Optimizing Ministry Effectiveness
Effectiveness Defined
The late Peter Drucker was considered the greatest management thinker ever. He authored thirty-nine books including the classic The Effective Executive.
Drucker devoted much of his time in later years working with Christian Ministries, Churches, and Not-for-Profit Organizations.
He taught, “Effectiveness is getting the right things done.” He also taught that every knowledge worker in a modern organization is an “executive” if, by virtue of his or her position or knowledge, he or she is responsible for a contribution that materially affects the capacity of the organization to perform and obtain results (pp 5-9).
Recent Research
One researcher concluded the time is ripe for the development of the specialty of Executive Pastor, comparable to other specialties such as education or counseling.
The position of Executive Pastor is a highly workable response to the challenges and problems presented by rapid growth and expansion of church programs.
Payoffs Revealed
For the church–the congregation–the payoff from having an executive comes in the form of better management of their programs.
And, a senior pastor who is better able to do for them what he does best.
As viewed by lay leaders: with an executive pastor things are more tied together–fewer things fall through the cracks.
A senior pastor identified the addition of an executive pastor as the primary factor enabling their church to move beyond a growth plateau.
Other senior pastors reported the relief from what had become an almost intolerable load of responsibilities.
Alongside relief was freedom:
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Freedom from
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Guilt at being unprepared
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Neglecting family
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And freedom to
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Read, study, write
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Immerse oneself in preaching
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Start new things
What is Your Role?
1. The Senior Pastor
Are you the senior pastor of a multi-staff church who wants to improve the effectiveness of your church’s ministry and does not yet have an Executive Pastor?
If so, you may be approaching burnout and overwhelm which can adversely affect your capacity to achieve your vision.
2. An Executive Pastor
Are you the executive pastor charged with improving the effectiveness of your staff and programs? How well are the expectations between you and the senior pastor aligned?
Lack of clarity and alignment of expectations is the number one cause of tension, stress, and limited capacity to get the right things done.
Considering Ephesians 4:11-12, do you believe a key role of these positions is “equipping the saints for the work of the ministry”?
3. Ministry Executive
Are you an executive director or CEO of a Christian Ministry with 20 or more staff and volunteers, or expect to be soon?
As you add more staff, your ministry will become more complex requiring optimal executive effectiveness.
Conclusion
One researcher concluded the time is ripe for the development of the specialty of Executive Pastor, comparable to other specialties such as education or counseling.
The position of Executive Pastor is a highly workable response to the challenges and problems presented by the rapid growth and expansion of church programs.
Click the button to schedule a strategy call.
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