Comments on: Follow the Leader: More Jesus, Less Personality Pastor

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 12 May 2011 22:41:57 +0000

Good to see “Bible” prominent, but noticed “Jim” was still much bigger than “Christ” and didn’t see “Jesus” anywhere. Not trying to be snarky, althougth I am likely succeeding unintentionally.

By: Dave Lindrooth

Dave Lindrooth — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 18:07:30 +0000

It takes time for a community to develop confidence in a leader. That would mean that a pastor can not operate optimally until that confidence develops (one study of the Church of England suggests that it takes 5-7 years before confidence really develops). Repeated pastoral changes can, therefore, be devastating to a church’s progress in the long term.

By: Fred

Fred — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:18:37 +0000

Where did it say that the pastor was this big leader? I don’t see that in my new testament. Does leadership mean leading us closer to God or does it mean being a CEO who decides to spend the church tithes on flights, hotel rooms and gourmet meals and hires his entire family, gives them a big salary and a big title?

By: Steve Rainwater

Steve Rainwater — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 05:48:59 +0000

This problem may be less about the pastor and leadership model in the church and more about the culture. Jesus led by establishing a presence among the multitudes as well as intimate relationships behind the scenes. In his case it was OK to be a rock star because He is the one to be followed anyway. The disciples, Paul and others did the same with their leadership – always impressing the crowds while also working quietly behind the scenes. The difference today is that in our culture our behind the scenes relationships might be weaker to begin with. The relationship and all of the momentum created by the video pastor is just another type of our television and Internet lives. But we can’t discount the fact that it is a legitimate relationship.
To the quote from Rob Bell – there is a sense in which the ten and the video pastor may accomplish the same thing. There are great benefits to decentralized leadership. But I think given our culture, it’s not simple and requires greater pro-activity than maybe any time in history.

By: Ruben

Ruben — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:08:41 +0000

This is a painful conversation for me. I agree that some pastors and churches go overboard with the celebrity thing. But I think that just goes with the territory if someone is that gifted.
What bothers me is that the church has become so commercialized. This discussion simply reflects how our minds are entrenched in corporate mentality.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:05:49 +0000

“Women pastor as well as men. It’s proven. So lets do away with male centric refrences when referring to the pastoral role. To do otherwise sucks.”
The apostle paul writes to a young pastor and tells him “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man” (1 Timothy 2:12) Who are you to say otherwise? Do you not know that all scripture is breathed out by God and is for our good? Repent Kevin.

By: Zach

Zach — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:53:43 +0000

You CAN’T decentralize your leadership (or pastorship) without the risk of kickback in the form of dissension. I’ve seen it happen too many times. Besides, who put the pastor into leadership in the first place? It was God, guys. Yes, pastors and leaders are fallible, but that’s just a testament to God’s grace, because how else would one person’s name CONNECT with so many people in order to help lead them into a better communicative life with God? People connect with either the pastor of a church, or with the leaders that pastor has entrusted to help carry out the church’s overall vision. Most people need that direct connection, whether via video or television or not, with a pastor in order to feel some kind of ownership in the church.

By: Steve Johnston

Steve Johnston — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:33:48 +0000

Many truths here, but as a brand guy, I must reinforce the idea that there is only ONE person who can be sure the face of the “church” remains consistent across all locations.
If the Senior Pastor hands that off to someone, staff or lay person, that’s fine, but there cannot be ten people in ten locations setting the brand image the way they see it, and have the entitiy be successful. Too many cooks spoil the stew.
Setting the direction is a whole different discussion. I suspect that multilocation churches really struggle with this, as well as doctrine and teaching efforts as well.
Great discussion.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:47:34 +0000

Since I was a kid, I like to picture the scene and the drama that is present in so much of the scriptural record. Especially the gospels. I have pictured Jesus in so many different scenarios, his voice inflection, body language, the wink in his eye when he delivered the punch to a parable. To be sure, I imagine jesus with loads of personality and charisma…just picture his face on the road to Jerusalem when he answered the critic who told him to silence the crowd, “Man, if I told these people to be quiet even these rocks would start howling.” Awesome.
I think Jesus had personality,he had a presence, an “identity” and I think it was not divorced from his mission and his message. Indeed, he was the centralized leader. Congregations need to reclaim their need for a leader, and pastors need to reclaim that call. It is hard, with ego and systems that tend to co-opt, but it is doable. The church doesn’t need more pastors who are buddies to the congregation. The church needs more pastors, and in that, more leaders. Perhaps it is a matter of expectation. I used to think I was a successful pastor if everyone thought of me as their best friend. I learned later, the hard way, that the burden of congregations friendship is too heavy when also shouldered with the burden of being the spiritual leader of a congregation. There are exceptions, and close relationships do develop naturally when doing life with people, but the role of leadership and authority is an important one not to be taklen lightly.
Tis easier said than done to be sure, balancing that fine line between building a church around a person and building it around the Kingdom of God, but we do have a good example in Jesus.
and mike, there are no minor associates. you do good work. the chain would not be as strong without you. well done.

By: Mike Ricks

Mike Ricks — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:10:19 +0000

While I agree with the premise of the article and for the most part Rob Bell’s quote I have one word of caution. The phrase “decentralizing leadership” is concerning. A central leader of an ministry is crucial. Having ten “equal” voices sitting around a table discussing ministry and vision could get crazy really fast.
If you are a church thinking of adding additional campuses it would be wise to develop strong leadership for that campus as long as that leader answers to THE leader. This is not the same as a church plant. That’s a different story all together. I’m thinking along the lines of Prestonwood and it’s newest satellite campus.
If you are a smaller church that may be struggling with too much of it’s identity being wrapped up in it’s pastor you may try adding a senior associate pastor position. While the pastor still remains “the face” a senior associate can become the man behind the scenes that keeps the train moving so to speak. If the pastor leaves you won’t be left without strong leadership that understood the workings of the church while the pastor was there thus minimizing the affects.
Before you think I’m speaking from a pastoral perspective let me assure I’m just a minor associate pastor at a large church that has worked very hard to build a ministry that transcends it’s leadership.