I heard it again today: “Only senior pastors can understand the incredible pressure a senior pastor is under.”
I have no reason to doubt the statement or any way to gauge the level of stress a senior pastor deals with. My only experience as the top dog was for two and a half years in a small church in Texas.
I’ve lost count of how many pastors I’ve met with, but my perspective is mostly second hand. From what I’ve observed, however, the lead guy is often in a pressure cooker.
At the same time, I don’t think most senior pastors understand the pressure their staff is under.
While they may have been a staff pastor at one time, the “curse of knowledge” says they probably don’t realize that they don’t remember what it’s like to not be in control. So for all the senior pastors, here’s a peek at the pressure they bring to the staff.
Eight senior pastor stress-inducing phrases:
1. “We’ll figure it out.”
Translation: I come up with ideas and you figure out how to execute them. I can’t be bogged down with the details.
2. “It’s a possibility.”
Translation: There is no way in heck we’re going to do that, but I don’t like to say no. So instead, you keep thinking it’s a possibility and I’ll keep dreaming up new ideas for you to work on.
3. “That’s a great idea, talk to the staff leader.”
Translation: That’s a terrible idea, but I don’t like to say no. (See “It’s a possibility” above.) I will send you to a staff member who will say no for me, so you’ll be mad at him instead of me.
4. “I was talking to my wife and she agrees we should change it.”
Translation: The law of the pastor’s wife is as unchangeable as the law of the Medes and Persians. There’s no debate, no modification, no appeal. Just make it happen.
