Six Challenges Church Leaders Face

Ministers and church leaders along with their families face some unique challenges.  Here are six challenges they face and the success of their ministry is often determined with how they handle these.

1. The fish bowl complex.  Leaders must not only face the normal trials of life, but must do it as the church looks on.  Many times the watching seems to have a judgmental spirit.  This puts pressure on ministers to have the “ideal” family.  This can cause church leaders to feel like they are pretending for the sake of the church when there may be real trouble in their lives.  It seems that church leaders should resist fighting against the “fish bowl” complex, but should embrace the opportunity to display Christ for the church and world.  The leader and his family must work at being real and transparent, rather than hiding all their challenges and trying to be “perfect.”
2. The role of the wife.  The church leader’s wife is in a unique role herself.  She often must carry her own burden’s along with her husbands.  She may struggle with deep loneliness and lack close confidants.  Churches often put unrealistic and unfair expectations on her regarding her role and work.  [Be looking for an upcoming post on this challenge specifically]
3. Unreasonable expectations.  Ministers face the challenge of trying to live up to the expectations of an entire congregation, which isn’t remotely possible.  Elders and their families face unreasonable expectations for all they are “supposed” to be doing when they may carry a full-time job and have a family.  This area is especially challenging when unreasonable expectations are placed upon the children of a church leader.
4. Lack of close friends.  Surveys reveal that most preachers and their families do not feel they have a safe place to turn for marital advice within their church.  The minister and his family often feel like an outsider to the locals who grew up in the area.  If the church leader is in a paid position there is a different relationship that exists that often hinders close friendships.  There is a fear of getting too close with individuals or a segment of the church because of the accusations of playing favorites or being cliquish.  Ministers should be intentional in trying to develop close friendships within the church and with other preachers in the area.
5. The need to establish boundaries.  Most church leaders say they do not spend enough time with their families. They struggle with conflicting loyalties in their lives.  They love their work and want to be loyal to the church, but often feel like this is in tension with their loyalty to family.  Leaders must learn to draw boundaries regarding their work load, time, and family.  Busyness is not a virtue!  Paid ministers must recognize that it is a calling, but it is also a job that cannot become your whole life.
6. Dealing with anger and bitterness.  Though not often discussed, church leaders can become angry and bitter toward the church or individuals who have treated them poorly.  Jonah is an example of a preacher who didn’t want to give people the grace God offered because he didn’t like the people.  Preachers today can follow in the same mindset because we are so angry with the way the church has treated us, we have trouble extending God’s grace to them.

What other challenges would you add to the list that church leaders face? 

[This post was taken from content delivered at Polishing the Pulpit 2016 by myself – See those lectures for more information]