April 12, 2006
12 characteristics of an effective 21st-century pastor
I'm never quite certain what to make of such lists. But I thought I would share it. These are all good. Certainly they are. But there is this little niggling voice in my head that says "But of course pastors should be doing this!" Is this really new?
1. The ability to maintain personal, professional, and spiritual balance.
2. The ability to guide a transformational faith experience (conversion).
3. The ability to motivate and develop a congregation to be a "mission outpost" (help churches reclaim their role in reaching new believers).
4. The ability to develop and communicate a vision.
5. The ability to interpret and lead change.
6. The ability to promote and lead spiritual formation for church members.
7. The ability to provide leadership for high-quality, relevant worship experiences.
8. The ability to identify, develop, and support lay leaders.
9. The ability to build, inspire, and lead a "team" of both staff and volunteers.
10. The ability to manage conflict.
11. The ability to navigate successfully the world of technology.
12. The ability to be a lifelong learner.
Excerpted from When Better Isn't Enough: Evaluation Tools for the 21st-Century Church copyright © 2004 by the Alban Institute.
