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Leadership is critical to successful revitalization. Today we discuss what kind of leaders often fail in the task.
Today’s Listener Question:
FROM CHARLES
I read a lot about the types of pastors who should lead church revitalization, but what kinds of pastors *shouldn’t* try to lead revitalization?
Episode Highlights:
- Fearful leaders are most often those who have been hurt in the past.
- Social media has amplified criticism of pastors and leaders.
- Many times, fearful leaders are not prayerful leaders.
- A lot of church leaders are in denial about the health of their church and don’t want to know the truth.
- Some church leaders are leading well…for 1985.
- If all you’re doing is maintaining status quo, then you’re falling behind.
- Coasting is not an option for leaders.
The four types of leaders who should not lead revitalization are:
- Fearful leaders
- Leaders in denial
- Comfortable leaders
- Coasting leaders
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
- ChurchReplanters.com
- ChurchAnswers.com
- Replanter Assessment
- Find more resources at the Revitalize & Replant page at ThomRainer.com
Revitalize & Replant is sponsored by the North American Mission Board and ChurchReplanters.com. More than 10% of churches in North America are at risk of closing and the North American Mission Board is committed to reversing this trend by decreasing the death rate of existing churches while simultaneously increasing the birth rate of new churches. To learn more about what it means to become a replanting pastor or to explore resources for replanting and revitalization in your own church, visit ChurchReplanters.com.Submit Your Question:
Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you’ll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.
let me add some: church leaders who will not succeed in revitalization are those looking for ‘tithing units’ not new converts. church leaders who will not succeed are those who are jealous of others who can out-lead them in their congregations. church leaders who will not succeed are interested in their own name being glorified, not Jesus’ name.
I am not sure I like the idea of “out leading” a church leader. The leaders are there to carry out the plan and vision of the church. You might think you are a “better leader” than them, but “out leading” sounds rebellious and not helpful.
Regardless of how it sounds, Liberty is correct. There are more than a few pastors who would prefer not to have educated people doing big things in their congregations, because those people will make the pastors look like something less. Being a pastor tends, unfortunately, to draw a certain type of people who want to hog the spotlight.
Of course there are pal in congregations who can out lead the pastor but that’s not rebellion. Most people who can don’t out of respect. What church do you go to?
One type not explicitly mentioned is the inexperienced pastor. Any pastor who is entering a church replant or revitalisation as his or her first ministry charge may struggle with the challenges of being a pastor or with the replant exercise itself, or with the discouragement which is part and parcel of such exercises. A second type not explicitly mentioned is the idealist; the type of person who simply believes the sky is and will always be blue, who fails to be sensitive to what is actually happening on the ground, slips into denial when adversity arises or who ceases to listen to the concerns of team members.
I would submit that 100% of all churches that have a problem, should not rely solely (operative word) on their current leadership to lead a revitalization and replant. Even if they have a good understanding of where they are. For the past x years their ability to lead—their influence—has lead them to where they are (not a good place!)—pastors and elders—that should indicate to all that they don’t have the leadership tools to take the church where it needs to go—no matter how good a pastor, preacher, teacher, or person they are. What’s lacking is the ability to lead. Leadership is a skill set. You study leadership. You build influence. You grow people. Life and leadership is about people—always has been, always will be. I recommend bringing in good (again, operative word) consultants with excellent leadership skills and the ability to inculcate those skills into the staff and elders of the church. As the senior pastor goes, so goes the church. The church typically only goes as far as the “Leader” is able to take them. Most pastors have the problem of the “Growth Gap.” When we’re young (child), we grow “naturally” or automatically—we get bigger just by existing—so when we get older, many times we believe we will grow “naturally”—not so. Leaders are not born, they are taught, mentored, “grown”. Many believe that leadership comes with being a good Christian. Sometimes, but for the most part, not the case. You must be intentional and learn the proper skills of leadership. It is a learned skill. Most do not study leadership on a regular basis—in my experience, it’s only about 2-5% that actually study it. Will being a Level 5 leader give you a great church? Not by itself. But it will allow you to KNOW why you don’t have a good one and do what is necessary to fix it or guide it toward revitalization.
Pastors have different personalities. However, many that have the drive to start a church, also have dominant personality’s. Unless this personality is highly controlled by the Holy Spirit (fruits of the Spirit), or have great leadership skills to know and admit when they need to bring on leadership help (that is those with a superior knowledge of leadership skills), they will only take their church so far and then will not be able to lead them further—or through revitalization. Once you start practicing proper people skills, you can gain the influence necessary to lead your church to the place you believe it should go. Time to stop being a low Level 1 Positional Leader and start being a Level 4 People Development Leader—because it will take time to get there from where you are. Need to start now. Blessings in Christ alone…
WOW… muchly appreciated! 🙂
I’ve never met anyone who tried to hog the spotlight so that doesn’t make sense to me. I’m saying pastors who are so insecure they can’t allow good leaders to help won’t revitalize a church. A church isn’t one man.. Or woman!
Sorry I’m reading this on my phone and missed what sad said. Yes when I moved East I began to run into pastors who got the spotlight but mostly I’ve had pastors who lead by serving before that.
Well, I have to agree with Liberty. Most pastors in the body of Christ care more about the church purse than about members of Christ’s body who are obviously in need. It’s so unfortunate.
Most pastors only care about money? Really?
This whole post is the most stupid thing I’ve read! Now I know why the local church needs so much help…sheesh.
I currently serve as Senior Pastor at New Colony Baptist Church in Massachusetts.
Our church is affiliated with other Southern Baptist churches in New England.
I can speak from living in New England for over 14 years that the pastors in New England certainly are not money hungry. Otherwise they would be doing something else.
Most Southern Baptist Churches in New England average less than 100 on Sunday.
These pastors love the Lord Jesus and sacrifice greatly to serve in New England.
About 5 years ago our church expenses were exceeding giving by our church family. So I told the stewardship ministry team that I would reduce my salary by $5,000 to help with budgeting. No one asked me to do this, I just felt I needed to do so.
Have a great day everyone!
Thank you. Very helpful episode. I am leading a revitalisation and tend to be fearful, not prayerful enough and listening to and being overly concerned about the negative voices. This has to change. We are seeing new growth but I need to now focus on where the positive work God is doing is actually happening.
It seems like I’m hearing a lot of human intervention instead of God’s
intervention into the whole involvement of trusting God and allowing
him to be the one who adds to the church or even the work of the ministry in using us to accomplish it.