The Church Leadership Pulse

What's Happening in Church Leadership This Week In this episode: The AI Policy Gap — 60% of church leaders use AI, but only 5% have a policy to guide it. How to think through technology intentionally before a crisis strikes. Generational Staff Problems — The real friction isn't generational difference, it's leaders assuming everyone learns the way they do. Featuring resources from C...

In this episode: Beth Moore reflects on ego and legacy as she eyes retirement Bethel Church conducts third-party investigation and implements external governance oversight How your church's hiring reputation is shaped by former staff—reverse reference checks are real A Mississippi church quietly changes 150 lives by welcoming Ukrainian refugee families Key insight: Legacy isn't what you...

In This Episode: Craig Groeschel talks about hitting the wall in leadership. The global church is growing explosively while U.S. churches face decline narratives. Brian Tome's suspension from Crossroads Church shows what healthy accountability can look like. Plus, the Disability and The Church Conference is coming to Washington D.C. What's Discussed: Craig Groeschel's Breaking Point...

What's Happening: Crossroads Church pastor Brian Tome takes a one-month suspension followed by four-month leave following investigation into inappropriate conduct A deep dive into how to actually get your elder board to listen to your ministry needs A reminder from Craig Groeschel about leadership in the valleys, not just the mountaintops Key Takeaway: Leadership isn't about having stand...

This Week in Church Leadership: Matt Chandler at The Village Church is witnessing record-breaking baptisms and what he calls a "massive movement of God" across the U.S., attributing it to the "death of secularism." But as spiritual hunger rises, pastor burnout continues to accelerate—70% of pastors report having no close friends, and 38% have seriously considered leaving minist...

Today's radar stories: Matt Chandler & The Spiritual Hunger Movement - Record baptisms and spiritual conversions at The Village Church, as secularism's frameworks collapse and people seek authentic spiritual depth The Hidden Crisis: Spiritual Burnout Among Pastors - 53% of pastors report health-affecting stress, 70% have no close friends to confide in. Critical leadership team health...

What's Happening: The hard truth about pastoral burnout and why it's not a badge of faithfulness Why delegation actually kills team morale when leaders don't do it A surprising statistic about Gen Z conversion and baptism growth breaking the decline narrative Key Takeaway: Burnout happens because you're trying to do too much. The way out isn't more self-care—it's rhyt...

Today's Episode: Access Church removes its lead pastors with minimal explanation—and what that reveals about leadership transitions. Hope Church shares their counterintuitive growth strategy. And Todd breaks down why your church board keeps shooting down your best ministry ideas. Featured Stories & Resources: Access Church Leadership Transition: Brian and Sandra Sisneros removed over East...

Episode Summary: A major church firing in Texas raises serious transparency questions. 60% of pastors are now using AI tools, but almost none have a governance plan. And a Christian astronaut carries his faith to the moon on the Artemis mission. Key Stories: Access Church in Texas fires lead pastor couple over Easter weekend with no public explanation Study shows 60% of pastors using AI for sermon...

Church Leadership Radar - Tuesday, April 7, 2026 This week on the podcast: Access Church Firing: A major church in Texas terminated its lead pastor couple over Easter weekend with minimal transparency—and what that reveals about church leadership communication and values AI in Ministry: 60% of pastors are now using AI tools, but most churches have zero governance framework for it Bright Spot: A Ch...

Episode Summary: In this episode, we explore three critical issues facing church leaders today: AI in Ministry: 60% of pastors are using AI monthly, but 65% worry it could replace their spiritual guidance. Only 5% of churches have an AI policy. We discuss how to lead the conversation about AI thoughtfully rather than fearfully. Pastor Burnout: 42% of pastors actively want to quit ministry due to u...

This Week's Ministry Week in Review This Saturday's episode covers: Accountability in Action: Oklahoma's Cindy Clemishire Act and the Robert Morris case at Gateway Church—accountability systems are working Structural Solutions: The Unstuck Group's conversation on structure and lead pastor burnout—it's not about working harder, it's about healthier systems Prayer at th...

