An executive pastor is a leadership position in a church that manages the day-to-day operations and business aspects of the church. The role allows the senior pastor to focus on preaching, teaching, and providing vision and direction for the congregation. While the specifics of the job vary by church, executive pastors generally oversee areas like finance, human resources, facilities, technology, and sometimes worship or other ministry departments. They work closely with the senior pastor to handle logistics, maximize resources, and ensure the church runs smoothly.
The Bible does not explicitly mention the term “executive pastor,” but the role aligns with biblical principles of stewardship and administration. Several passages highlight the importance of capable leadership and wise management within the church.
Qualifications for an Executive Pastor
While specific skills and experience may vary, certain biblical qualifications apply to those seeking an executive pastor role. These include:
- Demonstrated faith and spiritual maturity (1 Timothy 3:1-7)
- Wisdom, discernment and leadership capabilities (Proverbs 24:3-6)
- Integrity and trustworthiness (Luke 16:10-12)
- Gift of administration (1 Corinthians 12:28)
- Heart for stewardship and serving others (1 Peter 4:10-11)
In Acts 6, the early church was growing rapidly, creating practical needs. The apostles delegated administration of food distribution to spiritually mature and wise individuals like Stephen so they could remain focused on “prayer and the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). This passage illustrates the value of designating capable leaders for management tasks.
Responsibilities of an Executive Pastor
While specific duties vary, executive pastors commonly oversee these areas of church operations:
- Finance – Handling budgets, payroll, accounting, taxes, insurance, etc. (Luke 14:28-30)
- Facilities – Managing building maintenance, renovations, parking, security, etc. (Nehemiah 13:4-9)
- Technology – Overseeing sound, media, websites, computer systems, etc. (Exodus 31:1-6)
- Human Resources – Recruiting, hiring, training staff and volunteers (Matthew 9:37-38)
- Administration – Coordinating calendars, meetings, policies, etc. (1 Corinthians 14:40)
- Risk Management – Ensuring safety, legal and insurance compliance (Proverbs 27:12)
The executive pastor serves as a shepherd of church resources, aligning them to support the overall mission. They manage infrastructure and operations to make ministry as effective and fruitful as possible.
Working Relationships
The executive pastor role requires strong relationships and influence skills. They interact extensively with:
- Senior Pastor – Partnering closely to provide spiritual leadership and execute vision (Acts 15:22-29)
- Staff – Leading, developing, and caring for church employees (1 Timothy 3:4-5)
- Volunteers – Recruiting, empowering, and appreciating church members who serve (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)
- Church Leadership – Collaborating with boards, committees, ministry heads (Proverbs 15:22)
- Vendors – Researching, selecting and managing outside contractors and partnerships (Proverbs 15:22)
The role requires excellent teambuilding and conflict resolution abilities. Executive pastors must balance church needs and values with business realities.
Common Challenges
While rewarding, executive pastors commonly encounter these challenges:
- Unclear Expectations – Responsibilities between senior pastor and executive pastor unclear (Proverbs 29:18)
- Mission Drift – Focus shifts too heavily to business aspects rather than ministry (Matthew 6:24)
- Volunteer Management – Recruiting, training, and retaining volunteers to support operations (Exodus 18:13-27)
- Resource Limitations – Balancing needs and vision with financial realities (Luke 14:28-30)
- Problem Solving – Making complex decisions that affect many stakeholders (Proverbs 16:1-3)
Executive pastors must remain spiritually grounded in prayer and wisdom from God to navigate tensions that arise (James 1:5). They should also surround themselves with trusted counselors (Proverbs 11:14).
Key Skills and Traits
Those best suited for the executive pastor role exhibit these skills and qualities:
- Strategic thinking – Ability to translate vision into action plans (Proverbs 19:20-21)
- Organizational skills – Able to oversee complex church operations (1 Corinthians 14:40)
- Financial acumen – Experience managing budgets, finance and analysis (Luke 14:28-30)
- Team building – Skills to recruit, lead and develop staff (Nehemiah 4:6-14)
- Communication – Clear written and verbal skills (Proverbs 15:1-2)
- EQ and maturity – Relates well, resolves conflicts, trusts God (Proverbs 11:14)
The executive pastor role requires a unique blend of spiritual maturity, leadership capabilities, technical skills and wisdom. When these come together under the direction of the Holy Spirit, they can greatly strengthen the operational health of a church.
