You’re Not Supposed to Be a Superhero (Despite What Your Job Description Says)

The humble church staff job description. You know the one I’m talking about:

“Seeking a visionary leader with a heart for discipleship who can also fix the sound system, unclog toilets, counsel marriages, design websites, manage budgets, grow attendance by 20% annually, and make a killer pot of coffee for Sunday morning. Musical ability preferred. Miracle-working a plus.”

After 10 years as an executive pastor and now leading a nonprofit supporting church staff, I’ve seen my fair share of these “unicorn” job postings, and I actually may have even written a few.  I’ve also lived the exhausting reality they create.

The Ministry Hat Rack is Overflowing

Let’s be honest about what’s expected of today’s church leaders:

  • Theologian: Deeply rooted in scripture and doctrine
  • Preacher: Delivering TED-talk quality messages weekly
  • Counselor: Handling everything from marriage crises to addiction
  • CEO: Managing staff, budgets, and strategic planning
  • Facilities Manager: From HVAC failures to plumbing disasters
  • Tech Guru: Livestreams, websites, and “fixing the PowerPoint”
  • Fundraiser: Growing giving while teaching biblical stewardship
  • Community Organizer: Building partnerships and outreach
  • HR Director: Hiring, firing, and navigating staff conflicts

And that’s before we add the expectations to maintain a thriving personal spiritual life, be an exemplary spouse/parent, and somehow find time for self-care.

I’m exhausted just typing this list.

The Myth of the Super Pastor

Here’s the truth I wish someone had told me earlier: You were never meant to do all this alone. Not even Jesus operated as a one-man ministry.

Remember the disciples? Jesus intentionally built a team with diverse gifts and backgrounds. He didn’t expect Peter to be good at accounting or Matthew to be great at public speaking. He leveraged their unique strengths for the kingdom.

Yet somehow, we’ve created church cultures where pastors are expected to excel at everything from exegesis to Excel spreadsheets.

Permission to Not Be Amazing at Everything

So, here’s your official permission slip from someone who’s been there: You don’t have to be good at everything. In fact, you shouldn’t be.

When I finally admitted I was terrible at facilities management (after flooding the church basement… twice), it was actually liberating. Turns out our facilities guy did a much better job, and the church didn’t collapse when I focused elsewhere.

Your greatest ministry impact happens when you serve primarily from your strengths and build a team to cover the rest.

The Power of the Right Team

The game-changer for me was finally building the right team. Not a team of mini-me’s, but people whose abilities complemented and supported or filled in the gaps.

Our worship leader couldn’t balance a budget to save his life, but he created profound worship experiences. Our children’s director struggled with public speaking but built an incredible volunteer team. Our admin couldn’t preach but kept us all organized and on track.

Together, we were stronger than any superhero pastor could ever be alone.

What If You Can’t Hire?

“But we can’t afford more staff!” I hear you. Been there too.

Start with volunteers. Look for retired professionals in your congregation. Consider part-time specialists or contractors for specific needs. Explore fractional staff who work across multiple churches.

Sometimes the answer isn’t more people but better systems. When we streamlined our processes, we found hours of wasted time we could redirect toward our actual strengths.

Your Vision Needs Room to Breathe

Here’s what I know for sure: When church leaders are drowning in tasks they weren’t designed for, vision suffocates.

The unique calling God placed on your life needs space to flourish. It needs margin. It needs focus. None of which is possible when you’re wearing 17 different hats and working 70-hour weeks.

Your congregation doesn’t need a superhero. They need a healthy, focused leader operating in their gifts and empowering others to do the same.

The Next Step

Take 10 minutes today to jot down all your responsibilities. Circle the ones that energize you and align with your gifting. Put stars by the ones draining your soul.

Now ask: Who else could handle the starred items? The answer might surprise you.

Your impact doesn’t grow by doing more. It grows when you focus on doing what only you can do and empowering others to do the rest.

Trust me, both you and your church will be better for it.