The senior pastor/executive pastor team: contemporary paradigm for the larger church staff

John T Hawco

Etd

The senior pastor/executive pastor team: contemporary paradigm for the larger church staff

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MLA citation style (9th ed.)

John T Hawco. The Senior Pastor/executive Pastor Team: Contemporary Paradigm for the Larger Church Staff. Covenant Theological Seminary. rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/737a4724-f599-4aa1-8e8f-af3c98ca858e?q=2005.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

J. T. Hawco. The senior pastor/executive pastor team: contemporary paradigm for the larger church staff. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/737a4724-f599-4aa1-8e8f-af3c98ca858e?q=2005

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

John T Hawco. The Senior Pastor/executive Pastor Team: Contemporary Paradigm for the Larger Church Staff. Covenant Theological Seminary. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/737a4724-f599-4aa1-8e8f-af3c98ca858e?q=2005.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

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John T Hawco

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Abstract

The emergence of the executive pastor (EP) as an accepted member of the pastoral staff in larger churches has only recently been the subject of formal study. Previously, EPs were informed about their roles through networking. Though deployed in churches for over 20 years, many EPs forged their own job-descriptions and not all EPs share the same titles or tasks. The essence of the role is lifting the administrative burden from the senior pastor (SP). Recent studies have explored the value of utilizing EPs to implement the church's vision, as well as the competencies needed to do so. Though some EPs recognize a transitory dimension to their role there are common principles and experiences for most EPs. This study looks into contextual and relational factors affecting the senior pastor/executive pastor team paradigm. EP focus groups and SP phone interviews were utilized as supplemental explorations of themes revealed during initial interaction with knowledgeable informants. The reasons for the creation of the EP position in the participating churches was explored, as well as current staffing arrangements and dynamics. Of particular importance was the creation and maintenance of the primary relationship, that between the EP and the SP. Common practices and attitudes must be in place to make an SPEP team successful and thus beneficial to the church. To understand these factors, helpful principles, stories, proverbs, and analogies were discussed. Also explored were the biblical illustrations and/or theological underpinnings for the use of an SPEP team.

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