We’ve all heard stories of admired men who faltered in ministry because of a moral failure. Those stories remind us that we all need accountability. As Paul says, “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this” (1 Tim. 4:16).

My first job in ministry was working for a large summer day camp that averaged close to a thousand campers a week. Naturally, that involved a lot of planning, hiring, leading, and troubleshooting. As I ministered, older men in my life began to notice my strengths were all pastoral—teaching, shepherding, mentoring, and leading. So I went to seminary, and slowly my managers began to reduce my operational responsibilities and move me more and more into the pastoral areas of camp ministry.

Eventually, I took a job as an associate pastor. I was hired for my pastoral gifts, but I also noticed operational areas where the church needed help. Though I’d left camp ministry to focus on shepherding, it now seemed God had brought me to the church to share my operational gifts. Would I still be able to use my pastoral gifts?

Balance Call and Job Description

If you’re an executive pastor, or an associate pastor who spends significant time managing staff, budgets, and ministry plans, I’m certain you’ve felt the tension between God’s call to shepherd and the specifics of your role as an executive leader. Knowing how to properly spend your time can feel disorienting, because your call demands one set of skills while your job description demands another.

A job description lists the responsibilities your church pays you for. When you’re in an executive role, it’s often tailored to your unique talents and experience. But your call—felt internally and confirmed by your church—is like every other pastor’s call: to “shepherd the flock of God that is among you” (1 Pet. 5:2).

Executive pastor, don’t lose sight of your call amid the demands of your job. Your call comes from Scripture. Often, the details of your job description don’t. Moreover, remembering your call helps you fight burnout. You experience the joy of exercising your spiritual gifts when you’re locked in on your call. So don’t let it get overshadowed by your giant to-do list. Give shepherding your time and energy.

To help you remember your call, I’ll outline some primary responsibilities Scripture gives to pastors. Then I’ll provide self-assessment questions to help executive pastors like you prioritize these responsibilities.

1. Preach and teach.

Paul tells Timothy, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Tim. 4:2). You may be an executive, but you’re still a pastor. So don’t lose sight of the God-given responsibility you have to teach and preach.

Whether you’re preparing for a one-on-one meeting, a staff meeting, or a group on Sunday, you need to stay sharp in your biblical and theological thinking. Don’t hesitate to set aside the time and resources needed to ensure you do. Here are some self-evaluation questions:

Am I abiding in Christ and growing in my ability to communicate truth—to explain and proclaim God’s Word?

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