Supervising a Friend
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Hey Fletch … I have a dilemma. It’s a strange problem and I’m struggling with it. As the XP, I am both a close friend and supervisor to a staff member. As […]
Finding Volunteers for the Band
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Hey Fletch … We had a recent win! Last month, for the first time in many months, we had a full band. We stumbled into it without any great strategy for finding […]
Staff Member Joking About Raises
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Hey Fletch … I have a staff member who constantly makes jokes about getting a raise. The first few times it was kinda funny, but now the humor has worn off. What […]
Plan for a New Hire
Monday, September 24, 2018
Hey Fletch … As a Senior Pastor of a new and growing church, I have a staff member leaving. The role is the 10 hour a week, director of the worship services. […]
Hoops to Jump Through
Sunday, September 23, 2018
Hoops to Jump Through
Sometimes in challenging conversations with staff, we fail to share real concerns about job performance or fit. Instead, we will set a high hoop for the person to jump […]
When to Apply for an XP Position?
Saturday, September 22, 2018
Hey Fletch … I am looking to improve and learn additional skills to become an XP. In the mean time, is it appropriate to apply for an XP position?
DRF—I applaud that you […]
Comparing Benefit Costs
Friday, September 21, 2018
Hey Fletch … In prepping for a personnel committee meeting next week, the question arose as to the way we cover health insurance for our employees. We currently pay 100% of the […]
Special Offering for a Woman with Cancer
Thursday, September 20, 2018
Hey Fletch … Our church wants to take up a special offering for a woman who has cancer. Can we ask people to give money through the church for her?
DRF—With the spirit […]
360 Reviews for Senior Pastors
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Hey Fletch … Do you have any experience or connection with a church that has employed a 360 type evaluation of the Senior Pastor?
DRF—While I have done 360 reviews, I’m not an […]
How to Become a Pastor
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Hey Fletch … I am becoming more and more interested in becoming a pastor. I am not sure what the best route would be. What do you advise?
DRF—This is an exciting time […]
Insanity is Hereditary—You Can Get It from Your Kids
Sunday, September 16, 2018
Insanity is Hereditary—You Can Get It from Your Kids
DRF—Being a grandparent is an ideal place in life. We get all the benefits of loving on those grandkids without the responsibly. Parenting is […]
Questions for a First Interview
Saturday, September 15, 2018
Hey Fletch … Hey I have a first interview for a position on Friday. Any tips? What kind of preparation should I do? What questions should I ask them?
DRF—Before I drafted my […]
Networking with XPs
Friday, September 14, 2018
Hey Fletch … I’d like to learn more about the XP role and perhaps become an XP. You recommended getting into a network with XPs. Right now, I only know one or […]
What Are Designated Funds?
Thursday, September 13, 2018
Hey Fletch … Can you educate me about “preferred ministry” rather than “designated” funds which are restricted. We are a church of 165 and struggling to make budget. As a member of […]
Can an Auto Allowance Be Tax-Free?
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Hey Fletch … I believe I’m clear on the minister’s housing allowance designation. What about a car allowance? We have a new employee who says ministers can claim a car allowance that’s […]
Health Insurance Going Up 123%
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Hey Fletch … I am looking for some advice on health insurance for my team. We provide a high deductible plan for our employees and have contributed a percentage of the deductible […]
Paid Articles on XPastor?
Monday, September 10, 2018
Hey Fletch … I work as a freelance writer and with brands looking to promote their content on sites like XPastor. What are your policies for brand collaboration? Most often the brands […]
Who is Exempt on the Church Staff?
Saturday, September 8, 2018
Hey Fletch … I am confused about exempt and nonexempt employees. My understanding is that an employee paid an hourly rate is not exempt. Are there exceptions? I’m under the impression our […]
Transitioning to Elder Led Church
Friday, September 7, 2018
Hey Fletch … We are in the process of transitioning to an Elder governance system and are currently accepting nominations. This is a major change for this Baptist church but the vote […]
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 you […]
Launching an Initial Elder Board
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
Hey Fletch … I serve as XP of a quickly growing church plant. We are ready to plan for, appoint, and launch our initial Elder Board. What are the best books or […]
Reviewing the Senior Pastor
Monday, September 3, 2018
Hey Fletch … Can you point me to resources Boards may use for setting up a system to evaluate the Senior Pastor?
