Can Lead Pastors and Youth Pastors Coexist?
Kurt left this comment last week –
How does the former youth pastor/present lead pastor come alongside the youth ministry without becoming a distraction?
I loved it when the lead pastor poked his head in on the students – whether that be during Bible study or a mid-week life group or a trip. I loved it because we can never have too many godly adults hanging around teenagers. I loved it because it hopefully connected the student to the larger church congregation, not just the youth group.
But I hear what Kurt is saying. And it’s a legitimate question.
My short answer – don’t show up on the trip as a former youth pastor or the current lead pastor. Show up as a volunteer, like everybody else.
This past week I went with our middle schoolers to Super Summer. Gina was the leader of the trip and she did an outstanding job. She was organized, she delegated responsibilities out to the team that went, me included. She kept us on task without being overbearing. She kept us informed and did a great job in our church group times.
And I loved every minute of it. First, it always amps me to see a volunteer lead, to take ownership of a ministry and lead it well. That volunteer is getting to use their gifts and hopefully casting a vision for others to do the same.
Second, it freed me up. I could be a friend, a pastor to the students. I wasn’t the heavy, I wasn’t the organizer, I didn’t have to be cool or “on” all the time. I didn’t have to have all the answers. I hung out with my guys, was available to counsel and talk when needed. In short, did all the things a volunteer would do.
A student can never have too many adults that love Jesus in their life. Never. And when I go on these trips, I want to be a help to the youth team and leaders, not a distraction. I also want that student to connect to the larger congregation as well.
Kurt – you are now in this position — what’s your take? Or anyone else for that matter…
5 Responses to “Can Lead Pastors and Youth Pastors Coexist?”
Interesting, it wasn’t really until the 90′s that many youth pastors stopped looking at their role as simply a stepping stone to other pastoral positions. Rather than the typical 2 year stint, youth pastors stayed on 5, 10 even 20 years before moving over to serve in the lead role. So this type of situation is relatively fresh.
One of the things I’m doing is talking with our youth pastor about this new paradigm. Finding out how he feels. Hopefully he will be honest, but I understand that he may feel like he has to answer in a way that pleases me.
When I was a youth pastor, I tried to break our kids into the life of the church, even though the leadership was content with us confined to our youth room. I’m finding the opposite to be true in my present situation…our youth pastor is prone to put up walls in order to proctect and preserve their youth culture.
Interesting, I’m volunteering as a basketball coach for our children’s ministry sports camp, and there is way less concern about encroaching on one another’s turf.
I like the idea of being willing to volunteer and serve under the youth leader’s direction. The Bible says in Ephesians that as believers we are to submit to one another. The reality is sometimes we come to believe that being the lead means that our submitting days are over.
Just some random thoughts to throw into the mix…
I don’t think these two titles mix well. Every church I have served as “youth pastor” that I reported to the “sr. pastor” always left me feeling like a human resource. If the two people can’t get past their titles and start having an actual relationship, then they are bound to clash and eventually not be able to work together.
My experience has been that youth guys are usually insecure about their teaching and experience. Sr. pastor guys are usually smug about what they know about youth ministry (because they probably used to do it) and really only just want the youth guy to keep everything running smoothly so he doesn’t have to put out any fires. Getting past those two paradigms is hard.
Glad I serve where I do. I have a great pastor who is supportive and values my opinion about youth ministry and even other aspects of church life. Never been cared for better.
Good thoughts, guys.
Kurt – good stuff. How are you going to help the youth team to not have those walls? Honest question, I’m curious.
Paul – I’m glad to say that our team doesn’t function that way. None of us function in a silo, sectioned off from the rest of the church…and we keep repeating Philippians 2 to each other –
Do nothing out of selfish ambition…
Appreciate you two guys in my life, by the way.
Prior to my arrival, the church had been in transition for quite a while, and its not uncommon for ministry leaders to become disconnected in the pursuit of their ministries. Such is the case at my newest post. But people are different. Our worship/executive pastor is leaning hard into connecting, while our youth pastor is struggling with having a lead pastor after a few years without one. Not struggling in the emotional/stressful way, just struggling to readjust. He is one of the best youth pastors I’ve had the pleasure of working with, but has somewhat become an “island” in the flow of bigger picture of our local church. I get that, and remember many times during my YP days of feeling the same way.
I’m simply making a point to spend time with him, talking shop as well as non-shoop. Asking questions. Also have been verbally supportive of his ministry wherever I can. Also physically supporting him ministry where possible. I’ve sought to show a lot of love towards our students and the student ministry. On Sundays when I preach I seek to use illustrations that a student gets…slices of life from current culture rather than some moth-balled, canned story.
Most important is simply praying. Asking God to give our whole ministry team one heart. Breaking down walls of fear or mistrust. Praying that we would embrace Christ’s example of downward mobility.
One last thought…most other staff pastors focus on a specific divison…worship, evangelism, equipping, etc…whereas the youth pastor is himself a lead pastor, overseeing a flock and managing all the aspects of worship, equipping, service, mission and so on. The youth ministry, unlike any other within the church body, is a flock within a flock.