7 Essential Attributes Of Executive Pastors

What is an executive pastor position?

An executive pastor carries a senior role in the church. They are responsible for setting long-term goals and guiding the church. They help navigate the members and offer spiritual counsel. But they also need to be attuned to physical and financial needs as well.

Executive Pastor Job Description

While the senior leadership is more attuned to spiritual needs, the executive pastor manages the practical aspects of the church. So for this role, you need to find someone who has experience in both. They will be a spiritual coach as well as financial organizer. This requires executive pastors to perform a wide range of duties, including:

• Overseeing human resource programs
• Creating financial budgets for the church
• Monitoring the flow of digital giving platforms
• Administration and implementation of church missions
• Creation of church policies
• Ensuring effectiveness across the levels of membership
• Outreach operations
• Training and coaching programs
• Administrating disciplinary measures within the church
• Dealing with any legal problems
• Restructuring and developing new programs
• Growing donors
• Creating fundraisers

Executive Pastor Skills and Requirements

• Good leadership skills
• At least five years of relevant experience
• Experience, both on mission fields and in church leadership
• Spiritually strong
• Good working knowledge of the Bible
• Team player
• Multitasker
• Able to manage large financial operations
• Has a good balance of physical and spiritual attributes
• Proficient with most IT platforms
• Is able to handle many different types, ages, and kinds of members

Executive pastors must be in tune with today’s methods and able to guide a digitally connected church. Now, let’s dig deeper, examining the following seven essential attributes of executive pastors

1.      They Set Goals and Strategize Well

Executive pastors aren’t just on board for one or two church programs. They are an essential part of the church’s long-term strategy. To accomplish this, they need to know how to operate digital platforms set up for measuring church data and metrics.

2.     They Develop Leaders through Mentorship

Because they will have adequate experience within church boards and on the field, they will know how to develop not just follower, but real strong leaders. Developing and mentoring others will be one of their main tasks, on a daily basis.

“Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant,” Matthew 20:26

3.     They Are Communication Experts

The communications of an executive pastor involve one-on-one conversations, church seminars, and also the digital communications. They need to be experts in software, technology, and know how utilize mobile platforms for the church missions. Tzhey will also need extreme patience when communicating new digital strategies to members of the church.

“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” Proverbs 16:32

4.     They Manage Finances Well

Finances are a huge part of a church’s operations. The executive pastor will be responsible to spearhead these business administrations, much the same as a COO (Chief Operating Officer) would in a corporation. He should have business administration and accounting experience to handle all the micro-management of tithes and donations. On top of this, he needs to know how to guide donors and build relationships with future supporters of the church.

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4

5.     They Complement the Senior Church Leader

Church leaders will often have different personalities, yet they will be able to balance each other out. Those who know their weaknesses will be willing to make way for the stronger leaders, and vice versa. So the executive pastor will complement the senior pastor, supporting the mission all the way, and offering his or her skills to make the vision a reality.

“He who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.”  Luke 22:26

6.     They Find Solutions

One of the less inspiring aspects of leading a church is all the criticism you will need to handle. Rather than getting discouraged by the problems, a good executive pastor will face the challenges with joy of spirit. He or she will be prayerful when making decisions, and seek to find solutions that strengthen the church as a whole body. Then, they will be wise when implementing those solutions, ensuring that the whole process follows a Biblical perspective, and is in line with the church’s foundational teachings.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22

7.      They are big on faith

Successful executive pastors are those who let faith lead them in all they do. They are skilled people, yes, but they are never too proud to admit that they don’t have all the answers. They seek the Lord in prayer each day, finding strength and faith from the Word. Before dealing with the practical issues, they ensure that their hearts and spirits are in the right place. Only from this humility and authenticity, do they lead.

“So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.”  Psalms 78:72

If you are training your current or future executive pastors to take on leadership roles, we have all the executive pastor resources you need. From faith-based training programs and practical tips, to digital apps and platforms.

Please get in touch with Donorwerx to schedule a Demo Call and find out how we can help you grow your church by strengthening your servant leaders first.