DRF—The best place to start when considering a review of any […]
Artificial Dis-Intelligence
Sunday, September 2, 2018
Artificial Dis-Intelligence
At first blush, most of us would say, “I don’t rely on artificial intelligence.” Perhaps we do! I rely on the automatic spelling in my word processor so that I don’t […]
Financial Health in a Church of 100
Saturday, September 1, 2018
Hey Fletch … I am involved with trying to get our church’s financial situation back on track and healthy again. Would any of your reports contain information on a church that has […]
Ministerial Housing Allowance
Friday, August 31, 2018
Hey Fletch … I am a full time associate pastor and am applying for an apartment that is part of the SMART Housing program, a kind of government assisted, affordable housing program. […]
Senior Pastor Just Resigned
Thursday, August 30, 2018
Hey Fletch … I just resigned as Senior Pastor. Unfortunately the situation here has become unworkable. The most caring choice I can make is to move on to give a chance for […]
Can You Define the Report to the Board?
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
Hey Fletch … I got your answer about our board meetings going too long. The idea of a written report to the board could be significant for us. Can you give a […]
What about Online Giving Options?
Monday, August 27, 2018
Hey Fletch … We are looking at beginning to allow online giving. We are looking at three different providers: pushpay.com, gyve.io and tithe.ly. We are evaluating each platform and […]
That is as Boring as Sin
Sunday, August 26, 2018
That is as Boring as Sin
I don’t know who created this aphorism. It is both true and false. The falsity is readily apparent. Doing “your own deal” with God’s moral precepts can […]
Church Culture Tool from Vanderbloemen
How healthy is your team? Today, organizational culture is more important than ever in attracting and retaining the best team members. Vanderbloemen Search Group has a free Culture Tool to help. Get real answers about your […]
HR Functions in a Church Database
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Hey Fletch … I have a guy who has asked about HR functions and their integration with software like Church Community Builder. Do you know of processes for reviews, strategic plans, job […]
Spouse of Staff Member Wants an Office
Friday, August 24, 2018
Hey Fletch … I am the XP at a restart church. We have made staff and organizational changes in order to reach our community for Jesus Christ. We just hired a staff […]
Who Owns the Pastor’s Book?
Thursday, August 23, 2018
Hey Fletch … I found the XPastor page with the intellectual property policy of Christ Community Church of Chicago to be informative. I am a member of a church board, and […]
Governing Board Meetings Going Way Long
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Hey Fletch … You have got to help us. Our board meeting last night began at 7:00 pm and ended at 11:30 p.m. There was so much discussion on important but not […]
Is There an XP Group in My Area?
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Hey Fletch … I’ve just found your website and am very excited to dig in. One of the things I need to do is find other XP’s in my area to meet […]
What Should I Look for in Online Giving?
Monday, August 20, 2018
Hey Fletch … Our church is considering starting online giving. What are the kinds of things that we should be looking for?
DRF—From a user’s perspective, the number one thing for me in […]
130 Trillion Web Pages
Sunday, August 19, 2018
130 Trillion Web Pages
A vital principle that I learned in college was not to know all the data or read every book. The solution was to know where to find needed information.
A […]
Recordings of the XP-Seminar?
Saturday, August 18, 2018
Hey Fletch … I’m a new XP and would love to listen to past sessions of the XP-Seminar. Do you record them?
