Pastors and Self-Centeredness… The Social Networking Challenge

Is it possible that a pastor can be self-focused, self-centered, downright narcissistic and not even know it? I'm certain it’s possible. I must confess that there was a time in my life when those terms described me and I didn't realize it. You say, "How can that be?" Because, in this social networking world, what...

6 Audacious Guidelines For Elders Aspiring to Unity With the Church Staff

One of the primary roles of an elder is to promote and model unity to the church body. In many instances, this breaks down when elders and staff members are at odds with one another. So that this tool of the Enemy is never at play, it’s important that the elder body understand their role...

Accomplishing Biblical Expectations vs. Aiming at Elder Evaluation

Elders and Groups Pastors… There’s a cataclysmic difference between accomplishing biblical expectations as opposed to working toward having a positive elder evaluation. That is, if the elders are mostly about numbers. The role a groups point person serves is a disciple making role, discipling people so they can disciple more people. When we look at...

Is There Age Discrimination in Today’s Church?

  Because I work with many churches and church leaders, church leadership headhunters often call me asking if I know of someone’s name they might pass on to a church trying to fill a position. I had been hearing the same request over and again so I asked one of the headhunters this question, “When...

The Benefits of An Equal Elder Leadership Model… Day 3 With Dr. Bob Halstead

Today is the last day of a three day interview with Dr. Bob Halstead. If you’ve been reading the blog for the last two days, you’re aware that moving to an elder system and choosing to be an equal elder has greatly enhanced Bob’s ministry and created a much less stressful situation for him. Today...

How Being an Equal Elder in the Senior Pastor Role Changed a Pastor’s Life… Day 2 With Dr. Bob Halstead

If you read yesterday’s blog you know that today is day two of a three day interview with Dr. Bob Halstead. Bob is the senior pastor of Eastside Baptist Church in Stockdale, Georgia. Sometime ago he decided to set aside his preconceived notions concerning being a staff and deacon led church. Since then he’s re-engineered...

Senior Pastors Giving Up Control, Going to an Equal Elder Leadership Model… My Interview With Dr. Bob Halstead

A few months ago I had an amazing conversation with Dr. Bob Halstead, senior pastor of Eastside Baptist Church in Stockdale, Georgia. Bob is a humble man, an individual who has chosen to set aside the oftentimes discontenting and overwhelming ideology that the senior pastor and staff team run the church. He moved to an...

The Difference Between and Elder Board and An Elder Body

A elder board and an elder body are not the same animal. There are enormous differences in the two. A elder board utilizes business principles and practices to manage the church. A elder body systematically seeks out biblical principles and practices then utilizes them in the protection and oversight of Jesus’ bride, the church. A...