About The Episode
In this second episode of a two-part series, David Hibiske sits down again with Sean Morgan to dive deeper into the vital role of church boards. They explore what it looks like for boards to truly support and protect their lead pastor, care for their pastor’s family, navigate compensation wisely, and foster unity even in challenging conversations. Sean offers practical insights for lay leaders and church planters on building healthy governance structures that advance the mission rather than slow it down. Whether you’re a new board member, a seasoned elder, or a pastor wanting to strengthen your board relationships, this episode is packed with wisdom on stewarding the sacred trust of church leadership.
Welcome to Episode 040 of The Unfair Advantage Podcast with David Hibiske.
Insights From Sean
- The board’s first job: protect the pastor (and the church)
Sean emphasized that the primary role of the church board is to protect the pastor from the church and the church from the pastor. That means shielding the lead pastor from unhealthy demands, burnout, or unrealistic expectations while also safeguarding the church from potential pastoral failures.
- Be the chief encourager
Board members should strive to be the lead pastor’s biggest encouragers. Start every interaction by affirming and praying for them. A culture of consistent gratitude and encouragement builds the trust needed for healthy accountability and hard conversations down the line.
- Care for the pastor’s family, not just the ministry
True board care extends beyond the pastor to their spouse and children. Host intentional gatherings to build relationships outside of boardroom agendas, and adjust policies to fit real family rhythms, like allowing a sabbatical earlier if needed.
- Compensation matters more than you think
Boards shouldn’t just default to “what fits in the budget.” Instead, do the work of researching fair compensation for your context, thinking long-term about sustainability for your pastor’s family. Even if you can’t meet the ideal today, proactive steps communicate profound care and help prevent future discouragement.
- Set clear boundaries to protect both sides
From financial authority to hiring and firing protocols, clarity prevents conflict. Outline in advance what spending levels require board approval or how moral, ethical, or theological issues will be addressed. Clear policies protect unity when hard situations arise.
- Build unity, not uniformity
Boards shouldn’t expect everyone to think alike, but they should agree to move forward together. Sean encouraged pursuing the kind of unity Jesus prayed for—rooted in sacrifice and mutual submission, not comfort.
- Grow together intentionally
Read books like Sticky Teams by Larry Osborne or Leadership Pain by Sam Chand as a board. Invest in meals and relational time so you’re not only aligned on mission, but actually like and trust each other. This foundation pays off when navigating complex decisions.
Episode Links
Sticky Teams by Larry Osborne
Leadership Pain by Sam Chand
Better Together by Jim Tomberlin & Warren Bird
Do ministry together! Three gatherings, nine planters, one cohesive journey. Check out the Ascent Leader Church Planter Cohorts. Get more information today at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/
Who Is Sean Morgan?
Sean started out in ministry serving in a San Francisco area church plant as their Executive Pastor. He went on to help coach and consult with church leaders across the country and eventually founded The Ascent Leader, a first-of-its-kind organization focusing on relational leadership development for local church pastors. He also hosts the Leaders In Living Rooms podcast. Sean recently retired from a 26-year career as a KC-10 pilot in the US Air Force Reserve. His favorite titles are “Stacy’s husband” and “Kaylee and Ayden’s dad.”
Sponsors
Thanks to our sponsor: Generis.
A generous church is a healthy, growing church. So, if you’re ready to advance your mission, visit Generis.com/getstarted today!
Our goal with the Ascent Leader and our church planting cohorts is to help church planters win early and finish strong. We want to resource you so that you can avoid common pitfalls and simple mistakes. Being involved in a community of leaders like our church planting cohorts is one of the best ways to wrestle through these questions. We’re here to help you, if we can be of assistance to you please feel free to reach out.
Contact our team: ops@theascentleader.org
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