DRF—One year we purchased some thumb drives that had terrific […]
Well Paid Pastor Has No Retirement
Friday, August 17, 2018
Hey Fletch … Our Senior Pastor is in trouble. He has been at the church for most of his working life and wants to retire. He can’t afford it. He has $300,000 […]
Mandated Reporting of Sexual Abuse
Thursday, August 16, 2018
Hey Fletch … I’ve been reading in the “Hey Fletch” columns about sexual abuse. Normally I think of that as between an adult and a minor. What about sexual activity between two […]
Need Help on Developing a Salary Matrix
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
Hey Fletch … We are developing a salary matrix where each tier of employment has ranges from low to max. I have been working on this, but wanted to know if there […]
Book Review—Charting the Course: How to Navigate the Legal Side of a Church Plant
In his first book, Tim Beltz guides the church planter on a profound yet simple journey to establish a new church—both legally and above reproach. Charting the Course is a practical and relevant guide to […]
HR Policies
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Hey Fletch … Do you have toolbox of what are the most essential Human Resources policies to have?
DRF—That’s a big question. Unfortunately, there are many policies that a church should have. Society […]
Template for Job Descriptions
Monday, August 13, 2018
Hey Fletch … Do you have a resource or a template for writing job descriptions?
DRF—In churches there are three types of job descriptions. They can all look fairly similar, but need to […]
Crisis Defines Maturity
Sunday, August 12, 2018
I got one poor grade in High School, in Spanish. My memory recalls no other grades except that one. It was a defining moment. I had to accept that it was my […]
Pastor Buying a House in an Expensive Location
Saturday, August 11, 2018
Hey Fletch … I’m really looking forward to the Smart Money for Church Salaries workshop! Perhaps you’ll cover this there, but can you share insight into how churches in affluent areas […]
XP Certification
Friday, August 10, 2018
Hey Fletch … The banner image on the courses page suggests a certification. Is a certification available?
DRF—Yes, the XPastor Online Courses are available to audit or for certification. Some people […]
How Often Do Campus Pastors Preach?
Thursday, August 9, 2018
Hey Fletch … Quick question—from your experience gained through XPastor or otherwise, do you have a sense on how often a campus pastor typically teaches in a video-venue model where the lead […]
How to Change a Church Constitution
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
Hey Fletch … Can you describe to me how a church amends its constitution?
DRF—The first place to look for amending a church constitution is in the document itself. There should be a […]
Staff Evaluations
Monday, August 6, 2018
Hey Fletch … I am a new XP to the church I serve and staff evaluations are coming up. My previous experiences at churches are either too formal (a graded […]
Not Invented Here Syndrome
Sunday, August 5, 2018
Not Invented Here Syndrome
New governing board members can bring in the not invented here syndrome. It comes out with phrases like, “I wasn’t on the board when that decision was made” and […]
Sexual Abuse in the Church
Friday, August 3, 2018
Hey Fletch … Do you have any articles concerning sexual abuse policies in the church?
DRF—Attorneys Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris are some of the best people working on the subject of sexual […]
How Important is the Leader of Evangelism?
Thursday, August 2, 2018
Hey Fletch … How important is the leader of evangelism? What are the top three areas that the leader should be driven to succeed?
DRF—There are many titles for people who lead the […]
3 Kinds of XPs
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Hey Fletch … I came across your pivotal article on the 3 Kinds of XPs. Thanks so much for making this available.
DRF—It is always gratifying to hear from the XPastor community. […]
Health Cost-Sharing Ministries
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Hey Fletch … I have a question about rising medical costs for employers. There are several Christian-based health cost-sharing ministries, such as MediShare, Christian Healthcare Ministries, and Samaritan Ministries. On the surface […]
How Can We Keep Our Church Safe?
Monday, July 30, 2018
Hey Fletch … With all the craziness in the world, our church is concerned about safety and security. What can you recommend?
DRF—Here is what the Federal Bureau of Investigation says: “The […]
Watch the News before Sleeping, Dream of Violence
Sunday, July 29, 2018
Watch the News before Sleeping, Dream of Violence
Sleep is the time when our minds sort through the memories of the day. What you mentally take in immediately before bedtime can affect how […]
Who Owns a Book that the Pastor Writes?
