15 Keys to Being a Great Associate Pastor

There are no doubt many qualities that describe a great associate pastor, or really a great employee anywhere. Here are fifteen traits that most senior pastors and leaders are looking for in their staff…

  1. Stay Busy – They come with the “batteries included”, present ideas, get things moving, and don’t need someone else to light a fire under their backside.
  2. Faithfully Follow – They pursue the Pastor’s agenda and not their own.  Although they initiate and take ownership, they do not get out in front of their senior pastor.  They ask for permission, not forgiveness.  
  3. Think Big-Picture – They realize it’s not just about their ministry, it’s about the Pastor’s vision, the whole church, and the Kingdom of God.
  4. Embrace Teamwork – They don’t operate in a silo, but actively contribute to, and care for, the whole team.  They realize that even all-star players are terrible teammates if they can’t work with others.
  5. Listen Well – They realize they don’t have all the answers, so they listen and learn.  They seek advice from those with more experience and wisdom than themselves.  They are humble, not arrogant.
  6. Grow Continually – They continually improve by reading, listening, and gaining experience.   They prioritize daily spiritual growth.
  7. Manage Themselves – They manage their life and ministry well.  They keep a to-do list, calendar, and track of whatever else they are responsible for.  They do not require much, if any, follow-up.  They do their job without needing to be reminded.
  8. Provide Solutions – When they face a challenge they don’t just come to the team with that problem, rather they come and present both the problem and a viable solution.
  9. Avoid Weeds – and fires and icebergs and shipwrecks.  They are emotionally, culturally, ministerially and generally intelligent. 
  10. Empower People – They develop people and work themselves out of a job.
  11. Implement Systems – They work hard to develop systems, so when they are gone everything continues smoothly.
  12. Choose Positivity – Although, like everyone they have good and bad days, they are generally optimistic and upbeat.
  13. Rebound Quickly – They try hard things, which means they fail from time-to-time.  When they do fail, they own it, and then get right back up and keep moving.
  14. Love People – They have a shepherds heart.  They care for people.  Ministry is a ministry to them, and not just a job. 
  15. Take Bullets – They take bullets for their senior pastor, figuratively and perhaps even literally.
Posted on
Category: Staffing

Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.

Leave a Reply to Eliana696 Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

7,561 thoughts on “15 Keys to Being a Great Associate Pastor”

  2. Hello there! This article could not be written much better!
    Looking through this article reminds me of my previous roommate!
    He constantly kept preaching about this. I’ll forward this article to him.
    Pretty sure he’s going to have a good read. I
    appreciate you for sharing!

    Also visit my blog; what is splitting 10s in blackjack (Dewayne)

    Reply

  6. Авиамастер — захватывающая краш-игра, где вы
    берете на себя роль пилота и управляете разными самолетами aviamaster лучший краш слот
    – aviatorgame-official.online -.
    Ваша задача — выполнять миссии, участвовать в гонках и развивать свои навыки.

    Reply

  11. Когда хочется азартной игры без ограничений стоит выбрать казино Atom онлайн. Здесь доступны популярные слоты и бонус казино Atom для новичков. Официальный сайт обеспечивает быстрый вход и безопасность. Начни играть прямо сейчас – казино atom вход

    Reply

  15. I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create
    this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it
    for you? Plz reply as I’m looking to design my own blog and would like to
    find out where u got this from. many thanks

    Reply

  19. Howdy! Someone in my Facebook group shared this website with us so I came to look
    it over. I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m
    book-marking and will be tweeting this to my followers!
    Exceptional blog and amazing style and design.

    Reply

  22. play online poker united states, online canadian casino ceo
    fired after a $700 000 mistake (Verla) no deposit
    bonus free spins usa and safest online casino in australia, or online casino australia best payout

    Reply

  23. new usa online casinos no deposit bonuses, new zealandn express
    zahlung online had a dream i won at the casino
    (Wiley) and best australian online casino bonuses, or bet365 play united statesn roulette online uk

    Reply

  28. Nice post. I was checking continuously this blog
    and I’m impressed! Very helpful info specially the last part 🙂 I care for such information much.

    I was seeking this certain info for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.

    Reply

  29. I’m not sure where you are getting your info, but great topic.
    I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more.
    Thanks for great info I was looking for this info for my mission.

    Reply

  32. Статьи, личный опыт, руководства по преодолению тревоги, развитию критического мышления, гигиене информации и самопомощи.

    Корпоративные программы: Психологическая поддержка сотрудников компаний для улучшения
    их благополучия.
    Философия: Создание поддерживающего и
    человечного пространства,
    где забота о ментальном здоровье становится нормой
    Когнитивные ошибки

    Reply

  34. Играть онлайн pinco казино играть онлайн игровые автоматы, live-казино и бонусы для новых игроков. Удобный интерфейс, доступ с телефона и ПК, возможность играть бесплатно или на реальные ставки.

    Reply

  35. Играть в казино зеркало 1 вин лоты, live-столы и бонусные функции. Подходит для новичков и опытных игроков, доступно бесплатно и на реальные деньги 24/7.

    Reply

  44. Secondary school math tuition іs importɑnt in Singapore’ѕ education, ensuring ｙⲟur post-PSLE child meets secondary expectations.

    Leh lah, tһe secret to Singapore’s top international math spot?

    Parents іn Singapore, Singapore math tuition is impοrtant
    fօr supporting math talents eaгly. Secondary math tuition develops ɑ favorable mindset tߋwards obstacles.
    Tһrough secondary 1 math tuition, ѕet theory ends up Ƅeing an exciting expedition fⲟr your kid.

    Secondary 2 math tuition proviԁеѕ peaceful
    zones foｒ concentrated гesearch study. Secondary 2 math tuition minimizes diversions.
    Peaceful secondary 2 math tuition enhances performance.
    Secondary 2 math tuition ϲreates perfect environments.

    Τhе significance օf secondary 3 math exams іѕ cⅼear,
    as thｅy result in O-Levels, where preparation iѕ paramount.
    Тop marks ⲟpen tactical advantages. Theｙ enhance inclusive landscapes.

    Τһe critical secondary 4 exams adventure experientially іn Singapore.
    Secondary 4 math tuition outdoors. Ꭲhіѕ solidification һelp O-Level.
    Secondary 4 math tuition experiences.

    Exams test recall, Ьut math’s broader role iѕ ɑѕ an essential skill
    іn AI’s boom, enabling voice recognition technologies.

    Τo excel in mathematics, it’s essential t᧐ cultivate a deep love fοr the subject ɑnd actively apply its
    principles in everyday real-life scenarios.

    Ϝor thorօugh coverage, рast papers fｒom dіfferent secondary schools іn Singapore ensure no topic is overlooked.

    Online math tuition іn Singapore improves outcomes vіa е-learning
    ѡith VR field trips forr math history.

    Haha, Ԁon’t panic lor, secondary school homework manageable, remember not tօ stress your
    kid unduly.

    my site … singapore math tuition agency

    Reply

  45. Wonderful blog! I found it while browsing on Yahoo News.
    Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
    I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get
    there! Thanks

    Reply

  50. Hello! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with hackers?

    My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing many months of hard work due to no backup.
    Do you have any solutions to protect against hackers?

    Reply