The effectiveness of a minister is directly related to the quality of leaders
around him.Tony Morgan presents 7 qualifying questions that should be
considered when examining potential leaders.
1.Do they have the leadership gift?
This is the key question that shapes everything else. If they aren’t a leader,
they shouldn’t be on this team. You also need to consider leadership capacity.
We know from Scripture that there are leaders of tens, fifties, hundreds and
thousands.
2.Are they a big-picture thinker?
In other words, this person always prioritizes the church’shealth over what’s
happening in their specific ministry area. They are more concerned with
alignment to the overall goals rather than defending their turf. They won’t let
their passion fora specific ministry get in the way of making decisions that help
the entire church take a step forward.
3.Is this person a strategic thinker?
You need people who can think beyond the daily details. There are places for managers on your team. You need people who can take the game plan and makeit happen. Your senior team, though, isn’t the place for managers. Find people whothink about the future and then canstrategically propose how to get from here to there.
4.Can they build teams?
In ministry, this is primarily about building and equipping teams of volunteers. As thechurch grows, you also need people who can develop staff teams. These are the folks who have demonstrated they can identify and empower other leaders. If their instinct is, “I need to do this myself,” you have the wrong person.
5.Do they share the vision and values of your organization?
This is no team for someone who perceives they need to provide checks and balances.Maybe they pride themselves on being the “devil’s advocate” in your organization.Thedevil already has an advocate — you don’t need one on your senior leadership team. Every leader at this level needs to be 100 percent on board with the church’s vision and values.
6.Does this person help us reflect the diversity of our ministry?
Sometimes we falsely assume every leader is wired up just like us. That’s absolutely not true. Leadership comes in a variety of shapes and sizes based on someone’s gift mix, background, personality and experiences. Consider using the “Leading From Your Strengths” profile to help you identify how different strengths are the foundation for different leaders.
7.Is this person a lifelong learner?
Ideally, you’ll identify people who will grow with your organization. It does no good to have someone who has all the answers, because tomorrow the questions will be different. You need people who embrace leadership development for themselves and their teams.
By the way, especially for smaller or newer churches, you don’t necessarily need to be paid staff to be on the senior leadership team. For lay people, though, they still need to be fully engaged in ministry and serving in a leadership capacity.
If a volunteer leader can’t invest the time to do that, you may need to move them into more of an advisory capacity or just pull them in on specific projects.
http://tonymorganlive.com/2011/10/24/who-should-be-on-the-team/?
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
LifeWay Survey: Majority Of Pastors Experience Loneliness
Though almost all pastors feel privileged to be in ministry, a majority also experience loneliness and discouragement.
That is the finding of a survey by LifeWay Research of 1,000 American Protestant pastors conducted Aug. 17-24.
A full 98 percent agree with the statement, "I feel privileged to be a pastor," with 93 percent strongly agreeing. Only about 0.5 percent of pastors disagree with the statement.
Yet more than half (55 percent) also agree with the statement, "I find that it is easy to get discouraged," and 55 percent say being in pastoral ministry makes them feel lonely at times.
"Many oft-quoted statistics speak of miserable and unhappy pastors, but that's not what we see when we actually ask them," explained Ed Stetzer, vice president of research and ministry development at LifeWay Christian Resources. "There is discouragement and loneliness, but when 98 percent agree it is a privilege to be a pastor, we also know there is a great honor to being a pastor."
Pastors 65 and older are the least discouraged age bracket. While 30 percent of those 65 and older strongly disagree that it is easy to get discouraged in ministry, only 19 percent ages 55-64 strongly disagree along with 13 percent ages 45-54 and 11 percent ages 18-44.
Pastors 65 and older are also most likely to strongly disagree (39 percent) with the statement, "Pastoral ministry makes me feel lonely at times." Twenty-nine percent of those ages 55-64 strongly disagree, as well as 21 percent ages 45-54 and 19 percent ages 18-44.
Ironically, pastors of larger churches are lonelier. Of those in congregations with average attendance of 250 or more, 17 percent strongly disagree that pastoral ministry makes them feel lonely at times. In comparison, 32 percent with churches of 0-49 and 27 percent with churches of 100-249 strongly disagree.
"Pastors feel privileged, but clearly the reality of constant service can take its toll," Stetzer said. "There is discouragement and loneliness in ministry. It appears that the larger the church the more present the loneliness."
http://www.charismanews.com/culture/32124-survey-majority-of-pastors-experience-loneliness-discouragement
That is the finding of a survey by LifeWay Research of 1,000 American Protestant pastors conducted Aug. 17-24.
A full 98 percent agree with the statement, "I feel privileged to be a pastor," with 93 percent strongly agreeing. Only about 0.5 percent of pastors disagree with the statement.