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Hey Fletch … I have a quick question that may require a long answer. If a pastor is writing books, who gets the royalties and why? I’m confident that this question has […]
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 this […]
Books on Church Administration
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Hey Fletch … I’m teaching a course on church administration and am looking for a good, current textbook. Any suggestions? Most I’ve come across are at least 5 years old. Thank you!
DRF—Here […]
What Is Grooming in Sexual Abuse?
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
Hey Fletch … In the area of sexual abuse, I heard the term “grooming.” What does this mean?
DRF—That term took me aback when I first heard it. I’m not an expert in […]
A Private Hallway Conversation
Sunday, July 22, 2018
There you are in the hallway. A friend joins you and before you know it, you are having a confidential conversation. The problem is that you are in a public space.
If you […]
Chapelstreet Church Motivates Good Neighboring
A few weeks ago, Fletch had the pleasure to be with multisite Chapelstreet Church of Geneva, Illinois. While there, he saw a 10-page magazine, Neighbor, summer 2018 […]
Pastor Told to Retire at Age 65
Friday, July 20, 2018
Hey Fletch … I just got out of a meeting with my XP. He told me that the church has a policy that pastors have to retire at age 65. I don’t […]
Hiring a Care Pastor
Thursday, July 19, 2018
Hey Fletch … I was in a class of yours in the Doctor of Ministry program at Dallas Seminary. As Senior Pastor of our church, we’re hiring a care minister. I’ve attached […]
Scam Artist Wants Refund of Donation
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Hey Fletch … Have you heard about this scam? According to police in Troy, Michigan, a church received a $4,500 donation for hurricane victims. Later that day, police say the donor contacted […]
Preaching Excites Me but Administration is My Gift
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Hey Fletch … I really appreciate the advice you recently gave me. I’m sure you get lots of emails from inquisitive folk! I have another question. The thought of preaching excites me, but […]
A Church Security Team
Monday, July 16, 2018
Hey Fletch … I have a question concerning our security team. There are as many opinions about a security team as there are people, so I wanted to check and see if […]
God In Your Crisis
Sunday, July 15, 2018
The typical foxhole prayer is, “God help in this mess.” That’s the equivalent of a 90 yard pass in the last seconds of a football game. It’s not a bad prayer but […]
Giving a Pastor a Sign-on Bonus?
Saturday, July 14, 2018
Hey Fletch … We are paying a pastor a sign-on bonus that has filed their 4361 and at the same time has a W4 with the church. What is the church’s responsibility when […]
What to Do with an 85% Decline in Church Attendance?
Friday, July 13, 2018
Hey Dr. Fletch … Hi! My church of 2,000 members has dwindled from over 2,000 members to barely 300. What should I do?
DRF—Thanks for your note. There must be lots of history […]
Is My Resume Top-Notch?
Thursday, July 12, 2018
Hey Fletch … I have been in management for over 25 years and now feel God’s call to move into an Executive Pastor position. I would like your help with making my […]
Are Employment Applications Necessary for Churches?
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Hey Fletch! We are a small but growing church that typically hires from within our own membership. We are considering adding an employment application but don’t know where to begin. Can you […]
Too Early to Enroll in the 2019 XP-Seminar?
Tuesday, July 10, 2018
Hey Fletch … I’m interested in attending the XP-Seminar in 2019. When will registration begin?
DRF—We had plenty of emails in May and June about this. People were asking extra early this […]
My Boss Wants Me Out
Monday, July 9, 2018
Hey Fletch … My boss wants me out. She came into my office last week and essentially said “You are done here.” What should I do?
DRF—Often there is a substantial backstory that […]
NMP—Not My Problem
Sunday, July 8, 2018
NMP—Not My Problem
As Christians we want to help others. As Jesus said, “love others …” There is a time when our desire to help can be meddling in another person’s issues. A […]
Tax on Outside Groups Using Our Facility
Saturday, July 7, 2018
Hey Fletch … We charge outside groups to use our facility. Some are concerned at our church that we should be paying tax on this income. They want us to not host […]
Thinking about Applying for an XP Position
Friday, July 6, 2018
Hey Fletch … I was thinking about applying for the open XP role at our church. Then I found out the church quickly and quietly hired an insider. Is this typical?
