When it comes to church health and life, why is it always the pastor’s fault when things don’t go well at church? Pastors are constantly told that the church rises no higher than its leadership.

This is partly true – bad leadership, bad church; good leadership, good church. But this can also be true: good leadership, rebellious church.

Why is there no category for bad church vs. good church? Why is the pastor always to blame and not the congregation as a whole?

The pastor is also told that they receive a disproportionate amount of credit, so they should expect to receive their fair share of criticism. But we all know that leadership and church life are more complicated than this.

Here are some reasons I have observed as to why some in the church believe the pastor is always at fault…

…because sometimes it is their fault.
…because they are easy, public targets.
…because it’s easy to project on to them one’s own failings.
…because truth comforts and confronts – and people like only half of this truth.
…because there are personality issues involved.
…because there are style issues.
…because spiritual warfare exists.
…because of an unwillingness to submit to biblically authentic leadership and authority.
…because churches don’t become like they are overnight and they don’t become how they ought to be overnight.
…because it makes good cover for disobedience.
…because of accumulated bitterness and blame.

Dr. Kevin Shrum has been in ministry for 29 years, currently pastors Inglewood Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, and is an Adjunct Professor of Theology for Union University in Jackson, Tennessee.

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