Finding the right Executive Pastor to lead and manage the operational and strategic sides of your ministry is critical to building a healthy, thriving church. A detailed executive pastor job description is an essential first step to attracting qualified candidates who can help bring your church’s mission and the senior pastor’s creative vision to life.
In this article, we’ll walk you through a comprehensive Executive Pastor job description template. Whether your church is growing rapidly, entering a new phase of ministry, or simply ready to add a layer of operational leadership, this guide will help clarify what the executive pastor role should look like and how to hire for it effectively.
BONUS: Wondering how much to pay an Executive Pastor? Use the Church Salary Calculator to find out!
Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
Table of contents
How to Craft an Executive Pastor Job Description
Creating an effective executive pastor job description is critical in attracting the right leaders to support your ministry’s mission. It is essential to ensure the role aligns with the church’s mission and church’s vision, so the executive pastor can effectively support the overall direction and goals of your congregation. Here are the core steps to keep in mind when crafting this role:
Start with an Engaging Introduction
Start the job description with a brief but compelling overview of your church. Share who you are, your mission and vision, and why this executive pastor position matters. This helps candidates know if they would be a good fit with your church culture and team.
Outline Responsibilities
List both general responsibilities and specific areas where the Executive Pastor is responsible. This includes operational management, strategic planning, leadership development, financial oversight, and staff supervision.
Specify Qualifications
Clearly define the qualifications needed, noting that a bachelor’s degree is typically required for executive pastor roles. These may include experience in ministry leadership, business or organizational management, theological education (with a seminary degree being a preferred or ideal qualification), and specific skills that suit the role’s scope.
Describe Personal Characteristics
Include qualities that make for a successful executive pastor: leadership, humility, strategic thinking, strong relational abilities, being a servant leader, and being a spiritual leader. These traits are just as important as professional qualifications.
Servant leadership is essential in the executive pastor role, as it emphasizes humility, building trust, and prioritizing the needs of others, reflecting Christ-like leadership within the church.
Include Expectations and Church Culture
Describe what the Executive Pastor can expect in terms of culture, ministry philosophy, leadership structure, and how they will fit into the broader leadership team.
Provide Application Instructions
Be clear about how candidates can apply, what documents they need to submit, and what the process will look like.
Review and Revise
Get feedback from the senior pastor and church leaders. Make sure the final job description reflects not only the needs of the ministry but the values and personality of your team.
Sample Introduction
[Church Name] is a growing, gospel-centered church dedicated to reaching our city and equipping believers to follow Jesus Christ. We are currently seeking an experienced, detail-oriented, and visionary Executive Pastor to join our leadership team. This individual will serve alongside the senior pastor and church leaders to help carry out the mission of our church through strategic planning, operations management, and staff leadership. In this role, you will support your ministry’s mission and oversee church ministry. Applying biblical principles in leadership and decision-making is essential to fulfilling our mission and vision.
Key Responsibilities
This section outlines the executive pastor’s responsibilities, highlighting their key role in church leadership and administration.
Strategic Planning
The Executive Pastor plays a lead role in the church’s strategic planning process, turning vision into actionable plans. They help set long-term goals, define metrics, and ensure alignment with ministry objectives, always aligning with the church’s vision and mission.
Staff Oversight
The Executive Pastor supervises church staff members, oversees hiring and onboarding processes, and facilitates leadership development. They manage human resources functions such as recruitment and staff management, building a healthy team culture through mentoring, evaluation, and encouragement.
Operational Management
This includes oversight of day-to-day operations, administrative systems, project timelines, and facility management. The Executive Pastor ensures ministries function efficiently behind the scenes, coordinating various ministries to ensure effective church functioning.
Financial Stewardship
A good executive pastor oversees budgeting, financial reporting, and stewardship practices. They work closely with finance teams to ensure fiscal responsibility and strategic use of resources.
Supporting the Senior Pastor
The Executive Pastor works directly with the lead pastor to carry out the senior pastor’s creative vision. They free up the senior pastor to focus on preaching, shepherding, and spiritual leadership.
Church Leadership Development
They help develop and multiply leaders at every level of the church. This includes creating training systems and coaching key ministry leaders.
Team Collaboration
The Executive Pastor collaborates with the leadership team to foster unity, alignment, and clarity. They act as a bridge between vision and execution.
Executive Pastor Qualifications
Ministry Experience
Minimum of 5–10 years in church leadership, with proven experience managing teams and leading strategic initiatives. Previous experience in an executive pastor position or similar role is preferred.
Education
Bachelor’s degree required; theological training and/or ministry-related master’s degree is a strong asset.
