Pastors have
clear-cut feelings about what they are good at doing - and what they're
not so good at doing. Our just-completed national survey of Protestant
Senior Pastors gives a glimpse into how pastors rate themselves.
Out of eleven key areas of service
that we tested, Senior Pastors rated themselves best at preaching,
encouraging and pastoring. By far the aspect that Senior Pastors say
they do least effectively is fundraising.
The primary spiritual gift that
pastors claim corresponds to their areas of excellence:
preaching/teaching, pastoring/shepherding, and encouraging were the
most common primary gifts claimed by Senior Pastors.
The way in which Senior Pastors rank
themselves in the 11 areas of service varies according to church size,
theological orientation and years in the pastorate.
full story at Barna Research Online
excellent
good
average
not too good
poor
preaching/teaching
31%
59%
9%
*
1%
encouraging people
24
61
13
1
*
pastoring/shepherding
21
61
16
*
*
leadership
16
57
25
1
*
motivating people
around a vision
15
53
28
3
7
discipling/mentoring
people
12
52
32
2
*
evangelism
10
50
36
3
1
counseling
9
45
38
4
2
administration/management
14
39
35
7
4
developing ministry
strategy
10
43
41
3
1
fundraising
6
25
37
14
9
(NOTE: * means less than
one-half of one percent.)
Which of the following statements comes closest to
describing your views about the Bible -- The Bible is the actual word
of God and is to be taken literally, word for word, 2) the Bible
is the inspired word of God but not everything in it should be taken
literally, 3) The Bible is an ancient book of fables, legends,
history, and moral precepts recorded by man]?
