured pastor of any church of any denomination. That in itself has changed the character of my ministry. I am unofficially the pastor of the town in many ways. My relationship with the church is certainly different than it was 20 yrs ago. Pastoring is radically different than it was 20 yrs ago. The technological and social changes alone have required a constant re-thinking and re-strategizing of how I spend my time and my energy. The broader context of community, city, county, and even state opportunities- not to mention regional denominational responsibilities-require me to try and guard my time for sermon preparation more carefully.
This topic is one I’d like to explore further…but I have a luncheon to attend today; a meeting with some high school staff this afternoon; a hospital visit; a couple of phone calls, oh, and a Wednesday evening prayer mtg and choir rehearsal to prepare for, so…
Later~
Ed –
That sounds like a fascinating project!
This timeline follows my current church to the “T”. I’ve been here 7 years now and every stage we hit almost to the day. I have been on church staff now for nearly 27 years and things don’t seem to get any better. I agree that we must always be looking to grow because ministry is not done the same as it was when I started. The Gospel hasn’t changed, but how we share that Gospel has.
Thanks for Lifeway’s help in our ‘big fight’ after my first year. Seminaries have changed greatly in preparing ministers. It was only about content in the 20 years ago but now it is as much about what to do with the content as the content itself.
Steve –
You make me tired 🙂
John –
Thanks for the input and kind words.
Dr. Rainer,
I am in my 22nd year at BBC in McDonough, Georgia.
You have presented very real and truthful information. Our greatest period of growth was in years 6-14. I was honored to be given an award from you at SBTS for serving a healthy church. Our baptism ratio was 15-1. We failed to provide needed space for growth and we hit the wall.
In my 22nd year we just completed a new facility to enhance SS growth. I am in uncharted waters but still feel the Lord’s call to BBC. Our prayer ministry has been key to my tenure.
Hi Dr. Rainer,
I am in my 12th year of being the pastor in one church. I must have missed the “Growth Years” you wrote about. Our church has had five failed pastorates from its inception in the 1960’s, and I am pastor number six. The previous five all left with marriage trouble of some kind. There are pressures that come with a “hurt church” that compound the normal situations a pastor faces. I think your timeline might look a little different in these cases. It might be that it takes a longer time to see the growth years, and the pastor of such a church is more at risk for leaving before the growth years arrive.
If one wants to define “growth” as the personal growth of the pastor, then I can say years seven through 12 have been a period of tremendous personal and spiritual growth for me. I think one of the greatest contributions I have made to this church is to provide them with a long-term, stable, pastorate from someone with a stable marriage and home life.
Thanks for the article!
Great post.
RTR
Dr. Rainer,
This is very interesting. I see the truth in this for pastors joining established churches.
Have you observed a lifecycle for church planters?
Thanks for your continued research and support for pastors!
Kevin
Al and John –
I really appreciate your personal stories related to the lifecycle. Very helpful!
Jim –
Love the acronym.
Kevin –
I have not done the research on church planters.
I think the timeline sounds like it rings true… but should we expect Sr. Pastors to #1 be fully trained for every church they get to & #2 stay indefinitely?
Before I went into ministry full-time, I worked for some major national companies, none of them hired a CEO or even middle-managers without some level of success. None of them, either, saw it as any business school’s responsibility to equip their leaders.
In my experience, less than half the managers in corporations have business degrees, and those who do rely more on their experience than their education.
Managers are trying to do more, be more, and succeed. Why would we expect anything different from pastors? Shouldn’t we expect a pastor to want to go to a new church, or one that will pay him more? Doesn’t that then make more room for new pastors?
Training (in any career) comes mostly on-the-job and the most effective way to advance in any industry is to change firms.
I don’t think pastors should stay very long at their first few churches, if he’s worth it, a church should pay him well (1Tim 5), and allow him to reinvent himself in his position every years or so.
It’s not seminary’s job to teach anyone how to do everything, hire good people who can adapt and be successful and education won’t matter. The reason your church doesn’t is because you try to keep your pastor humble by paying him basically nothing.
Look at the average salary for corporation CEOs with the level of education you require for your pastor and pay them AT LEAST that (though 1Tim 5 tells us they are worth more).
Average total compensation for founding CEOs is $286,000
Average total comp for non-founding CEOs is $339,000
We are cheap, so we don’t get “the best” – 2-3 years of third-tier schooling won’t fix that. If, on the other hand, a church’s board of directors (or whatever they call their equivalent) would hire a candidate with a clear description of goals and what the church must accomplish under his leadership (whatever targets are used, giving revenue, attendance, etc…) and have at least quarterly reviews in which they pastor would be fired or put on a 90 day notice if he didn’t hit his marks, churches would be more successful.
Church is serious business, it’s not “oh well, I couldn’t make it in the ‘real world’ so many I can preach”
At least that’s what I think most SBC churches would benefit from.
