Charisma Leader | Serving and empowering church leaders

Longer-tenured pastorates are better for church health.
Longer-tenured pastorates are better for church health. (Lightstock )

"I wish I had stayed."

I've heard that sentence from many pastors. Given the perspective of several years, they wish that had not left a church as soon as they did. Indeed, I was one of those pastors.

For certain, there will be times that pastors should move on after only a few years at a given church. This post does not apply to all pastors.

And other pastors can't help their short tenure because they were forced out of their churches. In some cases, they were appointed to another church by a judicatory authority.

But this post is about the rest of them.

The more research I do and the more I hear from pastors, the more I am convinced. As a rule, longer-tenured pastorates are better. Let me share six of the main reasons.

Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

1. Our research continues to show a strong correlation to pastoral tenure and church health. Of course, correlation is not the same as causation. Nevertheless, the evidence is strong, if not overwhelming, in favor of long tenure.

2. The breakout years of pastoral tenure typically begin after years 5 to 7. In other words, the best years of a pastor's tenure, both for the pastor and the church, do not begin until at least five years have passed. Unfortunately, the majority of pastors in America do not stay at a church for five or more years.

3. Relationships take time, particularly in church leadership. Keep this perspective in mind. When pastors begin ministry in a church, they are the newest people at their respective churches. Relationships are already established among the members. That is why I've heard from many church members that a pastor did not seem like "their pastor" until about five years passed.

4. Nearly nine out of 10 churches in America are in need of turnaround leadership. Turnaround leadership is most often methodical and incremental. It can't be accomplished in just a few years.

5. Community relationships and impact take time as well. In most communities, pastors are not considered a part of the locality until they have been there at least five years. A church, to be effective, must have a positive presence in the community led by an accepted pastor.

6. Pastors and churches will have had time to go through a crisis or conflict. The typical period for significant conflict is in years 2 to 4. The longer the pastorate, the greater the likelihood that the church and the pastor have gotten to the other side of the conflict.

The issue of pastoral tenure has so many implications. This brief post touches upon just a few of them. I look forward to hearing your perspectives on this important matter.

Thom Rainer is the president of LifeWay Christian Resources. For the original article, visit thomrainer.com.

Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

Dr. Steve Greene is now sharing stories, teachings, and conversations with guests who lead with love on Love Leads, a new podcast. Listen now.



Dr. Mark Rutland's

National Institute of Christian Leadership (NICL)

The NICL is one of the top leadership training programs in the U.S. taught by Dr. Mark Rutland. If you're the type of leader that likes to have total control over every aspect of your ministry and your future success, the NICL is right for you!

FREE NICL MINI-COURSE - Enroll for 3-hours of training from Dr. Rutland's full leadership course. Experience the NICL and decide if this training is right for you and your team.

Do you feel stuck? Do you feel like you’re not growing? Do you need help from an expert in leadership? There is no other leadership training like the NICL. Gain the leadership skills and confidence you need to lead your church, business or ministry. Get ready to accomplish all of your God-given dreams. CLICK HERE for NICL training dates and details.

The NICL Online is an option for any leader with time or schedule constraints. It's also for leaders who want to expedite their training to receive advanced standing for Master Level credit hours. Work through Dr. Rutland's full training from the comfort of your home or ministry at your pace. Learn more about NICL Online. Learn more about NICL Online.

Charisma Leader — Serving and empowering church leaders