Reviews & Rest
“Am I doing a good job?” “Do I need to change anything?” All staff needs to regularly hear that they are hitting the mark with their work. An annual review is good too … a time to officially hear of their strengths and limitations … a chance to talk through hopes for future growth. Hear some wisdom from one pastor:
One thing I want to do is avoid the typical evaluation, which is more about what’s wrong and needs improvement. I have never liked evaluation meetings which I go into wondering what I have done wrong this past year and what I am going to have to change or improve. Granted, some of that is necessary, but for that to be the main impression is not good.
—David Kasselman, Central Church of Christ, Amarillo, Texas
Webster defines “Sabbatical” as: “A period of time during which someone does not work at his or her regular job and is able to rest, travel, do research, etc.” Does your church have a Sabbatical Policy? If so, who gets one? Just the Senior Pastor? Just the Executive Team? All the pastors? How often?
Unleashing the Potential of Performance Evaluations
Performance reviews: Everyone knows they’re necessary. Almost all organizations have the expectation that employees will participate in at least an annual review—a few attaboys or some harsh scolding—that will motivate that employee through their [...]
Sabbaticals—Sayonara or Siesta?
Leading a church can be a 24/7 role. Even when taking a regular day off, stress can accumulate over the months. Many churches have instituted sabbatical policies to help their key leaders get needed [...]
The Power of a Restorative Sabbatical
Pastor, could God use a sabbatical to re-energize your passion, realign you with His direction for you and your church, and restore your soul towards sustainability in the next season of serving? Let me [...]
The ROI Of Employee Engagement
A New Way To Measure Your People Development Efforts According to Gallup’s recent State of the Global Workplace report, 85% of employees are disengaged in their work. But how do we measure improving that alarming [...]
Taxable Sabbatical Expenses
Hey Fletch ... Our elders developed a sabbatical policy that provides our pastors with benefits that includes normal salary and benefits. There is additional pay for activities like meeting with mentors, studying, developing relationships [...]
How Not to Take on Undelegated Responsibility
Some personality types, like mine, simply love taking on a challenge and taking on responsibility. It comes naturally, especially for leaders. Taking responsibility is a good virtue and it is celebrated in every sphere [...]
A Rule of Life for Executive Pastors in 2022
As I write this, it’s less than three weeks until 2022. Budgets are, by and large, complete. The staff Christmas party is right around the corner. Staff members are wrapping up the last of [...]
Balance Before Burnout
Dealing with Significant Church Issues Covid is the current stress factor for pastors. At day 584 and counting, it has brought many pastors to burnout, more than any other event in our lives. This [...]
4 Ways To Avoid Burnout
Are you ready to trust—and relax? Because to avoid burnout, you need to encourage your church employees to pour back into themselves a little each day – while you reinvest in yourself, too – [...]
A Theological Case for Sabbatical Policies
Every faith-based organization—especially churches—should set itself apart from its business and government counterparts by putting a sabbatical policy in place not as a perk or a benefit but rather at the heart of its [...]
Assessing Ministry Competencies
The free e-book, Competencies of a Ministry Leader, is for any ministry leader, from the best peak performers to those burned out and needing rest. Wherever you are on that continuum, this assessment will [...]
Knowing the Health of Your Staff
Few staff members feel they can be completely forthright with their superiors concerning “tough situations.” This puts church leadership in a jam. How can leaders know how staff are feeling about their pay, work [...]
Sabbaticals
Hey Fletch … After 60 years of our church’s history, 28 years on the pastoral staff, our leadership has granted a 12-week sabbatical for our Senior Pastor. We have the material and suggestions on how [...]
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, [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Thursday is Think Time
Friday, May 25, 2018 Hey Fletch … I have all Thursday called #NMT (No Meeting Thursday) and set it aside to do just that. I only do strategic planning. I don’t do any other [...]
Part-Time Pastor Ready to Burn Out
Saturday, May 12, 2018 Hey Fletch … I’m a church planter. We have a part-time pastor on our staff. Her husband makes a good living and we would love to pay her more. However, [...]
I’m a Paid, Professional Christian
Tuesday, April 3, 2018 Hey Fletch … I feel like I’m a paid, professional Christian. I work in a church as a pastor and it is feeling like a job. The joy is begging [...]
Working 65 Hours and Not Getting It Done
Tuesday, March 13, 2018 Hey Prof … I’m about maxed out in my job at church. I’m putting in 65 hours a week and still not getting it all done. My wife is fussing [...]
Leading from the Second Chair—Depression Inside the Church
I was a young 20-something, eager to get ahead, and interviewing for a promotion to Project Manager. My boss at the time gave me this little bit of wisdom as she described the role, “You’ll [...]
Stress Relief for Pastors and Leaders
Does it feel like helping others is sometimes hurting you more? Are you taking deliberate steps to manage stress in your life? Everyone experiences stress. Even good events like weddings, births, and graduations create stressful conditions. [...]
Questions for the New Year
The New Year brings new opportunities to focus our lives on what and who matters most. In my mentoring and consulting practice, I am working with my clients this month, helping them talk through their [...]
Sabbatical Policy
XPastor tries to help churches by providing some of the essentials for running a church---items like job descriptions, employment applications, review forms and policies. Below is the 2005 Sabbatical Policy of the Westminster Church [...]