When disaster strikes pastors are key players in their communities. Well, maybe we should say, “they could be.” I would like to say, “they, or you, should be!” Many pastors like to think of themselves as leaders in the “community.” Most times they are only leaders in their own congregations, and unfortunately many are not very good at it. I believe the Barna Group did a survey and found out that about 70% of pastors didn’t want to be leaders. They wanted to preach, teach, study, write, but not lead.

 I believe the Barna Group did a survey and found out that about 70% of pastors didn’t want to be leaders. They wanted to preach, teach, study, write, but not lead.

When I first read that statistic I was saddened by it, but not too surprised. In some ways we don’t want our pastors leading too much, we prefer they that be kind, sweet, holy people who only lead by suggestion. If they get on their high horse of leadership they might start telling us how to live, or calling us out that we ain’t living right, or become political and the next thing you know they will be telling us how to vote.

When disaster strikes people in a community might assume their local church, even if they don’t go to it, would lend a hand, would be a sanctuary, would mobilize to help at least their own people. The reality is that the way pastors lead normally will result in them responding pretty much the same way when disaster strikes. What I mean by that is that pastors will do little or nothing to be of practical help, and most likely won’t be much spiritual help either.

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