New Articles Written for XPastor
New Posts from XPs
We are now making available 20 case studies from past XP-Seminars and David's doctoral students in the United States and India. These will help you go deep into the issues of another church. They require work to read and understand—but they are rich. Learn about: Instant Megachurches, The role of the XP, Entrance to the XP Role from Business or Ministry, National Media Attention on a Court Case & a Local Church, and many more! |
XeXecutive Church LeadersMinistry X-factorAbout XPastorWe all get into places where we could use a friend, reference material, or a mentor. XPastor has helped a myriad of church leaders decide on their next step in managing and leading their church. Read bios of XPastor speakers and writers. Just recently, a newly minted XP shared how XPastor helped him decide on the XP role in his church. XPastor has plenty of help for you! XPastor is free, run by XPs for XPs. Participate by sending in your job description, church policy guide or org chart! Contact David. Getting Started on XPastorHere are some beginning points to consider:
We had 200 people come to the XP-Seminar. Over the top, fantastic responses from attendees. We had a great time at the 2007 Pastors Executive Forum, "Build your facility with your church's spiritual DNA" at WFX in Atlanta. Come to the next "Building Forum" on April 29 in Indianapolis. The responses to 2007 were great and we are looking forward to helping more people at the 2008 forum. This forum is done in partnerhsip with the Worship & Facilities Conference & Expo (WFX). |
The 2008 XP-Seminar was Great!
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Dr. David Fletcher
Founder & HostWelcome!
XPastor has thousands of pages of free information to help you lead and manage your church. To get started, check out the XP Salary Survey, the XP-Indicator, the Missional Church Indicator, the XP e-newsletter and receive help from national leaders.
Check out the ads for XPs and explore hundreds of free pages. Our paid ads, seminars and workshops make it possible to freely give this website to church leaders around the world.
Free Help
XPastor is built around the 5 Functions and 5 XPs are available to help you with these vital areas.
Dr. Nathan Baxter
Nathan is the XP of Liberty Church in Oklahoma and XPastor's Mentoring Specialist. Dr. Baxter is great with staff development, counseling, relationships and work performance issues.Nathan hosts The Mentor page on XPastor and the "medium-sized church" forum and mentoring workshop at the annual XP-Seminar.
Stacey Campbell
Stacey is the XP of Christ Community Church in Colorado. Get help on motivating staff, starting new ministries and thinking outside of the box. Rules? What are rules? Typical of great catalysts, he can give you insights to challenge and revolutionize your ministry. Stacey hosts The Catalyst page on XPastor.
Bob Feitl
Bob is the XP of Richland Bible Church in Michigan. Bob is one of our "early XPs" in the 1980's, coming from the building industry as a contractor overseeing enormous international projects. He has years of experience and wisdom. Bob hosts The Administrator page on XPastor.
Warren Schuh
Warren is the President of WS Associates in California, with insightful experience for years as an XP and with Leadership Network. Warren hosts The Overseer page on XPastor and the "mega-church" forum and a (new) Senior Pastor forum at the annual XP-Seminar.
Nicholas Smith
Nicholas is the XP of Bethany Baptist Church in New Jersey, a church of over 16,500 members. Nicholas balances the XP role with an active ministry—and also preaching when Bishop Evans is away. Nicholas hosts the The Minister page on XPastor.
More Free Help
Mike Buster
Mike is the XP of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Texas, with 14,000 in weekly worship. Mike has helped build $100 million worth of church buildings. He is an expert on capital campaigns and knows how to work with architects. He works with many projects over $20 million and is experienced in church relocation.
Dr. David Fletcher
David is an XP of Grace Covenant in Texas and the Founder & Host of XPastor, professor, researcher, and lover of the local church. He enjoys e-mail questions from the XPastor community! "What can be more exciting than seeing a church thriving because of terrific management and leadership?"
Tami Fletcher
Now here's the muscle behind XPastor! Tami brings together our workshops and conferences, and edits our free e-newsletter.
Dr. Milfred Minatrea
Milfred is an author and a leader of the Missional Church movement. His Missional Church Assessment is on XPastor, free for you! Milfred's book, "Shaped by God's Heart: the practices of missional churches," is a perrenial favorite on XPastor.
