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?
Tsunami Leaders (Part 2 of 3)
[The following is Part 2 of a three-part series. To start with Part 1, read "Working with Strong Personalities at the Top." The link to Part 3---Working in Healthy Ways with Strong Leaders can be found [...]
Changes in the XP Role
Oh, how the XP job has changed! Over the last decade or two, the role of the Executive Pastor has changed significantly. Once a more business role, the position seems to have developed into [...]
Working with Strong Personalities at the Top (Part 1 of 3)
“Leading up requires great courage and determination. We might fear how our superior will respond, we might doubt our right to lead up, but we all carry a responsibility to do what we can when [...]
Three Kinds of Executive Pastors
Who will be your next XP? What is the rise and function of the Executive Pastor? Whether you call the position Executive Pastor or Senior Associate Pastor or Chief Cook and Bottle Washer, there are [...]
The Heart of an Executive Pastor
"God has blessed me with the heart of a pastor, and I love people," says Olson, 48, who joined the Lake Avenue Church staff last summer after eighteen years in ministry at Rolling Hills Covenant [...]
SP-XP Communication
One of the vital elements of the XP role is that of communication between the Executive Pastor and the Senior Pastor. The core of the XP-SP relationship is one of trust. Many new XPs are hired [...]
Discovering Your Need for an Executive Pastor—Excerpts from a Dissertation
The extant literature presents material on how to discover when an Executive Pastor is needed in a local congregation. Wes Kiel, in his unpublished article that was used in three Leadership Network forums in the [...]
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 [...]
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 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 [...]
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
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 [...]
After 145 Years, Does This Church Need an XP?
Mount Vernon Baptist Church’s history dates back over 145 years. During these years, the church faced many challenges. Individuals emerged to lead the church forward. The church is again at a crossroad in its history. In this [...]
The Senior Pastor and Executive Pastor Team
The following is a dissertation written by a Senior Pastor. To aid in making the information more readable on the web, the footnotes have been removed. To view footnotes, tables, appendices and the bibliography, please view [...]
From XP to SP, With Plenty of Change In Between
The winds of change had been blowing for several years. Not in response to a particular problem, a mid-life crisis nor a lack of ministry fulfillment. Rather, it was a persistent, gentle unsettledness, resulting in a re-evaluation [...]
To XP or Not to XP? That is the Question
When was the last time that the President of the United States attended the dedication of your Youth Education Center? When was the last time that the President quoted your Senior Pastor or called for advice? Dr. [...]
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 Minirth and [...]
Co-Senior Pastors: A New Wave of Church Leadership?
Today I received an email from a Lead Pastor asking a question about a different operating structure in a church: “I wanted to get your thoughts on a new structure that I have heard a little [...]
Helping Your XP Succeed
“I felt my heart strangely warmed.” Those were the words Jonathan Wesley used to describe his conversion the night he attended a meeting on Aldersgate Street in London. The words also describe how I felt when [...]
Tips for a New XP
April 23, 2003 is a day that Natalie Gilbert will never forget. On that day, when she was 13 years old, she was scheduled to sing the national anthem for the 2003 NBA Playoff Game [...]
Hiring an Executive Pastor?
A couple of months ago, I was asked to give a presentation entitled, “Executive Pastor: If, When, Why, How?” As you can guess from the title, the focus was on churches that were thinking about [...]
Tips for Strengthening the SP/XP Leadership Relationship
Each time I work with a church leadership team, I schedule time for coaching the Senior Pastor and Executive Pastor together. This dynamic working relationship experiences significant wear and tear and needs to be inspected [...]
The Three Lane Highway of the SP-XP Working Relationship
Over the summer, I hit a new mile marker in my leadership coaching by working with my 50th SP-XP team. I have had the privilege to spend time in thirteen states, nine denominations, and churches [...]