How to Get the Lead Pastor on Your Side
Last weekend, my church said goodbye to our pastor of 38 years. We’ve been preparing for this transition for a long time, but I’ve had a chance to reflect on working with him over the past 8 years.
There was a big age difference between us, and we certainly had different opinions; however, we always found a way to work together. The key to this was establishing a shared vision. This process paved the way for us to work well together for the better part of a decade.
I always tell my team that if the church didn’t exist, the worship ministry here wouldn’t exist either. We’re a part of something bigger. Our vision is a part of something bigger.
However, often times the worship ministry is kind of the outcast of the ministries of the church, because it’s made up of musicians and artists. We are our own breed. We think differently. We relate to music differently. We even approach God differently sometimes.
The Worship Leader and Lead Pastor relationship is one of the most strained in the church leadership world, in my opinion.
However, there is a way to line up with your leadership, and I’m not just talking “theoretically.” When you’re in sync, you’ll have much more creative freedom, and you’ll actually be empowered to do your job well.
So how do you start? Well, let’s begin with some questions:
How would someone describe your worship ministry to someone else? As a leader in your church, how would you describe what’s behind your ministry?
What is your church’s mission? What does your leadership really care about? You’re starting to gather the content to craft an alignment document called the ministry vision.
The Ministry Vision consists of 3 exercises that really help define Who you are, What you’re trying to accomplish and How you’re going to do it.
With Worship Leaders struggling with their Lead Pastor relationship, I always encourage them to start here. I’ve done it personally, and can tell you that it has been absolutely foundational to my ministry.
It frames conversations with volunteers, it keeps me on track, and most importantly, it aligns my vision with the Lead Pastor’s overall vision for the church. O
nce that happens, you will have more freedom to operate within that framework.
Stephen