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Like it or not, we all have senior pastors to work along side. Here are three things we can do as youth pastors to help make that relationship a great one.The truth is, the only reason you have built those friendships is because your pastor gave you access to those people by inviting you to be on the church staff. You can abuse that access by doing anything that would hinder the pastor’s effectiveness with the congregation. You can hinder him by blaming him for the rules at your church. It usually goes something like this. A student complains about not being able to wear shorts or a hat to youth service and we say, “I know it’s not that big of a deal, but it’s the rules our pastor has set.” To be loyal means you take the blame. To be loyal means that you tell the student it’s your rule, even though your pastor made it up. Being loyal is saying something good about your pastor when people say things that put him down. Being loyal means you are a team player. To be loyal means you support his vision for the church whether you agree with it or not. To be loyal doesn’t mean that you blindly follow a man with no integrity, but it does mean that you leave without causing a stink. There is something more important at work here than your preferences, it’s the church of the living God. Jesus will build his church and we must be careful not to tear it down by speaking evil of it’s leadership. Remember Proverbs 26:20 says, “Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.” Don’t allow someone to use you as wood to burn your church leadership.
Yes, there are good senior pastors out there, and there are also "maverick" youth pastors. Everyone needs to realize this is a team effort. An article on what the youth pastor needs from the senior pastor is a great idea. It could also incude something about what the youth pastor needs from the congregations. Again it all comes back to the word RESPECT. We all need respect whatever our ocupation or age.
Dwain 8:10:11am on 10/09/2008
OffensiveI watch the senior pastor give lots of credit to our youth/associate pastor. The sad part is that the youth pastor slams the senior pastor. Wish I could get our associate pastor to read these rule! Our Senior pastor takes the heat for the rules that come down--but our youth pastor makes up rulesand then blames the senior pastor!
n 2:10:05pm on 10/08/2008
OffensiveGood job. Now time for a follow-up article: "What every Youth Pastor Wants in a Pastor."
Craig 11:10:50am on 10/08/2008
OffensiveI once worked for a church that the attitude was if everything works out it was the senior pastors credit. On the other hand if it goes bad it was the youth directors fault. In order for a program to work well, whether in business, school or church, you need RESPECT on all sides. If the youth pastor constantly is "taking the heat" for the senior pastor, the staff will lose rsepect for the youth pastor and his programs will be rendered ineffective. In order to succeed, he or she must be looked at as a source of strength, not weakness. When youth have problems, they want to know their leader is a guiding light, not a shrinking violet.
Dwain 9:10:07am on 10/08/2008
Offensivecould it be that every youth pastor wants and must undeniably have a pastor that would mentor those characteristics does a student excell in areas above his teacher while still in the presence of the teacher. i wonder how it would work if youth pastor applications listed weaknesses and included promises to help improve those behaviors that so regrettably pastors find intolerable
terry 7:10:04pm on 10/01/2008
OffensiveGreat thoughts. I completely agree.
twylak 8:09:39am on 9/25/2008
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