4. Improve your interpersonal relationship by spending time together.
Simply ask questions and then listen. One great way to improve your interpersonal relationship is to meet weekly, biweekly, and/or monthly. That way, you can organically just get to know each other.
5. Plan a pastoral retreat.
Focus solely on relationships and team-building.
6. Pray for your senior pastor.
7. Play to your senior pastor’s strengths.
8. Invite a third party consultant.
Enlist the guidance of another senior pastor or leader who your senior pastor respects, trusts, and admires.
9. Invite senior leadership.
Welcome senior pastors at all youth events, retreats, programs, and outings. Then ask what they think and recommend.
10. Focus on commonalities.
Move slowly and be patient!
4 Questions About Pastoral Relationships
As church leaders, how can we treat one another better? How can we remain open to trying something new? In what ways can the youth pastor/senior pastor relationship improve? Consider these questions:
- Why do youth pastors and senior pastors often misalign?
- How do youth pastors and senior pastors re-align?
- What resources encourage youth pastors and senior pastors to be on the same page?
- When (if ever) is it time to leave the church because of conflicts with the senior pastor?
