The Pastor-Leader Tension

IN the last issue, pastors shared the struggles they face with their congregation. This issue, they talked about the challenges they encounter with their leaders (deacons and elders). Their sharing is gleaned from the Emotional Connection Between Pastors and Congregation Survey conducted last year by the NECF Malaysia Research Department. Over 190 pastors throughout Malaysia responded to the survey.

Often, the greatest conflicts in a corporate organisation stem from the leadership's inability to coexist effectively and affably with one another. Similarly, church management suffers the same strife.

The survey shows that less than half the respondents agree that they work well together with the others in the ministry (Table 1). Although 85% of respondents feel that they can trust their leaders, 64% agree that differences with the leadership is often a cause for pastors to leave the church.


Leadership exists in all tiers in a church, from zone leaders to cell group leaders to leaders of various ministries. These leaders have the most impact on group behaviour and dynamics.

In answering the question on four biggest difficulties in ministry, 60% of the respondents relate their problems to leadership. About half the problems they face are attributed to the attitudes of the leadership, such as disrespect, and lack of submissiveness, commitment and responsibility.

On the other hand, there is increasing dissatisfaction among the leaders towards their positions, the church and the senior pastor. Most pastors in Malaysia do not consider their vocation as the most frustrating occupation, but many feel the tremendous pressure to succeed in leading their congregation. They desire to provide an inspiring vision for their flocks and lead members to higher planes. They long to build trust and create a sense of purpose for them.

While recognising their primary task as a church leader to form and share a future vision, 26.6% of pastors are facing difficulty in communicating their vision to the leadership and congregation, and mobilising and enabling the church to move into the vision.
Clashes in visions or lack of common goals within the leadership are not uncommon. It can rouse bad feelings between pastor and leaders to the extent of severing the relationship.

Pastors' emotional outlet
91% of the respondents admit that they need people to talk to. Of this group, 77% say they have someone to talk to in difficult times (Table 2). Out of this 77%, 28% of them are discouraged in their current ministry (Table 2a).



Coping with emotional conflict or stress, handling disappointment or discouragement, being misunderstood and criticised, feeling unappreciated and lonely ; these are just some of the challenges that the respondents listed. 66% of respondents said their greatest discouragement in ministry is the lack of recognition and appreciation.

It is also noteworthy that 87% of the respondents believe in the importance of having a small support or accountability group to keep them in check. 86% of those who have someone to talk to in difficult times are willing to admit their failures and acknowledge their own shortcoming in the accountability groups.

Everything rises and falls on leadership, says John C. Maxwell in The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Malaysian pastors have outstanding talent in every conceivable field imaginable. Aside from preaching and teaching, many are adept in administration, writing, public speaking, counselling, mediating and others.

They make tremendous effort to be effective at all levels and in all situations, to be successful in ministries as well as to preserve harmonious relationships with their families, leaders, co-workers and congregation at large. However, without a good team of leaders and co-workers, the pastors' ability to achieve anything of lasting value will be limited. More importantly, when disagreements arise, pastors and leaders need to remember that they are on the same side.