Article
Five Key Attributes of Executive Pastors
Travis Ogle
The following five attributes represent ways an executive pastor must provide constant leadership as they serve Jesus by serving others.
The 100 Most Important Photos Ever was published by LIFE magazine in December 2021. One of the photos in the gallery captured Brandi Chastain, a United States Women’s National Soccer Team member, passionately celebrating her spot kick to beat China and win the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup. It was an unforgettable moment! The photo became iconic when it was chosen as the cover of Sports Illustrated, one of the world’s most well-known sports magazines, and Chastain became known by millions of people worldwide.
Another person who is forever linked to Chastain’s renowned moment in FIFA Women’s World Cup history is Robert Beck. Beck was at the 1999 World Cup final versus China, but not as a player; he was a photographer. After sneaking onto the pitch, Beck stood behind the net and was ready to capture Chastain’s reaction to her winning goal, which he did perfectly.
Unlike Chastain, Beck is not famous or in the headlines; his name is only listed with a small acknowledgment next to his photos. However, without Beck, the iconic image of Chastain as we know it goes uncaptured. Beck is an example of a person with a pivotal yet private function in society—those who figuratively “take pictures” but are rarely in them.
A Servant Leader
Before joining the Send Network team, I served as the executive pastor at Hope Church in Las Vegas, Nevada, for over a decade. As an executive pastor, I discovered what it meant to be a servant leader in a local church, meaning I learned how to lead while putting the spotlight on others. Like a photographer, an executive pastor does private work, leading to public results.
The list of expectations for an executive pastor is long and ever-changing. However, one surefire way to fail, quit, or burn out in the role is to not embody the posture of a servant. Effective leadership in the second chair starts with a bowl and towel (John 13:4-5), not a set of tasks or systems. Notice, when it comes to servant leadership, the word servant comes before leadership.
In his book Jesus on Leadership, Gene Wilkes said, “We have forgotten that greatness among God’s people begins with service, and service implies labor without accolades.” Humanly speaking, the label “servant” is undesirable—however, the title shifts to admirable through conformity to Christlikeness (Matthew 23:11). If executive pastors (or any faith-based second-chair leaders) are going to find joy in their role, they must be OK with their spiritual fruit being associated with someone else’s tree.
Five Key Attributes
An executive pastor primarily serves a church’s senior pastor and team members. Regardless of church size, the executive pastor’s role closes the gap between the senior pastor and a team of employees, volunteers, or both. Before considering the competency of a potential executive pastor, make sure he has the character of a pastor (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9). Here are five attributes, competencies, or skills that represent ways an executive pastor must provide constant leadership as they serve Jesus by serving others.
1. The Wisdom to Steward
First, an executive pastor leads through stewardship. The executive pastor should be an exemplary steward of a local church’s people, resources, and opportunities. A wise steward in the role of executive pastor gives the senior pastor assurance regarding organizational management and the staff team confidence that decisions impacting them are godly, strategic, and thorough.
A wise steward makes things better over time, not worse. When an executive pastor stewards aspects of a church’s ministry, the results should be improvement and alignment, not downturn and chaos. Leaders who are exhausted by stewardship or unable to do it well will struggle in the executive pastor role.
2. The Ability to Adjust
Second, an executive pastor leads through navigating adjustments. Plans, circumstances, and people change a lot. The reality of change comes with being a leader. In his book Hacking Leadership, Mike Myatt warned leaders, saying, “If you’re going to get comfortable with anything as a leader, I would suggest it be change.” Change in a local church happens for many reasons; here are a few:
- The pastor decides to change course.
- Unexpected circumstances arise.
- Leaders receive access to new information about a person or project.
Most change management situations require precise, strategic decision-making, so executive pastors must always be ready to adjust to a new plan to move forward. If a person has a low tolerance for pivoting from one project to another, the role of the executive pastor will be a challenge for them.
3. The Self-Control to Underreact
Third, an executive pastor leads by providing composure, specifically during high-stress, energy-draining situations. In emotional moments, some people accelerate their intensity, and others decelerate by shutting down—neither response is helpful for an executive pastor to embody. An experienced ministry leader knows that circumstances are never as good or bad as some people portray. In my experience, an executive pastor’s composure during mountaintops and valleys is a strategic advantage.
4. The Courage to Advise
Fourth, an executive pastor leads by providing informed, wise, direct counsel. A person’s capacity to lead is set by their ability to have crucial conversations. One way an executive pastor serves a church’s senior leader and team is as an advisor—sharing perspective on what is best or harmful in each decision.
Sharing with others that something is wrong or expectations cannot be met is stressful, especially if that person is a superior. However, courageous ministry leaders navigate complex and challenging conversations by prioritizing the church and its mission. The more an executive pastor demonstrates courage to embrace crucial conversations, the more they are viewed as a strategic advisor rather than only an executor.
5. The Compassion to Shepherd
Fifth, an executive pastor leads by shepherding people. There is typically no connection between shepherding and the role of the executive pastor, but there should be because it is critical. For a local church to retain key leadership roles long-term, the executive pastor must genuinely care about the people who hold those positions. Bold leadership, effective management, and a shepherding heart can all exist in the same person. People want to be led, not pushed. When leaders shepherd others well, they rarely need to push them.
Final Thoughts
Back to the photographer: After seeing the popularity of the photo taken of Chastain, Robert Beck remarked that he was just in the right place at the right time. The combination of perseverance, humility, and strategic intent often places behind-the-scenes leaders where they need to be when they need to be there—this is a great snapshot of what it means to be an executive pastor.
If you are an executive pastor, I hope these five key attributes provide a paradigm to evaluate your servant leadership so your plans and posture result in fruitful ministry. If you are a senior pastor with an executive pastor, I hope this article reminds you of the value of the person in your local church’s second chair. If you are a senior pastor seeking an executive pastor, all five attributes are important for the person you invite to lead through service in your context.
