XP-SP
A great relationship between the XP and SP is key to a great leadership team. What are some of the ways to establish that bond? How can you keep in step together yet not step on each other’s ministry responsibilities?
The SP-XP Relationship & Transition
Bishop David Evans is the Senior Pastor of Bethany Baptist Church, Lindenwold, New Jersey. Nicholas Smith is his Executive Pastor. Twenty years ago, Bishop Evans named Nicholas as his designated successor. Their long time relationship [...]
To Co-Lead or Not to Co-Lead?
Shared leadership at the helm of any organization, especially the ever-growing model of co-lead pastors in a church, can be a huge blessing when successful. However, it has the potential to be quite catastrophic [...]
Church Problems and a Senior Pastor Candidate
Hey Fletch … We have some serious problems at the church and are also interviewing a senior pastor candidate. Should we tell the candidate about our big issues before or after he has accepted a [...]
Shooting for the Top … Almost
I believe in the Executive Pastor position to my core. There is tremendous value that an Executive Pastor can offer a church. God has been preparing me for this role my entire life and [...]
The Senior Pastor and Executive Pastor Team
Thursday, October 4, 2018 Hey Fletch … I just finished reading “The Senior Pastor and Executive Pastor Team” by John Hawco on XPastor. You posted his entire dissertation and it is awesome! Thanks so much [...]
Program, Policy and Preaching
Saturday, September 29, 2018 Hey Fletch … I’m a new Senior Pastor. I love the role and thought that most of what I would do would be preaching. While the preaching is going well [...]
Jews and Romans in New Testament Times
Thursday, September 6, 2018 Hey Dr. Fletcher … I’m thanking God for all you are doing in His will. What was the relationship between the Romans and the Jews at the time of Jesus? Will [...]
Senior Pastor is Swamped
Thursday, July 26, 2018 Hey Fletch … We are a small groups based, disciple-making church that does lots of church-planting. I wrote to you before about hiring a care pastor. I need to turn over [...]
Managing People
Monday, June 18, 2018 Hey Fletch … As a pastor, managing people drains me. It sucks. It’s a skill that no one wants to do—a real pain. I don’t want to be the bad [...]
3 Kinds of Executive Pastors
Tuesday, May 22, 2018 Hey Fletch … I see that there are three types of Executive Pastors. There are those who are the solo XP for a church, an XP of Ministries and an [...]
Torn Between Senior Pastor and Executive Pastor Roles
Friday, April 27, 2018 Hey Fletch … Hi again! Been a couple years. Followed your advice. Finished my MBA. Started and currently running my own business. And this year began taking night courses for [...]
‘You Don’t Matter’ said the Senior Pastor
Thursday, April 26, 2018 Hey Fletch … I’m demoralized and ashamed to repeat what my Preaching Pastor said to me. In front of one of my staff, he said, “You don’t matter. People won’t [...]
Senior Pastor Constantly Bringing Change
Wednesday, March 14, 2018 Hey Fletch … I have a senior pastor who is constantly bringing change to the church. One week it is a new way to do small groups, and he did [...]
Should the SP & XP Both Report to the Board
Monday, February 26, 2018 Hey Fletch … Have been an XP for nearly 20 years and I’m curious on your thoughts on organizational structure of the SP/XP positions. I've twice been in the “2nd [...]
SP is Ready for an XP
Friday, February 23, 2018 Hey Fletch … 21 years ago God gave me the privilege of leading a team to plant our church. Thank you for your ministry to XPs around the world. We [...]
Who Needs an XP?
January 26, 2018 Hey Fletch … What is the best way to convince a strong Senior Pastor of the necessity for creating an XP role at the church? DRF—The answer is “complexity.” Strong Senior [...]
Clarifying the XP Role
“And all other duties as may be assigned.” This is commonly the last line in a job description, but the practical reality for many second chair leaders is that this is their first responsibility. [...]
The Seven Essential Attributes of Exceptional Executive Pastors
Having an excellent Executive Pastor can dramatically increase the health and growth of a church. Similar to the relationship between a COO and a CEO, an Executive Pastor oversees all administrative and operational aspects of [...]
Book Excerpt: Defining the Executive Pastor Role
Throughout my years in the Executive Pastor role, I’ve had the privilege of getting to know many of my peers in ministry. At the risk of oversimplification, I have noticed that most XPs (shorthand for [...]
Five Lessons I’ve Learned in My First Eighteen Months as XP
As was mentioned in the title, I’ve learned five lessons during my first eighteen months as an Executive Pastor. In order to provide some context, I will briefly state my ministry experience. My background has [...]
Defining the Executive Pastor Role and Its Need in the Church
I recently sat down with the Lead Pastor of our church, discussing my current role as the Director of Operations. During the discussion, I mentioned that I was hoping to move my position to become [...]
The Secret of Winning Senior Pastor-Executive Pastor Relationships
What ingredients make an effective senior leadership team? There's no better person to ask than Jimmy Collins, past president of Chick-fil-A. Collins was second-in-command under Truett Cathy, the man who invented the chicken sandwich. Together, [...]
Keys to a Successful First 100 Days as a Senior Pastor
Turnover in churches is high right now. Senior Pastors are retiring as baby boomers age, and the wave is only going to grow. Perhaps more than I’ve ever seen, there are scores of people facing [...]
Working in Healthy Ways with Strong Leaders (Part 3 of 3)
(The following article is Part 3 of a three-part series written by Paul Utnage. To start at the beginning with Part 1, read "Working with Strong Personalities at the Top." The link to Part 2---Tsunami Leaders, [...]