Yet more than half (55 percent) also agree with the statement, "I find that it is easy to get discouraged," and 55 percent say being in pastoral ministry makes them feel lonely at times.
"Many oft-quoted statistics speak of miserable and unhappy pastors, but that's not what we see when we actually ask them," explained Ed Stetzer, vice president of research and ministry development at LifeWay Christian Resources. "There is discouragement and loneliness, but when 98 percent agree it is a privilege to be a pastor, we also know there is a great honor to being a pastor."
Pastors 65 and older are the least discouraged age bracket. While 30 percent of those 65 and older strongly disagree that it is easy to get discouraged in ministry, only 19 percent ages 55-64 strongly disagree along with 13 percent ages 45-54 and 11 percent ages 18-44.
Pastors 65 and older are also most likely to strongly disagree (39 percent) with the statement, "Pastoral ministry makes me feel lonely at times." Twenty-nine percent of those ages 55-64 strongly disagree, as well as 21 percent ages 45-54 and 19 percent ages 18-44.
Ironically, pastors of larger churches are lonelier. Of those in congregations with average attendance of 250 or more, 17 percent strongly disagree that pastoral ministry makes them feel lonely at times. In comparison, 32 percent with churches of 0-49 and 27 percent with churches of 100-249 strongly disagree.
"Pastors feel privileged, but clearly the reality of constant service can take its toll," Stetzer said. "There is discouragement and loneliness in ministry. It appears that the larger the church the more present the loneliness."
http://www.charismanews.com/culture/32124-survey-majority-of-pastors-experience-loneliness-discouragement
LifeWay Study: Majority of Pastors Experience Loneliness
Though almost all pastors feel privileged to be in ministry, a majority also experience loneliness and discouragement.
That is the finding of a survey by LifeWay Research of 1,000 American Protestant pastors conducted Aug. 17-24.
A full 98 percent agree with the statement, "I feel privileged to be a pastor," with 93 percent strongly agreeing. Only about 0.5 percent of pastors disagree with the statement.
Yet more than half (55 percent) also agree with the statement, "I find that it is easy to get discouraged," and 55 percent say being in pastoral ministry makes them feel lonely at times.
"Many oft-quoted statistics speak of miserable and unhappy pastors, but that's not what we see when we actually ask them," explained Ed Stetzer, vice president of research and ministry development at LifeWay Christian Resources. "There is discouragement and loneliness, but when 98 percent agree it is a privilege to be a pastor, we also know there is a great honor to being a pastor."
Pastors 65 and older are the least discouraged age bracket. While 30 percent of those 65 and older strongly disagree that it is easy to get discouraged in ministry, only 19 percent ages 55-64 strongly disagree along with 13 percent ages 45-54 and 11 percent ages 18-44.
Pastors 65 and older are also most likely to strongly disagree (39 percent) with the statement, "Pastoral ministry makes me feel lonely at times." Twenty-nine percent of those ages 55-64 strongly disagree, as well as 21 percent ages 45-54 and 19 percent ages 18-44.
Ironically, pastors of larger churches are lonelier. Of those in congregations with average attendance of 250 or more, 17 percent strongly disagree that pastoral ministry makes them feel lonely at times. In comparison, 32 percent with churches of 0-49 and 27 percent with churches of 100-249 strongly disagree.
"Pastors feel privileged, but clearly the reality of constant service can take its toll," Stetzer said. "There is discouragement and loneliness in ministry. It appears that the larger the church the more present the loneliness."
Positively, nearly eight in 10 pastors (79 percent) disagree with the statement, "Being in ministry has had a negative effect on my family." A majority (58 percent) strongly disagree. Twenty percent somewhat disagree, 15 percent somewhat agree and 4 percent strongly agree.
"This statistic has to be one of the biggest surprises," said Stetzer, who has also served as a pastor. "Pastoring can be stressful on a family, but contrary to some hyped statistics, most do not believe that being a pastor has hurt their family.
"Pastoring is difficult, and family life is a fishbowl, but overstating the challenge and dangers of pastoring can discourage pastors and create an expectation of family disruption leading to that very problem," he said.
Pastors in the South (63 percent) are more likely to strongly disagree that ministry has had a negative effect on their families than their counterparts in the Northeast (51 percent) or Midwest (54 percent).
The study found that 18 percent of pastors have more than 10 close friends in their congregation. Sixteen percent have six to 10, 38 percent have three to five, 10 percent have two and 4 percent have one. Twelve percent of pastors have no close friends in their congregation.
