I heard it again today: “Only senior pastors can understand the incredible pressure a senior pastor is under.”
I have no reason to doubt the statement or any way to gauge the level of stress a senior pastor deals with. My only experience as the top dog was for two and a half years in a small church in Texas.
I’ve lost count of how many pastors I’ve met with, but my perspective is mostly second hand. From what I’ve observed, however, the lead guy is often in a pressure cooker.
At the same time, I don’t think most senior pastors understand the pressure their staff is under.
While they may have been a staff pastor at one time, the “curse of knowledge” says they probably don’t realize that they don’t remember what it’s like to not be in control. So for all the senior pastors, here’s a peek at the pressure they bring to the staff.
Eight senior pastor stress-inducing phrases:
1. “We’ll figure it out.”
Translation: I come up with ideas and you figure out how to execute them. I can’t be bogged down with the details.
2. “It’s a possibility.”
Translation: There is no way in heck we’re going to do that, but I don’t like to say no. So instead, you keep thinking it’s a possibility and I’ll keep dreaming up new ideas for you to work on.
3. “That’s a great idea, talk to the staff leader.”
Translation: That’s a terrible idea, but I don’t like to say no. (See “It’s a possibility” above.) I will send you to a staff member who will say no for me, so you’ll be mad at him instead of me.
4. “I was talking to my wife and she agrees we should change it.”
Translation: The law of the pastor’s wife is as unchangeable as the law of the Medes and Persians. There’s no debate, no modification, no appeal. Just make it happen.
Senior pastors are not the only ones under stress in their churches.
5. “We’re going to do what New Elevation Life Church does.”
Translation: I went to another church conference and now we’re going to change everything so we can be successful like the really big churches.
6. “We’re going to stop doing what New Elevation Life Church does.”
Translation: I know we just changed everything, but I don’t want to do that anymore. We’ve been doing it for three months and we’re not seeing the results I think we should see. So now we’re going to do something else. (See “We’ll figure it out.”)
7. “We need to reorganize.”
Translation: It’s time to play staff musical chairs again. Where you stop, nobody knows. Hopefully it won’t involve moving your family this time.
8. “We need to make a change.”
Translation: Someone is going to lose their job. As a staff member, you’re never quite sure when this one is coming or when the axe will swing your way. As comforting as it is to know how gut-wrenching this type of decision is for the senior pastor, it still tends to sting a little (extreme sarcasm alert in the previous sentence).
These examples are an exaggeration and compilation of all the pastors I’ve worked with.
The point is, there are two kinds of stress in working for a church; the stress of being in control and the stress of not being in control. I’m not saying the stress the staff feels is as intense as the senior pastor’s, but it’s good to experience what it’s like to be on the other side of the desk occasionally.
Maybe your stress isn’t worse than mine—maybe it’s just different.
PeterB
I served under a senior pastor with a doctorate in leadership. I hoped to learn from him but instead I found myself questioning his motives. Our first meeting after joining this church the man was embarrassing his wife to such an extend that I both my wife and I felt ashamed for her. I later went to him in love and asked that he rethink speaking to her in that manner especially in front of the junior staff to which he replied: “We have an understanding…” Things grew progressively worse from thereon in and I could see how focused some men could be on building a church as his kingdom (security) instead of the kingdom of God. I later learnt that 7 pastors had passed thru the doors of this man and the 2 that basically started with us left also, not being able to deal with the abuse that comes with organisational “kingdom” building. It was tough as we ended up trying to deal with the pains of those in leadership leaving… the one guy’s question that got to me was why is it that a potential leader is made much of but the moment that person gets close to the senior pastor they leave within months, they just disappear, no interaction with congregants nothing… just disappear. Well, to much to say and too little time, my wife and I too disappeared…I was accused of having a small church mentality…even though the church numerically and financially did the best in 10 years in our time there(that’s God’s favor). Congregants felt we betrayed them, we didn’t, we just would have been blamed if we did engage, even if it was done in love and concern for their walk with the Lord(as was the case with his wife). Our only concern really was for the sheep, their well being, I did not disrespect the man and know that God’s grace applies to him as much as it does to me. Was I disappointed, yes I was, I was a Timothy and I needed a Paul… but like the word says, “there are many instructors among you but few fathers…” Equip pastors, equip for the work for the ministry, if that is my small church mentality… good, Christ will be glorified and not an intellectual ideal of Christ or what He represents. Senior Pastors, if you, like this man think you are the neck of the body and Christ the head, you’re NOT thinking… love for God’s people is not a confession made from a pulpit, Gods love manifest in the likeness of Christ our Saviour. Is this unfair pressure on a senior pastor? No, it’s basic Christianity. God bless.