Co-Pastoring: An Evaluation
When Amanda and I decided to move on from our previous congregation, it was so that we could co-pastor. While very few churches advertise that they are looking for co-pastors, we applied to a church that was looking for one pastor and offered two.
This brought us to Brookfield Baptist Church. At the time that I am writing this, we have been co-pastoring for just over seven months.
First, I need to mention that neither BBC nor ourselves had any experience in co-pastoring. While Amanda and I have worked together at a church, this is the first time we have been co-pastors.
What do we mean by co-pastors? Amanda and I share one position. I am not the senior pastor and she is not the associate pastor. Nor am I the pastor with Amanda in the unofficial and voluntary position of pastor’s wife.
Amanda and I have equal authority. We both provide leadership and preach. We both do visitation, sometimes together, sometimes individually.
Not everyone gets this. We regularly encounter people who refer to me as the pastor, probably because I am ordained and have more experience, and unfortunately, probably because I am a man.
While that happens, Amanda is just as much the pastor as I am. I have noticed that people have really connected with her preaching and she has received many more complements than I have (not that I’m jealous).
I also have noticed during some pastoral meetings that we have had with members of the congregation, that some look predominantly to Amanda. The way she carries herself during pastoral care naturally pulls people in.
On a practical level, being co-pastors has some important advantages. When I was in my ATV accident, Amanda simply stepped in to do my work as well as hers. When she went back to Ontario to visit her family, I was able to take over her roles. This setup allowed for seamless transitions between various situations. Neither one of us had to take time off during these periods.
Speaking of when Amanda was away, I really felt like something important was missing. While I missed her as my wife, I also missed her as my co-pastor. She brings something to the ministry that I cannot do myself. Hopefully I’m contributing as well.
At this point, I am a strong advocate of co-pastoring. It might not be for every pastor or every congregation, but it is working for us.
