Articles on the New XP
So, you’re new to the XP role. Welcome to the front row of ministry! Your job is a position of power, influence and, at times, the one to take the criticism and hard conversations. Take comfort in knowing that many have walked this road before you. They have documented their thoughts and learnings in the form of articles, posted here … so that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel!
Pressures on the Pastor—Excerpts from a Dissertation
With the acceptance of the operating principle of the historic importance of preaching, it will do well to briefly address other pressures on the preacher. In a chapter entitled, A Pastor's Job Description, counselors Frank [...]
Perils in the Executive Pastor Role—Excerpts from a Dissertation
A discussion of the role and function of the Executive Pastor would be incomplete without mentioning associated perils. This section will be especially helpful for any Senior Pastor, governing board or search committee seeking an [...]
Biblical Parallels for the Executive Pastor—Excerpts from a Dissertation
There are at least three significant biblical pericope that demonstrate roles parallel to the Executive Pastor. Two individuals, and one group, were in the place of implementing the policy and vision of others. The position that [...]
Models of Church Structure—Excerpts from a Dissertation
Before one can discuss models of management in the church, it is necessary to discuss the role of management. This will help in evaluating the role and scope of the church leadership. In other words, [...]
The Solution of the Business Administrator—Excerpts from a Dissertation
Another solution, often in conjunction with the Associate Pastor role, is for the church to hire a Business Administrator. Minirth and others succinctly discuss this area, in the context of different hats that the pastor [...]
The Solution of the Associate Pastor—Excerpts from a Dissertation
As the church added a second pastor, that person often received the title Associate or Assistant Pastor. In 2000, Martin Hawkins, Assistant Pastor at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas, completed a doctoral study [...]
Executive Pastor or Administrator?
An examination of hundreds of responses to the Executive Pastor Indicator (which has become the People Patterns Indicator) documented some of the differences between Executive Pastors and Church Administrators. Many churches have both of these [...]
Biblical Parallels of the Five Functions
Below are definitions of the Five Functions of an Executive Pastor---Administrator, Catalyst, Mentor, Relational, and Overseer---complete with biblical examples of each one. The Five Functions were originally established through the XP-Indicator which is now called [...]
5 Functions in Church Leadership
There are 5 Functions in church leadership. A variety of church staff use these roles, from senior pastor to executive pastor to others in leadership positions. Over 4,600 people have discovered their 5 Functions [...]
Executive Pastors’ Perception of Leadership and Management Competencies Needed for Local Church Administration
The following is a dissertation written by an Executive Pastor. To aid in making the information more readable on the web, the footnotes have been removed. To view footnotes, charts, Appendices and the Reference List, [...]
Running Through the Sprinklers: A Humorous Look at Fiduciary Responsibilities
Executive Pastor David Troublefield read a comment on XPastor that said, "And if you want to forget all your troubles, eat a cherry popsicle while running through the sprinklers barefoot!" So David put on his [...]
Climbing Down the Ladder
I served for years as the XP on a team of three pastors planting Terra Nova Church in New York. On my journey there, I made a three-year stop as Lead Pastor of a suburban church, [...]
The Single Greatest Threat to Any XP
“Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day [...]
Leading from the Second Chair
Many capable, idealistic, servant-minded people find themselves in "second chair" management and leadership roles within Christian organizations and churches across the country. For many, this is a positive, fulfilling experience; for others, it is [...]
The XP’s First 100 Days
When a United States President enters office, there is a lot of press given to his first 100 days agenda. The reason for this is everyone understands the early days of the new administration will [...]
A Biblical View of Administrative Leadership
Church administration is an organizational approach that translates the purposes of God revealed to church leadership into effective ministry that reaches the unique goals and purposes of the church. Administration is ministry, not methods; people, [...]
Leading with a Business and a Ministry Response
Here’s the situation. Your giving to the General Fund is down, not to mention missions and other special giving. Some of your people are losing their jobs, and many others are in fear of that [...]
The Ultimate Leadership Paradox
Whether you realize it or not, being in the "second chair" is the ultimate leadership paradox. You are a leader: mentoring staff members, overseeing the day-to-day operations, and ensuring that the organization is running smoothly. [...]
The Executive Pastor: Key to Future Leader Development
If you ask most Executive Pastors to show you their radars, they'd look a lot like FAA snapshots charting planes in flight across the country. While I know you're as stressed as a control tower [...]
Strangers in a Strange Land: The Corporate Refugee
We are truly "strangers in a strange land." In Robert A. Heinlein’s Hugo Award winning science fiction novel by that title, the main character, Valentine Michael Smith, returns to Earth as an adult after being raised on [...]
A Different Church Organizational Structure
As the Executive Pastor of our church, (a non-denominational, evangelical, contemporary-styled church) I was the first person our Lead Pastor came to with his idea of adding two other staff members that would serve at [...]
Perception Equals Reality: A Lesson from a Church’s First Executive Pastor
“Had I known then what I know now!” How many times have you heard that famous phrase? Hindsight truly is 20/20, but normally we do not get to enjoy it, unless we learn from others [...]
The Executive Pastor
The proliferation of "megachurches" has been described as one of the most significant social developments of the decade of the eighties. That trend shows no sign of subsiding, indeed it seems to be accelerating. Lyle [...]
Moving from Secular to Sacred Employment
Working as a Town Planner, my work often varied and was rewarding as I helped shape and establish existing and new communities. After thirteen years and working for four different local government authorities, I had [...]