Organizational Leadership Skills
Strong understanding of church systems, HR practices, budgeting, and project management. Experience with organizational development is ideal.
Relational & Communication Skills
The Executive Pastor must be a clear communicator, collaborative team member, and relational leader capable of working with staff, volunteers, and church members.
Strategic Thinking
A successful executive pastor sees the big picture and builds sustainable systems to achieve it. They must be analytical, decisive, and forward-thinking.
Spiritual Maturity
The Executive Pastor should display a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, a solid prayer life, commitment to Scripture, and a passion for the local church.
Application Process
Hiring an Executive Pastor requires a process that evaluates both the candidate’s leadership abilities and alignment with your church’s spiritual mission.
Sample Application Process
To apply for the Executive Pastor role, candidates must submit:
- A cover letter explaining their interest in the position and how they meet the qualifications.
- A resume detailing work experience, educational background, and leadership achievements.
- A personal statement of faith and philosophy of ministry.
- Three professional and/or pastoral references.
Screening & Interviews
Initial review of applications will lead to phone and in-person interviews. These will include conversations with the senior pastor, leadership team, and potentially select church staff members. In-person visits may include a teaching sample, Q&A with staff, and a leadership scenario discussion.
Reference & Background Checks
Finalists will undergo reference checks and may be subject to a background screening before a formal offer is extended.
Tailoring the Executive Pastor Role to Your Church
Leadership is at the heart of a healthy church. A successful executive pastor leads by example, inspiring church staff members, volunteer leaders, and lay leaders to work together in unity. This means providing spiritual guidance, fostering collaboration, and ensuring that everyone is moving in the same direction toward the church’s mission.
The executive pastor is often called upon to make difficult decisions, manage conflicts with wisdom, and offer a non-anxious presence during challenging times. By supporting and equipping staff members and volunteers, the executive pastor helps create an environment where ministry can flourish and the church community can thrive.
The executive pastor role can vary depending on the church’s size, culture, and season of ministry. As churches grow, the complexity of managing ministries, resources, and leadership staff increases, making the executive pastor role even more crucial for sustainable growth. Consider these areas when tailoring the job description:
Reflect Your Church’s Vision
Clarify how the Executive Pastor will help bring your church’s unique vision and mission to life. Do you emphasize church planting? Discipleship? Outreach? Make it clear.
Define the Senior Pastor’s Needs
Understand what your senior pastor needs most in this partnership—whether it’s administrative help, leadership development support, or strategic planning guidance—and frame the role accordingly.
Right-Size the Role
Smaller churches may combine executive pastor responsibilities with other pastoral duties, while larger churches may need a full-time executive-level leader dedicated to operations and systems.
Emphasize Church Culture
Communicate what makes your church unique and what kind of person will thrive there. Highlight collaboration, creativity, and values that shape the staff environment.
Personal Characteristics
Highlight the soft skills that matter most to your team. This might include humility, emotional intelligence, problem-solving ability, and a heart for ministry.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is an Executive Pastor?
An Executive Pastor is a senior-level church leader responsible for the day-to-day management of the church’s operations, staff, finances, and strategy. The Executive Pastor is responsible for ensuring that the church functions effectively and supports the senior pastor’s creative vision for ministry and spiritual growth.
What Does an Executive Pastor Do?
The Executive Pastor oversees everything from staffing and systems to strategic planning and budgeting. They serve as the primary operational leader and often manage multiple departments within the church.
How Does an Executive Pastor Support the Senior Pastor?
By managing the business and operational side of the ministry, the Executive Pastor allows the senior pastor or lead pastor to focus more fully on spiritual leadership, teaching, and vision-casting. A good Executive Pastor is a trusted partner who shares the load and helps execute strategy.
How Do We Know if We Need an Executive Pastor?
Churches often add an Executive Pastor when the staff size or ministry complexity outgrows the capacity of the senior pastor to manage alone. If your lead pastor is overwhelmed with operations or your systems need stronger alignment, it may be time to hire for the executive pastor position.
What Should We Look for in a Good Executive Pastor?
Look for a leader who has a proven track record of management, organizational leadership, and ministry experience. A successful executive pastor should be humble, collaborative, and deeply aligned with your church’s spiritual mission.
Should an Executive Pastor Be Ordained?
While ordination is not required for all churches, some prefer it depending on denominational requirements or church polity. The key is to hire someone who has both spiritual maturity and professional excellence.
Can the Executive Pastor Preach?
Some Executive Pastors do preach on occasion, but their primary focus is operational and strategic leadership. Preaching is usually handled by the senior or teaching pastor unless otherwise arranged.