On year 12 as a UMC Elder on the same charge (20 years in ministry). We’ve come to a transformation stage. We know each other well, have moved through conflict, largely successfully, know each others strengths and weaknesses well and are learning to balance each other, creating fruitful ministry, adding new members now several times a year.
I’ve rolled this around in my mind for years. This will be a controversial statement, but I’ve come to believe that itineracy plays more toward more troubled pastors, who bail out after 3-5 years of ministry in one place, just to be moved to another. Almost like the man or woman who has been married 6-7 times and believes there is “no one that’s good out there.” I took part in a recent conversation where a church member (not at my assignment) made the comment “we’ll, our pastor will only be here a few more years, we just have to put up with it till then.” I know I’m stepping on toes, but I believe there’s alot of truth there.
And granted, there are plenty of Clergy Killer churches out there that grind pastors up and leave them wounded and despondent…
7 years of full time ministry in the smallest incorporated town in TN. Your timeline is right on the money so far.
Wow, that sounds very scary to me. Churches that have relied on returning Baby Boomers and stealing sheep from smaller churches for growth, now teaching a new generation of “leaders” to do the same thing.
I believe the law of diminishing returns is going to come into effect very soon.
I’m United Methodist and like a member of the military or a corporate officer, serve where I am sent.
I see three sorts of churches:
1) Dying churches that need a hospice chaplain as their pastor.
2) Maintenance churches that want someone to lead according to their established patterns and priorities.
3) Growth oriented congregations that understand outreach, spiritual growth, mission and service.
I felt called to the third sort of church when I entered ministry and began seminary. I seem to have been appointed to a series of small, troubled churches to bring peace. This is an important calling and I know I’ve made a difference in several places.
My denominational supervisors have encouraged me not to do too many radical things though, and supported resistant local church leadership when I tried. My service has included only the first and second sort of congregations. At times I feel ground up, disillusioned and damaged, formed into a maintenance pastor.
With health challenges in my family we are a one-income home. I’m selfish enough to want a personal income that will let me put more into my retirement fund. I’d also like a congregation with enough people to put together a trip to the Holy Land, form a mission team of a half dozen people or have a viable youth group like so many of my colleagues.
I’m 57 and have at most about 10 more years of ministry ahead, perhaps one more appointment. Younger pastors are being appointed to larger congregations though, probably to prepare them for leadership when so many of my generation retire.
I’m nearing the end of my third graduate degree, something I thought might make a difference. The difference seems to be that education loans will follow me into retirement.
Brian McLaren has an interesting take on this issue. I’m inclined to agree with him.
http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Seminary-Is-Not-the-Problem-the-Church-Is-Brian-McLaren-11-02-2011.html
It’s almost scary how spot on this is with my current ministry. Almost to my sixth anniversary, and am seeing the exact changes you described.
Dr. Rainer,
I wish you could have visited my dad’s church in upstate New York. He was there for 18 years…that place was like a circus!
I appreciate this blog
I just began my fifteenth year here.
Im 55, was converted when I was a 17 yr old drug dealer, and have never been to church. But, my family and I are fervent christians, busy in kingdom work of all kinds, loving each other and our enemies, and have been asked many times to start a church, or lead a groups etc. My wife and I agree that doing that would destroy our effectiveness, outreach, internal harmony and ultimately, confuse those who look to us as models as to who is really in charge and where the power comes from to live the busy and purpose filled life we have. Several ministers we know and have known, and other leaders as well, all seem to have some burden of responsibility they carry for others, that waters down their own dynamic ability to impact people and get them to rise up and follow them in their sacrificial living. Im not qualified to help in your dilema of leadership, but if you will pardon the mild rebuke, it seems to me that many of you cant see the trees because the forest is in the way. Why do you think you are, or even can be responsible for others brothers and sisters, if they wont be responsible for themselves? Seems like a kind of spiritual welfare program to me, that hands out without throwing down the gauntlet and challenging christians to obey Jesus because they love Him and the brethren. Leaders are proven by their followers copying them in their motives and actions. If followers wont follow, and become leaders in their own situations, quit banging your head against a wall and get behind them and push. Step down as leader, become one of them who seeks the wisdom of God among the whole congregation, show them by example from below the way Jesus did, how to bring God into our lives and world, by personally walking in His love and power, and never letting anyone else’s ignorance, disobedience or opposition stop us from being personally responsible to God, the brethren, our family and neighbors and ourselves.Give it a year, and you will see a divide come between those who start to see that christian life is personal and together life in Jesus, or its nothing, but there is no in between. At years end, if no one or only a few core people have followed you, well then from what I read here, you wont have anything different than you already do, other than you might have fleshed out a few good men, or a solid core of previously comfortable pew dwellers. God wasnt being humorous when He called us sheep, and He didnt exclude those of us who have grown in Christ to be effective and skilled communicators and destroyers of the devils works. He is the Shepherd, and in the big scheme of things, we are only older and maybe wiser sheep, who get hurt, and can burn out. Pls brothers, dont waste your oil. Blessing on you all dear brothers, as you seek from sincere hearts to please God. I pray for you as I see you give your lives daily for Him and His people. He is recording your good works from a pure conscience. Greg Gamble (Ontario Canada)
Do you see there is a difference in this cycle with those who start a church rather than those who take the pastorate of an existing church?
