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  • B January 15 2023
March 14, 2019
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"Pastor as CEO"
We live and operate churches in a customer-oriented, consuming, materialistic society. This affects local congregations and how they evaluate themselves.
Richard Halverson, chaplain of the US Senate in the 1980s and early 1990s, has been quoted as saying: “In the beginning the church was a fellowship of men and women centering on the living Christ. Then the church moved to Greece, where it became a philosophy. Then it moved to Rome, where it became an institution. Next it moved to Europe where it became a culture, and, finally, it moved to America where it became an enterprise.”
The temptation is real for those of us in pastoral leadership: forsake the pastoral vocation of word and sacrament, prayer and disciple-making, in favor of becoming a CEO who gets things done.
What happens when the pastor becomes the CEO of the congregation? There are mixed opinions and sharp disagreements on this issue. Some say pastors should act more like CEOs and lead the people to accomplish the goals of the church. Some say that pastors who act like CEOs damage the church because they have their hand in every aspect of the church’s mission and want it run their way. There is some truth in both views.
But here are my concerns when it comes to expecting your pastor to be the CEO of your congregation.
1- If the pastor is the head of the church then what is Jesus’ role? Is Jesus serving the pastor or is the pastor serving Jesus? Jesus needs to be the head or else we are not really a church.
2- If the pastor has their heavy will imposed upon every decision of the church then where is the work of the Holy Spirit? Also, where is the discernment of the congregation? Does anybody need to pray The Lord’s Prayer....“Thy will be done.”
3- Jesus sent out the disciples with the command “Go therefore, and make disciples…” If a pastor is making the decisions then how are the disciples learning to use their talents and develop their leadership and then go make more disciples?
4- What does a congregation do when the pastor as CEO makes a mistake? Is the ministry of that pastor over: time to fire and hire?
5- Does the congregation become lazy and lose it missional focus when the pastor does the decision making?
Just some thoughts…. May the Spirit lead your discernment.
Pastor Mike 

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