Pastors 65 and older are less likely to have no close friends in their church and most likely to have more than 10 close friends. Six percent of pastors ages 65 and older have no close friends, compared with 14 percent ages 55-64 and 13 percent ages 18-44.
More than a third (34 percent) of pastors 65 and older have more than 10 close friends in their church.
Pastors in the Northeast (20 percent) are more likely to have no close friends in their church than those in the South (10 percent) or West (9 percent). Additionally, those identifying themselves as Mainline (18 percent) are more likely to have no close friends than those identifying themselves as Evangelicals (10 percent).
Relationships matter and it appears that pastors value those friendship—particularly as they get older," Stetzer explained. "Older pastors (and I would add, younger pastors with wisdom) have developed more close friendships within their church and are less likely to be discouraged or lonely. This combination mirrors workplace studies that have shown that more friendships at work correspond with higher satisfaction with a person's job and life."
http://www.charismanews.com/culture/32124-survey-majority-of-pastors-experience-loneliness-discouragement
That is the finding of a survey by LifeWay Research of 1,000 American Protestant pastors conducted Aug. 17-24.
A full 98 percent agree with the statement, "I feel privileged to be a pastor," with 93 percent strongly agreeing. Only about 0.5 percent of pastors disagree with the statement.
Yet more than half (55 percent) also agree with the statement, "I find that it is easy to get discouraged," and 55 percent say being in pastoral ministry makes them feel lonely at times.
"Many oft-quoted statistics speak of miserable and unhappy pastors, but that's not what we see when we actually ask them," explained Ed Stetzer, vice president of research and ministry development at LifeWay Christian Resources. "There is discouragement and loneliness, but when 98 percent agree it is a privilege to be a pastor, we also know there is a great honor to being a pastor."
Pastors 65 and older are the least discouraged age bracket. While 30 percent of those 65 and older strongly disagree that it is easy to get discouraged in ministry, only 19 percent ages 55-64 strongly disagree along with 13 percent ages 45-54 and 11 percent ages 18-44.
Pastors 65 and older are also most likely to strongly disagree (39 percent) with the statement, "Pastoral ministry makes me feel lonely at times." Twenty-nine percent of those ages 55-64 strongly disagree, as well as 21 percent ages 45-54 and 19 percent ages 18-44.
Ironically, pastors of larger churches are lonelier. Of those in congregations with average attendance of 250 or more, 17 percent strongly disagree that pastoral ministry makes them feel lonely at times. In comparison, 32 percent with churches of 0-49 and 27 percent with churches of 100-249 strongly disagree.
"Pastors feel privileged, but clearly the reality of constant service can take its toll," Stetzer said. "There is discouragement and loneliness in ministry. It appears that the larger the church the more present the loneliness."
Positively, nearly eight in 10 pastors (79 percent) disagree with the statement, "Being in ministry has had a negative effect on my family." A majority (58 percent) strongly disagree. Twenty percent somewhat disagree, 15 percent somewhat agree and 4 percent strongly agree.
"This statistic has to be one of the biggest surprises," said Stetzer, who has also served as a pastor. "Pastoring can be stressful on a family, but contrary to some hyped statistics, most do not believe that being a pastor has hurt their family.
"Pastoring is difficult, and family life is a fishbowl, but overstating the challenge and dangers of pastoring can discourage pastors and create an expectation of family disruption leading to that very problem," he said.
Pastors in the South (63 percent) are more likely to strongly disagree that ministry has had a negative effect on their families than their counterparts in the Northeast (51 percent) or Midwest (54 percent).
The study found that 18 percent of pastors have more than 10 close friends in their congregation. Sixteen percent have six to 10, 38 percent have three to five, 10 percent have two and 4 percent have one. Twelve percent of pastors have no close friends in their congregation.
Pastors 65 and older are less likely to have no close friends in their church and most likely to have more than 10 close friends. Six percent of pastors ages 65 and older have no close friends, compared with 14 percent ages 55-64 and 13 percent ages 18-44.
More than a third (34 percent) of pastors 65 and older have more than 10 close friends in their church.
Pastors in the Northeast (20 percent) are more likely to have no close friends in their church than those in the South (10 percent) or West (9 percent). Additionally, those identifying themselves as Mainline (18 percent) are more likely to have no close friends than those identifying themselves as Evangelicals (10 percent).
Relationships matter and it appears that pastors value those friendship—particularly as they get older," Stetzer explained. "Older pastors (and I would add, younger pastors with wisdom) have developed more close friendships within their church and are less likely to be discouraged or lonely. This combination mirrors workplace studies that have shown that more friendships at work correspond with higher satisfaction with a person's job and life."
http://www.charismanews.com/culture/32124-survey-majority-of-pastors-experience-loneliness-discouragement
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