DRF—I’m sorry […]
Vision and Leading Indicators
Thursday, July 5, 2018
Hey Fletch … I’m interested in using some leading indicators to help our staff get an idea on how things are really going in the church. What do you think?
DRF—One of the […]
How Do Pastors Pay Federal Tax?
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
Hey Fletch … I’m new to working in a church and think that our business office got my taxes wrong. They said that federal law requires the church, as the employer, to […]
Can I Shadow a Leader for a Day?
Tuesday, July 3, 2018
Hey Fletch … I am relatively new as an XP. First, your website and the XP-Seminar have been tremendous resources. Second, I want to hang out with an XP in my area […]
Limited Funds
Monday, July 2, 2018
Hey David … You told me that doing this church plant was going to be a challenge. And you were so right. Our funds are so limited. I can barely afford any […]
So Much Junk on Television
Sunday, July 1, 2018
So Much Junk on Television
It’s always interesting to hear someone say, “there is so much junk on television.” One person said, “Who watches the Home Shopping Network?” Another said, “Does anyone watch […]
A Capella to Instruments in Worship
Saturday, June 30, 2018
Hey Fletch … Our church is moving from a cappella singing to including instruments in our worship services. How does this communication statement sound to you? “The shepherds have lifted a restriction […]
Time Cards for Pastors
Friday, June 29, 2018
Hey Fletch … Are my people working hard enough? Should we use time-cards for pastors?
DRF—This is similar to yesterday’s question about administrative assistants. People work incredibly hard when they have a compelling […]
How Do You Treat Administrative Assistants?
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Hey Fletch … How do you treat administrative assistants?
DRF—Sometimes email is remarkably incomplete. There must be a huge story behind your question. Let me share a couple of thoughts about this broad […]
Questions on Church Leadership Structures
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Hey Fletch … Our church is wanting to look at our leadership structure. In the last ten years we have grown from one campus to many campuses. We want to continue to […]
Worship Leader Resume and Reel
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
Hey Fletch … I’m beginning to write the script for my worship reel. What do you think are the most important things to hit on in that video. What subjects do churches […]
Skills for an XP
Monday, June 25, 2018
Hey Fletch … Compared to five years ago, what skills, knowledge, leadership or sensitivity is needed to lead as XP in a growing evangelical church?
DRF—I’ve mentioned before that recently Matt Branaugh, an […]
That’s Not Your Water to Carry
Sunday, June 24, 2018
That’s Not Your Water to Carry
Ever have a discussion where you realize that you are trying to solve another person’s problem? You may soon take on their real or perceived problem as […]
What Others Say About Smart Money for Church Salaries
Dan Busby
President of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability
Establishing a fair and legally compliant compensation structure for your church is critical—and it won’t happen by accident! The new, one-day XPastor Compensation Workshop […]
Emergency Response Plan
Saturday, June 23, 2018
Hey Fletch … Can you review our Emergency Response Plan? We are struggling with how to address three main issues: suicide prevention, an active shooter and fire.
DRF— In that question, you have […]
Senior Pastor Is Going to Burn Out Soon
Friday, June 22, 2018
Hey Fletch … Thank you for checking back on us. Our lead pastor is an amazing preacher and leader. However, we all fear he does too much. He is micromanaging the staff […]
Does a Church Pay Social Security on a Pastor’s Salary?
Thursday, June 21, 2018
Hey Fletch … For a pastor that has been licensed by the Board of Elders, my assumption is that the church should not withhold any Social Security or Medicare tax, right?
DRF—This question […]
Is a Senior Pastor Transition Just a Holding Pattern?
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Hey Fletch … Our senior pastor is leaving soon. It looks like we will have a 12 to 24 month transition period. It that just a time for ministries to be in […]
Big Announcement at Meeting’s End
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Hey Fletch … I met with our volunteer drummer last night. We talked for an hour about life and ministry. At the end of the time, just as we were about ready […]
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 guy, like […]