Finding the Right Fit
It is important for churches to carefully consider cultural fit when hiring an executive pastor. They should look for these types of indicators:
- Passionate about the church’s vision, beliefs and values (Amos 3:3)
- Relates well with church staff and members (Philippians 2:2-4)
- Leadership style complements the senior pastor’s (Ephesians 4:1-6)
- Willingness to make personal sacrifices for the work (Philippians 2:5-8)
- Commitment to integrity and stewardship (Luke 16:10-12)
Assessing technical skills alone is not sufficient. The executive pastor must be seen as a spiritual authority and culture carrier to be truly effective. Their relationship with the senior pastor is also integral to success. Prayerful discernment helps ensure the right match.
Oversight and Development
While the executive pastor manages day-to-day operations, the senior pastor and church governance team provide oversight and evaluate performance (Acts 20:28). It is important they also encourage professional development through:
- Conferences, seminars and continuing education
- Peer advisory groups for collaboration
- Leadership coaching and mentoring
- Sabbaticals for spiritual renewal
Investing in growth helps executive pastors adapt to new challenges while avoiding burnout. This benefits the individual and the church as a whole (2 Timothy 2:2).
The Executive Pastor and Biblical Leadership
Several key leadership principles from Scripture apply to the executive pastor role:
- Modeling Christian Character – Their lives should demonstrate maturity and integrity (1 Timothy 3:1-7).
- Advancing the Vision – They operationalize the senior pastor’s vision and direction (Proverbs 29:18).
- Stewarding Resources – They prudently manage finances, staff, facilities, etc. (Luke 12:48).
- Providing Unity – They unify diverse people and ministries to work together (Ephesians 4:1-6).
- Cultivating Talent – They develop staff skills, gifts and leadership capabilities (2 Timothy 2:2).
- Facilitating Ministry – They implement systems to make ministry smooth and effective (1 Corinthians 14:40).
When executed well, the executive pastor role is incredibly valuable in aligning church operations with the overarching mission and vision.
Working Alongside the Senior Pastor
A positive relationship between the senior pastor and executive pastor is essential. Best practices include:
- Clear division of responsibilities
- Shared vision for the church
- Open communication and trust
- Regular meetings for alignment
- Providing feedback and accountability
- Balanced workloads and margin
- Collaborating as co-leaders
While their roles differ, the senior and executive pastor should have unified spirituality, chemistry and competencies. This provides cohesion to lead the church forward.
Potential Dangers and Pitfalls
Churches should also be aware of these potential downsides if the executive pastor role is not structured and executed well:
- Lack of spiritual authority if focus drifts too secular
- Tension or competition with senior pastor
- Mission drift towards mere business rather than ministry
- Micro-managing staff in overreaching the role
- Major problems if the executive pastor leaves
- Danger of over-relying on a single point of failure
Having proper oversight, relationship dynamics, parity of esteem between pastoral roles, and emergency succession plans can help mitigate these risks.
The Executive Pastor as a Calling
While demanding, being an executive pastor provides incredible opportunities to impact God’s Kingdom. Executed well, this role allows ministries to thrive by handling important business aspects so pastors and staff can fulfill their callings and gifts.
The Bible upholds administration and stewardship as spiritual gifts vital to the church’s success (1 Corinthians 12:28, Romans 12:7-8). For some, the executive pastor role becomes a true calling – one that uniquely matches their competencies while filling a critical need churches have in today’s complex world.
Churches must remember that executive pastors are partners in ministry, not just business managers. Fostering a shared sense of calling and vision between senior leadership builds a fruitful partnership. This empowers maximum impact, which is the ultimate goal.