Once your church hits 300+ people, complexity multiplies. Communication gets trickier, decisions take longer, and volunteers need more support. Without the right leadership structure, even the healthiest churches can stall out.
If your Lead Pastor is still managing the calendar, the staff, the budget, and the weekend message—it’s not sustainable. Eventually, something (or someone) breaks.
Enter: the Executive Pastor.
But what is an Executive Pastor, really? A second-in-command? The operational brain? The people-developer?
Yes… and more.
Think of the Executive Pastor (XP) as the integrator—the person who makes sure what’s dreamed at the whiteboard actually becomes reality on Sunday.
They typically wear two core hats:
1. The Executive Hat
This is where logistics live. Budgets, facilities, team structures, HR processes, and systems management all land here. If it affects how the church runs, the XP owns it—or makes sure someone does.
2. The Shepherd Hat
But it’s not just spreadsheets and org charts. A great XP is also deeply pastoral. They invest in staff health, model the culture, and ensure the heart of the ministry stays strong while the structure grows.
At their best, XPs make vision actionable. They keep the ministry aligned, the team healthy, and the Lead Pastor focused on preaching, pastoring, and leading.
Not sure who to hire? Here’s what to look for:
- Operational excellence: Do they notice what’s broken and fix it before it becomes a fire?
- Strong relational instincts: Can they navigate tough conversations with both clarity and grace?
- Systems-minded leadership: Do they bring structure without creating bureaucracy?
- Mission-first motivation: Are they in it for the church, not just the title?
The right XP won’t just take tasks off your Lead Pastor’s plate—they’ll help your entire team function more effectively.
Need help figuring out what kind of XP is right for your church?
We’ve created a simple 5-minute tool to help you identify whether your team needs more “executive” horsepower or stronger “pastoral” leadership.
✅ Use it in your hiring process
✅ Share it with your current XP
✅ Start better conversations about what your church needs next
👉 Take the Executive vs. Pastor Assessment Now
Written by: Leading Smart
