A frequently-asked question among church members with pastors who are recent
graduates of seminary is: What are they teaching these men about the role of
a pastor?
The question arises because a number of generally younger ministers seem, at
least to some of their members, to have what they call a “CEO mentality.”
A frequently-asked question among church members with pastors who are recent
graduates of seminary is: What are they teaching these men about the role of
a pastor?
The question arises because a number of generally younger ministers seem, at
least to some of their members, to have what they call a “CEO mentality.”
A board of a secular company hires a CEO (Chief Executive Officer) because
they believe he knows what is best for the company. The CEO moves to the company
helm and makes changes without regard to how things were done before or how
employees are going to be affected by such changes. For the CEO, profits, increased
profits and company growth are all that matter – just the bottom line.
A minister is accused of having a CEO mentality if he comes to a church and
immediately begins making significant changes to the churchs operation
and ministries. When asked why, his answer is simply, “Because I am the
pastor, and I believe this is a better way.”
When tension arises in such a situation, two questions come to mind.
The church may be generally resistant to chance. Older members especially forget
that just because something has “always been done this way,” it does
not mean that is the best way to do it. Some churches forget that the form of
how a church operates is not to be identified as the function.
Some churches are literally “on their last legs” because they have
refused to change through the years. Their need for change may be obvious to
everyone, especially a new pastor, except the members who have always been doing
things a certain way.
Just about any pastor, at any time in his ministry, who would dare try to change
things in such churches would meet with a resounding thumping, if not firing.
The situation may also be that a pastor comes in and immediately begins making
drastic changes and tries to make others without earning the right to lead in
such sensitive areas.
It seems the Southern Baptist denomination at large continues to feature and
highlight strong pastoral leaders. These pastors encourage other pastors “be
the man of God,” “be a man of vision,” “be a strong leader.”
These exhortations are by men who have been what they preach – strong leaders,
men of visions, men of God.
But what usually is not said but which all such speakers know is this: Before
you start making drastic changes, you must earn the right to lead, and the more
sensitive the areas of concern, the more you have to earn to be able to lead.
Every pastor who is a strong, successful leader has earned the right to that
kind of leadership. He may have earned it in a few years, but most have earned
it over years and years.
Church members want to know by his actions that a new pastor loves the church
and would never knowingly do anything to hurt the church. They want to know
that the new pastor has good judgment and proven skills to help pilot the ship
as they navigate dangerous waters of change. The new pastor may have demonstrated
his love and skills in previous churches, but the members of his new church
want to know firsthand that he loves them and will do what is best for them.
Love cannot be secondhand, and love is absolutely necessary in church leadership
and followship. Also, saying, “I love you” is not enough on either
side; love must be demonstrated on an ongoing basis.
Neither church members nor pastors are generally fools, although like all other
human beings, they can both act foolish at times. Hopefully, both new pastors
and longtime church members both want what is best for their church. What should
be done by the church is frequently somewhere between what the more reticent-to-change
members want and what a change-oriented pastor wants.
Pastors are not called to be CEOs, but they are called to lead. Christian leadership
must be built upon demonstrated love for the church body and for its individual
members. In return, the church body should pay willing attention to the leadership
given by the person God has called to the church to lead as well as serve.