In today's episode, we explore nine church trends that are actually working in 2026, from sermon repurposing to stewardship reframes and guest follow-up timing. We also discuss why your executive pastor might be your church's best crisis prevention system—positioned as an early warning system watching the health of your organization. Plus, a challenging question about whether we're...

What's happening in church leadership today: The Southern Baptist Convention just named Evan Lenow as the next president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission Amy Anderson from The Unstuck Group highlights the uncomfortable structural truth about why lead pastors burn out Why our cultural narrative of independence is costing churches more than we realize Piedmont Church showing what...

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Episode Summary A troubling trend in church staff health reveals declining wellbeing across churches over the past three years. Plus, major institutional shifts on accountability standards, and a Baptist partnership addressing a critical gap in marriage ministry. Stories Covered: The Hidden Crisis: Why Church Staff Health Is Quietly Declining (Chemistry Staffing) Institutional Accountability: Grac...

Today's Episode Church Leadership Radar - your daily briefing on what matters in church leadership and culture. What We're Discussing: Oklahoma's Cindy Clemishire Act - Protecting abuse survivors by restricting NDAs in settlements Why younger generations are returning to church - and what they're looking for Vision drift warning - How to spot when your staff has mentally checke...

Ministry Week in Review - Saturday Edition This week we dive into what really matters for church leadership heading into Easter and beyond. Topics Covered Walter Kim & Good Neighbor Day America - Exploring the power of unified community service on May 16th and how togetherness transforms the church's witness Carl Lentz on Double Life Pressures - Honest conversation about how church growth...

Today's Stories: Good Neighbor Day America: The National Association of Evangelicals is calling churches nationwide to participate in coordinated service on May 16, 2026. Walter Kim explains: "There is power in togetherness for the church's witness." This is an opportunity for your church to answer whether you're truly about something meaningful. Safeguarding Reminder: A c...

Today's Episode Summary: A powerful insight from George Barna's research on discipleship: while only 19% of Americans show full biblical alignment, there are 25 million "Emergent Followers" in the middle—people with some biblical beliefs but lacking a cohesive worldview. That's not a crisis. That's leverage. That's where intentional discipleship efforts could mak...

Today on Church Leadership Radar: Carl Lentz opens up about the double life behind the megachurch stage and the warning signs he ignored. The Unstuck Group releases Q1 2026 church health data showing 86% of churches growing but growth rates slowing. A look at the three areas most church budgets consistently under-fund. Plus, students from Texas and Oklahoma spend spring break rebuilding flood-dama...

Today on Church Leadership Radar: Elevation Church partners with Southeastern University to launch an onsite college program, signaling a growing trend of megachurches as leadership development hubs. New data shows churches baptized over 250,000 adults in 2024—up 10% and marking the fourth straight year of growth, with Gen Z showing significant spiritual commitment. Plus, a sobering look at three...

Today on Church Leadership Radar: Craig Groeschel sits down with Carey Nieuwhof to discuss adapting communication for digital ministry and AI. We mourn the loss of Bishop Donald Maxwell and his wife in a tragic drunk driving accident. Plus, the painful truth about hiring your best volunteers — and a Costco-loving pastor who's reaching Gen Z in an unexpected way. Source Links Craig Groeschel o...

Ministry Week in Review — March 21, 2026 In this Saturday edition of Church Leadership Radar, Ted Rhoades recaps the biggest stories from the week in church leadership: Exponential 2026 Conference — The "Multiplier" theme and the shift from church planting quantity to leader quality and multiplication The Multisite Reckoning — The Unstuck Group's benchmarks, CRC task force report, a...

Today on Church Leadership Radar: Second Baptist Houston heads to court over a governance battle that's divided its 94,000-member congregation. The Exponential 2026 conference wraps in Orlando with a focus on multiplication over addition. New data reveals why church staff health is quietly declining. Plus, clergy in Beaumont, TX launch a collaborative youth mentoring initiative. Stories Cover...