The Leadership Life of the Sr. Pastor Pt.2

Every profession has its set of pitfalls.

Policemen deal with risk every day and battle cynicism that comes from who and what they see. Social workers wrestle with massive case loads that challenge personal touch. Professional athletes and entertainers face the oppressive competition, and on the list goes.

So what about senior pastors? There are no pitfalls that are exclusive to any profession, but there are a few that clearly and consistently rise to the top of what senior pastors communicate are "the things that just seem to take me out." What are among the top pitfalls they face on a regular basis?

In terms of pitfalls, I'm not including sexual temptation and sin in general because it lacks relevance, but because, in contrast, it always exists. It should never be dismissed. Further, it is an area so huge and complex it merits an article all to itself. So when it comes to this area - guard your heart! Beyond this Grand Canyon-sized pitfall there are others that are more subtle, but nonetheless can have devastating results. The following three things are what pastors tell me are the "real deal" that competes with being and achieving all that God has intended.

1. Power

Make no mistake about it, you may have the authority, but the people have the power. They always have and always will. President Bush is an excellent example. He is arguably the most powerful man in the world. His authority is immense. But currently his power is greatly diminished. Who says so? The people say so. These are the people who will cast their ballots and vote in the elections next year. People in your church cast their ballots as well. In fact, they vote with their feet and their wallets every Sunday. And it is when you begin to believe that the power belongs to you that you are dangerously close to a pitfall of lethal proportions.

If you begin to "rise above the law," believe your own press, or feel you have "earned" a certain amount of power that is now due you, I want to (wildly) wave a yellow caution flag to capture your attention. The trouble is that it's tough for a leader to see it. It's rarely if ever intentional. It is not malice, but pressure that most often leads to a misuse of power. The most common story is about the faithful leader who has worked hard for years to reach the vision and is tired. He or she doesn't want to fool around with "junk" and over-compensates by using power to alleviate the price-tag and pain of the unrelenting process of ministry. Part of the answer is found in creating a small group of people around you who have genuine permission to call you out when you are close to the line or pushing the limits. Remind yourself that ultimately the authority comes from God, and it is transferred to you through the trust of your people. Whether this comes through a formal process such as a board or is more loosely and relationally expressed, the effect is the same. Violate that trust and you have trouble in River City. I urge you to ask three people who love you but who are very strong and brutally honest to tell you how you are handling the power that has been entrusted to you. It's so much better when you bring it up than when they do.

2. Distraction

I'm convinced that this is a great modern-day enemy of church leaders and especially senior pastors. You can set your agenda, prioritize it, pray over it, and have your assistant keep you on it, but five minutes after you start your day something blows your focus. An email hits, the bank calls, someone goes to the hospital, a board member is mad - or as it happened on a recent Sunday, we threw Skittles in church and sure enough, a few people found that "unspiritual and inappropriate," and they let us know about it!

There is good ministry that happens in the spirit-led interruptions of life, but without the ability to focus, eventually you will eat your leadership lunch. We can't ignore people (and don't want to), but without vision and progress there won't be any people. The tension of balancing the demands of shepherding the flock and simultaneously leading them to higher ground will never leave us, but engaging this reality with intentionality will help tremendously.

First, know your short list. What are you good at? What must you do? What produces the greatest results? Stick to that with a fierce tenacity. You may hurt some feelings, and a few might leave your church. But you can't be held captive to whims that distract you from the vision God gave you. The people trust you to lead them well with that same vision. Next, learn to say no. Ask for help in saying no if that's difficult for you. Further, let some of the e-mails wait, and ignore the pesky things that don't really matter. If you feel they must be done, then ask a volunteer to do it. Develop your "stop doing" list today.

3. Overwhelmed

This is a first cousin to distraction. One of the primary differences is that distraction often serves as a short-term energy boost, while being overwhelmed tends to be an energy drain.

Let's start with some simple questions to help you determine if you feel overwhelmed. Do you feel like you are carrying the whole load on your own? Do you feel like it's impossible to get everything done in a day? Do you feel unappreciated? Do you feel like no matter how hard you work, you aren't making a difference? Do you have a sense of one step forward, two steps back? Do you feel that you have huge questions to which the answers seem unavailable or at least beyond you? Do you feel like you are over your head in terms of leadership and can't get any help? If you answer yes to two or more of these questions, you may potentially be or become an overwhelmed leader. If you review these questions, none should prompt a "yes" answer. I know the danger here is that I asked you how you feel and that is a personal and subjective thing. But look again at the questions. It is highly unlikely that you are actually carrying the load completely alone. It is possible to complete the important things you need to do each day. I'll bet someone appreciates you. And I'm confident you have made a difference in someone's life. You get the idea.

The point is that feeling overwhelmed, while very much a reality at an emotional level (and physical as well), is largely an issue of perspective. I find that when I feel overwhelmed, the solution is often as simple as writing everything I must do on a list, and it rarely looks as bad when prioritized on paper. Sometimes I just need to get out of the office for a couple of hours. Prayer and relaxation nearly always helps. How about you? If you are feeling overwhelmed, is it possible that it's a matter of perspective? And what can you do today to help reshape your perspective?

Stay tuned for Part 3.