This is Kerrick Thomas – Executive Pastor at The Journey.  Nelson asked me to share this recent question and my answer about the role of an Executive Pastor:

Q: Would it be possible to send me your Staff Expectation Sheet for your position (Executive Pastor). I’m working on that right now with my two executive staff members and it would be very helpful.

A: We don’t have a specific position description for me, because I sort of grew into this role instead of being hired into a pre-existing position.

An Executive Pastor’s position description will vary from church to church depending on the type of church and the relative strengths of both that person and the lead pastor.

Some questions to consider:

1) What are your strengths? What responsibilities that you now carry would you delegate to the new XP?  Do you need someone that can implement and create strategies for the big ideas you have?  An administrator?

2) Are you looking for an XP of ministry (leads staff and oversees different ministry areas) or an XP of finances or both? I serve in some of both – although recently I have moved out of financial more and am just there in more of an oversight role rather than hands on every day.

3) Do you want someone to be a teacher? I serve as the 2nd teacher after Nelson.  Do you need someone to fill that role and to be a #2 to the lead guy so that he can help shoulder some of what to this point have been lead pastor responsibilities?

4) Does he need to have a pastors heart (counseling/marriage/public) or be a behind the scenes administrator?

An XP can look different depending on what your needs are and what your strengths are.  You want someone who will complement your strengths, make your job easier so you can focus on what is most important for you to focus on and who is comfortable speaking his mind and is equally comfortable if he speaks his mind but you go in a different direction.

These are some of the questions I would ask myself as I filled the role and I would look for someone who fits.  Don’t use someone else’s position description if they are looking for a different type of person.

I hope this helps!

Kerrick

P.S. For help in setting up your church’s policies and structures, consider investing in The Journey Church’s Policy Manual, available here:
https://nelsonsearcy.infusionsoft.com/cart/store.jsp?view=4&i=p109&navicat=33