Phil Taylor
Phil is an XP with the church plant, Terra Nova. He is passionate about missional church planting and is convinced that the prototypical “Lead Planting Pastor” is more effective when paired with a prototypical “Executive Planting Pastor.” Whenever possible, Phil attempts to promote and serve the XP community with the Acts 29 Church Planting Network.
The Core of XPastor
XPastor is for Executive Pastors, Church Leaders and Senior Pastors. The role of the Executive Pastor is exploding into thousands of churches! The core of XPastor is that there are 5 Functions to lead and manage the church: Administrator of resources, Catalyst for ministry, Mentor of staff, Minister in the congregation Overseer of church-wide ministry.
The 5 Functions help you easily see your leadership and management role. Take the free XP-Indicator, used by over 1600 people, to see your 5 Functions. Whether an XP, Senior Pastor, Pastoral staff or search committee, the XP-Indicator will help you evaluate the XP role. Now in its second edition and used by churches around the country, the Indicator gives objective data to articulate your needs and desires.
Discover and enhance your ability to lead and manage the church in the XP-Seminar. This seminar is for XPs and XPs-to-be, Christian workers with similar function to XPs, and for Senior Pastors who want to examine the XP role. There is only one national and international gathering of XPs and this is it!
The 5 Functions are needed in churches of 500, 1400, 2400 and up.
The need for the XPastor is born in the management crises of churches and Senior Pastors. Ministerial and management activities push aside the art of preaching. The Senior Pastor often is the Chief of Staff, visionary, executive, fundraiser and board member. Oh, the Senior Pastor also preaches. To address the need for church management, the Executive Pastor position has exploded into thousands of churches. The XP has vision, implements the vision of the Senior Pastor and implements policies of the governing board. See for yourself in job descriptions of Executive Pastors.
Profit from seeing job openings and job seekers. Whether the role is called Executive Pastor, Senior Team Leader or something else, the role has become common in U.S. and Canadian churches of all sizes
There is a growing body of information in the rooms of this XP home hosted by Dr. David R. Fletcher, an XP in Austin and Adjunct Professor in two seminaries. While this site is devoted to US churches, folks from other countries continue to journey here.
Read David's dissertation on the XPastor. Compensation Surveys are a free resource on XPastor with over 400 XP salaries and over 30 full church salary guides.
There are scores of articles that have been written by and for XPs. Read about the varoius functions of the role, church policy, hard decisions, good fit in ministry and how to say good-by, to name just a few!
Comments from the XP Community
Thank you for the resources you are providing for Executive Pastors. I believe your ministry is benefiting the Kingdom of Christ in positive ways and pray it will continue to do so. —Gary Brown, Director of Ministry and Outreach, Overland Park Church of Christ
Thanks for your site. It felt like a home that I've been seeking, but couldn't define. I've been in law since 1984 and have been feeling a strong pull away from that and toward ministry for some years. —David Balkum, Attorney, Houston, Texas
I wanted you to know that last Sunday I was asked to be Pastor of First Christian Church Mesquite and I accepted. I am now back in ministry for which I am grateful. Thanks for all your encouragement and support. —Dan Elliott, Pastor, First Christian Church
Thank you for the XP-Indicator results. Your website has been very helpful. You are correct in assuming that this is a new position for our church. I am still meeting with the Senior Pastor and Personnel Committee to define the position. I answered the questions on the XP-Indicator based on what I perceive to be my strengths. I read excerpts from Kiel's book last night and became more concerned about accepting the position after reading the section on Roadblocks and Hazards. The more I approach the new position the more I realize my reliance on my Lord and Savior to get me through it. —Allen Smith, First Baptist Church, Palmetto Florida
After the president of the U.S. or the General Secretary of the U.N., I firmly believe the toughest job is being the Executive Pastor for a large church. So glad to see what you're doing to help churches and Executive Pastors to do it better. —Bruce Dingman, President, Robert W. Dingman Company
“You've identified a strategic need in the church world.” —Marshall Shelley, Editor of Leadership magazine and Vice-President of Christianity Today, Inc.
