How to Balance Pastoral Ministry and Church Leadership
Recently, I saw a post on x that made me stop scrolling:
I immediate thought that churches need leaders that can lead people individually and lead organizations.
That one post captured a tension I’ve felt for years and one I know many ministry leaders quietly wrestle with.
In today’s church world, pastors often carry dual expectations. We’re asked to be deep spiritual guides, available shepherds, wise counselors—and at the same time, strategic thinkers, team builders, vision casters, and effective managers.
That’s a tall order—and it often leaves pastors feeling like they’re failing if they lean too far one way or the other.
Over time, this creates a subtle drift. Some leaders double down on productivity and efficiency, quietly detaching from the heart of pastoral ministry. Others avoid the “business side” of church altogether, focusing solely on people and presence—often at the expense of clarity, systems, and sustainability.
So how do we remain faithful to our pastoral calling while stewarding the organization we’ve been entrusted to lead? How can we make sure to develop both a pastoral heart and an organizational brain?
Here are five practices that have helped me navigate that tension.
1. Embrace the Organizational Side of Leadership
You don’t need to apologize for caring about structure, systems, and staff development. Stewardship is a biblical principle. Excellence doesn’t compete with faith, in fact, it can reflect it. Leading the organization well is part of leading people well.
2. Align Systems with Shepherding Values
The best systems aren’t cold or corporate, they’re built to serve people better. Design your processes to reflect your pastoral heart: clear follow-up helps people feel seen, structured meetings keep teams unified, and thoughtful budgets help reflect kingdom priorities.
3. Prioritize Soul-Care Over Scheduling
Leadership tasks will expand to fill every inch of your calendar. Guard time for prayer, solitude, Scripture, and friendship. When your soul is dry, even the best strategies will run on fumes. Put soul-care on the calendar first. Then build your tasks around it.
4. Invest in People, Not Just Programs
It’s easy to spend more time with whiteboards than with people. But ministry isn’t just about plans, it’s about people. Make it a point to develop those you lead. Ask about more than their work.
“The church isn’t a machine to operate it is a body to nurture”
5. Lead Culture with a Pastoral Heart
You’re not just called to complete tasks. You’re called to embody the love and presence of Christ. Even in boardrooms and staff meetings, you can model patience, humility, honesty, and grace. Those things don’t slow the mission down, they fuel it.
reflection:
Do I tend to drift towards shepherding or strategy? What is one shift I can make this week to lean into the other, less natural side of my leadership?
application:
Block out one hour this week to review your schedule through the lens of both “pastor” and “leader.” Where are you thriving? Where are you thin? Use that time to prayerfully adjust, not just react.
