Pastoral Skills And Qualities For Effective Ministry In Southern Baptist Churches -- By: Scott Douglas

Journal: Journal for Baptist Theology & Ministry
Volume: JBTM 12:2 (Fall 2015)
Article: Pastoral Skills And Qualities For Effective Ministry In Southern Baptist Churches
Author: Scott Douglas


Pastoral Skills And Qualities For Effective Ministry In Southern Baptist Churches

Scott Douglas

Scott Douglas is student minister at Westside Baptist Church in Murray, Kentucky.

Editorial Note: In this article, Scott Douglas draws from his Ed.D. dissertation completed in 2013 at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.1

Abstract

When considering the qualifications for being a pastor, the primary biblical texts of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 demonstrate the base levels of character and competence. But beyond that, what are the most important skills and qualities for an effective pastor? Much of the work in pastoral skills focuses on the management aspects or was developed using a previous generation as the research base. This study examined twenty-one qualities and skills for their importance for effective pastoral ministry. The qualities and skills for this study came from the recent book Dream Teams: Building and Leading Winning Ministry Teams, written by the study author. A total of 441 participants were surveyed, who are in these roles in local churches: 229 lead pastors, 63 staff members, and 149 laypersons. From their input, several observations were made based on the demographic variables. Also, participants were asked to add any skills or qualities they felt were important. From those responses, one additional skill and four qualities were considered for future addition to the list. A total of five conclusions and six application points are provided for local churches, pastors, and seminaries.

Introduction

Writing for Forbes in 2013 during the midst of an impending government shutdown, Mike Myatt declared that the problem in Washington was more than an isolated issue, it was a pervasive social dilemma; there is a leadership crisis in every aspect of life.2 For years, pastors have bemoaned the oft-quoted statistic that 80% of churches are in decline or plateaued in

attendance and effectiveness. The Malphurs Group attributes the longevity of this statistic to a profound lack of what they call “turnaround pastors,” who are able to serve as the catalyst for renewal in a congregation.3 Recently, Thom Rainer of LifeWay Christian Resources pointed out the dilemma that many churches must look for a new pastor every three to four years.4 Rainer also suggests that in many cases, past...

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