Are There No Bad Churches, Only Bad Pastors?

Extreme Ownership for Church Leaders

I bet many of you have read “Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win” by former Navy SEAL officers Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. The book is a fascinating blend of leadership lessons drawn from combat and applied to business. I highly recommend it.

The central idea? Leaders must take full responsibility for everything that happens under their command—no excuses, no blaming others. If something goes wrong, a leader must own it and work to correct it.

"There Are No Bad Teams, Only Bad Leaders"

This statement in the book caught my attention, and I suspect it resonates with you as well. Willink and Babin assert that leaders are responsible for the performance of their teams. If a team is underperforming, it’s up to the leader to identify the problems, develop a plan, and guide the team to success.

I see this principle at work in the marketplace, in sports, and everywhere leadership is exercised.

But what about the church?

Are There No Bad Churches, Only Bad Pastors?

This question feels almost heretical. Originally, I wrote it as a statement, but that felt too bold. However, one thing we all know is this: The church needs great leaders. Peter was a leader, Paul was a leader, and Jesus was a leader.

Whether you use the term pastor, reverend, or shepherd, the job is the same—leading. Churches desperately need leadership.

The Role of a Pastor

As pastors and church leaders, we are responsible for:

• The mission and vision,

• The strategy,

• The team’s actions,

• Organizational decisions,

• Ensuring innovation,

• Inspiring people,

• Prioritizing opportunities, and ultimately,

• The performance and results of our people and organizations.

Hold that thought for a moment.

The Church’s Mission

Churches exist to see:

1. Lost people saved,

2. Saved people pastored,

3. Pastored people discipled, and

4. Discipled people mobilized.

All four of these church categories require leadership. For the church to accomplish its mission, leadership is necessary. While we must never remove Jesus from the equation, we recognize that He works through church leaders to fulfill His mission.

Given this, I believe Willink and Babin's assessment applies to churches and pastors. And that’s a harsh reality.

The Truth: Great Churches Have Great Leaders

There are many reasons churches suffer, but more often than not, leadership is the problem and the solution. The more I think about why churches fail, the more I research, and the more I coach pastors and consult with churches, the more convinced I become of this truth.

Great churches intentionally engage people in the four categories and create inspiring steps appropriate for each person in each category. It takes great leadership to turn this hope into action.

Specific Leadership Advice for Pastors

As pastors and church leaders, we are called to steward the church's mission with the same level of responsibility and ownership that Willink and Babin advocate for in their book. When we take "extreme ownership" of our roles, we acknowledge that the health of our churches and the growth of our congregation rests on our shoulders.

Here’s how you can apply this to your leadership: