Characteristics of a Modern Church Leader

The church has entered a new era. We are in the post-post-Covid world (you read that correctly) where leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus requires a type of leadership that is different from years gone by. Sure, the character of God never changes — nor do the doctrines we hold dear — but the characteristics of the modern church leader (MCL) require adaptation in order to continue to propel the Church forward. 

Here are a few characteristics that I believe are essential as we move into the new era.

8 Characteristics of a Modern Church Leader

#1: The MCL Chooses Depth

Numeric growth has always been one of the metrics we’ve used to indicate the success of a local church. To be sure, it hasn’t been the only measure of health — there are thousands of smaller churches doing the work of God just as he has called them to do — but for too long numeric size has been the main marker of a healthy, growing church. And with good reason: typically a church that is growing exhibits other indicators of healthiness as well. But the growth indicator is far back in the brain of the MCL.

Instead, depth of discipleship takes primacy over numeric growth. The MCL is consumed with discipleship and taking people on a journey toward maturity in their spiritual walk. Instead of counting heads on a Sunday morning, they’re measuring things like:

• Are our people making better choices?
• Are our people doing spiritual disciplines (scripture reading, prayer, solitude, etc.)?
• Are our people demonstrating perseverance, determination, and endurance in times of difficulty?
• Are our people serving faithfully and consistently?
• Are our people prioritizing generosity? (more on this below)
• Do our people buy into the culture and mission of the church?
• Do our people show compassion to others? Do they react appropriately on social media?
• Do they demonstrate a desire to learn?
• Are our people influencing their neighbors, coworkers, etc?

The MCL is obsessed with finding real, tangible ways to equip people in these areas and to measure the congregation’s growth in them.

#2: The MCL Celebrates Technology

Nearly every church leader has realized by now that they must, at minimum, embrace some parts of modern technology as an essential part of ministry. Hardly any leader would say that the church shouldn’t have a website or Facebook page. Most church leaders would even reluctantly agree that a livestream — or online video of some sort — is important. Every ministry leader would say email is required to do ministry.

But if pressed, most church leaders would still prefer to avoid technology if they could. Or, at best, they choose to neglect technology.

This is not the case with the MCL. Not only do they embrace the importance of technology, they celebrate it. They realize that advances in technology have opened new opportunities for ministry at levels never seen before. They crave the chance to leverage these technologies for the Gospel mission.

MCLs spend time understanding the tools available to them. They’re not only unafraid of things like artificial intelligence, they’re curious about them. They lean into the opportunity to expand the reach of their sermons using video streaming and social media shorts. MCLs don’t think of social media as a place to announce events and ministries; instead, they think of social media as a place to host events and a place to do ministry.

It’s not just online. MCLs look for ways to leverage technology inside the building. They cherish the opportunity to upgrade the sound system to make the experience better for the attendee. They’re not afraid of things like environmental projection to create an immersive environment. Even technologies like ring doorbells and programmable thermostats (old technologies by now) are tools for ministry for the MCL.

#3: The MCL Leverages Marketing

If you want to know whether or not you are an MCL, take a look at your marketing budget. MCLs understand that advertising can be an essential tool to increase exposure of the church to the community. But that’s not all; MCLs get that marketing is about more than just increasing awareness. They are eager to use “funnels” as a way to serve more people. They imagine ways to use lead generators (lead magnets) to provide valuable resources to the community while also building an email list to use for promotional purposes.

Where church leaders in the past might’ve used marketing to get more people involved in the church’s programming, MCLs view it the other way around: they see marketing tools as a program in itself.

#4: The MCL Lives Outside the Walls

For most churches, ministry has long been about what happens inside the walls of some building, typically on Sunday morning, Sunday evening, or Wednesday night. MCLs understand that Sunday morning isn’t the only onramp for ministry. In fact, it’s become one of the least effective places for church growth. Sure, the corporate gathering is important in the life of the church, but MCLs are happier working outside the walls of the building and outside the confines of a service one hour a week.

Whether it’s personal ministry at the local coffee shop, leading the church in community service efforts, or something in between, the MCL follows the model of Jesus in being mostly out and about and amongst the people in the community.

#5: The MCL Dreams Outside the Box

MCLs do not care about sacred cows. They truly are not encumbered by how church has always been done. They’re innovative. They leverage secular tools, reclaiming them for the sacred. They creatively look for ways to use art, culture, and anything else at their disposal so that by all means they might reach the lost. They view obstacles as opportunities because they understand…really understand…that the Church is the bride of Christ and there is no problem he cannot solve or solution he is unable to provide. They are invigorated by outside-the-box thinking. They’re constantly dreaming about what’s next, and not consumed with putting out fires.

#6: The MCL Understands Storytelling

People respond to stories. They’re inspired by the demonstration of life change and are captivated by mystery and intrigue. MCLs understand this and, as a result, they study the art of storytelling. They know how to present a character, conflict, and resolution. They think in terms of narrative arc. They routinely mine for stories amongst their staff, their antennae are always out for a story to capture & re-tell, and they are systematic in their approach to gathering stories.

The MCL prioritizes budget monies for storytelling. They value video as one of the best ways to tell stories and are willing to purchase equipment, pay personnel, and do whatever it takes to convey the God-moments happening in their congregations. They make time, personally — in their own schedules — to produce storytelling assets.

MCLs are also diverse in how they tell stories. They use the obvious tried-and-true methods such as video in a Sunday service or on social media. But they don’t stop there; instead, they integrate storytelling in all they do.

They use posters of mission trips to decorate the lobby. They share a personal anecdote before they give the blessing at a dinner event. They fill the annual report with stories of life changes. They craft sermons around narratives. They start elder board meetings with a story.

#7: The MCL Preaches Generosity

Giving is not only the lifeblood of an optimally operating church, it’s one of the primary indicators of a fully devoted follower of Jesus. Churches that do not regularly preach about giving and generosity, are failing to equip people to worship fully. The MCL doesn’t shrink away from teaching people about money and the importance of it in the life of the believer.

MCLs teach generosity, but also model it. They demonstrate a mastery of generosity in how they compensate their staff, they model it through their charitable giving, and they serve as an example of generosity in how they freely give of their time to places and people where it doesn’t benefit them and their ministry to give of it.

They don’t cheapen generosity by teaching a “prosperity gospel,” but they celebrate God’s promises of faithfulness to those who give to the church. They aren’t afraid to talk about the biblical precepts about money. And, maybe most importantly, they challenge their congregations to give and provide opportunities and tools for them to easily do so.

#8: The MCL Values People

It should go without saying, but MCLs value people. They value them for the innate value they have as children of God. The MCL doesn’t view people as a means to accomplish a goal or task, but rather as a being to be loved and cherished.

The MCL would rather have more staff and volunteers than buildings and things, realizing that it’s people that God uses to accomplish his work of the kingdom here on earth. The MCL isn’t beholden to the opinions of people but does what is right for those in his or her care.

Final Thoughts

Culture is changing, and as a result, leadership must change if the church is to remain a beacon of light in the world. This new leadership involves a depth of character that isn’t moved by fear — fear of people nor technology — and is willing to lean into new ways of thinking and new ways of approaching challenges. The call for a Modern Church Leader is a call for one who navigates uncertainty with unwavering courage, unafraid to explore uncharted territories in both thought and action.