@ Joe,
Absolutely. The first-generation church is exploring new things, willing to take risks and experiment, enter uncharted territory. Within a dozen years there is an established pattern of operations, order of worship, structural hierarchy and the beginnings of traditions (…let me who you how WE do things).
Most of the growth-oriented congregations are either in the first generation with spiritual DNA for growth (See Len Sweet) or have reinvented themselves.
Check out the things you find on google under church life cycle.
It’s a whole different experience leading an established church, particularly when following a long-term pastor or one who has fought with the congregation. Both experiences have the new pastor at a “power disadvantage” in their new position. Both argue for the use of trained, intentional interim pastors who can help with healing and visioning and not get sucked into the vortex of emotions that are so detrimental to the pastorate.
I have been with one congregation now for 18 years. In my opinion, intentional growth, both personally and pastorally is a real key to staying with one church for a long time. That kind of growth leads to appropriate and timely reinvention.
I appreciate the article very much. God has allowed me to Pastor for over 10 years. It has been wonderful and heart rending, joyous and painful and through it all God has grown me and by Hid grace, grown the Church. I read a book some time ago and the man said this about the Pastorate:
“success is measured in decades not decisions…”.
The statement bothered me 10 years ago. Now that I am seeing third generation salvations, I understand. My only advice to young Pastors: trust God and stick it out. He will bless. A wise, wise man said something profound:
“God calls us to a people…”. If your heart is for the work and not the people you will never last. If your heart is for the people, He will bless your work.
Greg,
Hebrews 13.17 should clear this up for you. The call to the pastorate is a very heavy, weighty call. I believer there are hundreds, if not thousands of people in the Pastorste who are not called by God. They will be given grace from our loving Heavenly Father, but they are not Spiritually or emotionally equipped to carry the weight. God will use them, but like all of us, He uses us best when we are in His perfect will. I will give an account for the souls God sends to the Church family I Pastor. I take that very seriously. Understanding our role allows us to enjoy and rejoice to the fullest in those times of victory in people’s lives, it also means that we will be hurt and devastated when we see people walk away from Jesus. I lose sleep, I weep, I pray, etc for the people of our Church. Maybe God has not called you to Pastor, praise the Lord, just do what He has called you to do. But don’t judge those who have a different calling or who do things differently than you. God will bless your faithfulness to His will, just keep serving, and try to be a help and a blessing to your Pastor and other Pastors when you get a chance, God will bles you for that as well.
How you assess the term of service for a pastor depends upon how you define a pastor.
(1) Is he an itinerant church-planter/cultivator like the apostles, prophets and evangelists of Eph. 4?
(2) Or is he part of a team of pastors, who are home-grown elders, serving as fellow-members of God’s royal priesthood?
Much also depends on your model of the church. More thoughts here:
http://www.lambblood.com/gathering-as-christs-ekklesia.html
Jesus modeled his church after the Greek “ekklesia” (“summoned assembly” or town hall), not the “theatron” (“place of viewing” or theatre). The former, not the latter, represents the church in the New Testament. Yet the latter, not the former, resembles most churches today. http://www.lambblood.com/reforming-church-practices.html
I’m a bit late weighing in on this thread. I’ve been at my relatively small, rural Baptist church for 18 years. Reinvention is a fact of life.
I’m also working on pastoral tenure as a DMin project. Any resources out there you guys would recommend?
Thanks,
Steve
I wonder if there are two different timelines for church planting pastors and established church pastors, especially succession or transition pastors. My experience is as a succession pastor that followed a 29-year fruitful run of an outgoing senior pastor. We did a 1 year intentional transition overlap. In the process, we’ve experienced two transitions: (1) Leadershift – people ask, “Do I like and will I follow the new guy?” and (2) Visionshift – people ask, “I like the guy, but will I be a part of the new vision and changes made to accomplish the vision?” We’re 5 years into it, and I agree that something begins to “click” at the 5-year mark. Lastly, I think it takes that long to build your team that will dream, strategize, and carry out much of the vision.
Great post Dr. Rainer. I have been blessed to serve http://www.midwaychurch.com for 16 years, and it’s pretty awesome at this point. I recently wrote a series of posts on the subject of “Four Keys to Leadership Longevity”. They can be found at http://www.ToddWright.Net.
Any thoughts on following the long-term “founding pastor” of a church?