Leading a church is one of the most rewarding callings, but it’s also one of the most challenging. Between preaching, shepherding, managing staff and volunteers, overseeing finances, and handling crises, the weight of leadership can feel overwhelming. Many Lead Pastors find themselves stretched too thin, exhausted, and frustrated with a lack of growth—both in the church and in their personal leadership.
After years of working with pastors and leading my own church, I’ve identified the #1 mistake most Lead Pastors make:
Trying to do everything themselves.
It’s an easy trap to fall into. After all, we care deeply about our churches. We want to ensure things are done right. But when a pastor holds onto too much responsibility, it leads to burnout, stagnation, and even resentment. Worse, it stifles the growth of the church and its leaders.
Let’s explore why this mistake is so common, its consequences, and how to fix it using biblical wisdom and practical leadership strategies.
Why Do Pastors Struggle With Delegation?
Most pastors don’t start out wanting to control everything. It happens gradually, often for well-intentioned reasons:
• A Sense of Calling: You love your church and feel responsible for its success.
• Lack of Trust: You worry that if you don’t do it, it won’t get done right.
• Guilt: You don’t want to burden volunteers or staff with too much responsibility.
• Fear of Rejection: If something fails, it feels like a personal failure.
• Impatience: It’s faster to do it yourself than to train someone else.
I’ll be the first to admit—I’ve been guilty of this. Early in my pastoral journey, I felt the pressure to have a hand in everything. I was preaching, leading worship, handling finances, fixing broken toilets, and even adjusting the church website. The result? Exhaustion and frustration. I was busy, but the church wasn’t growing because I was standing in the way of others stepping into their God-given roles.
The Consequences of Doing Too Much
When a pastor refuses to delegate, the church and its leadership suffer in several ways:
1. Burnout
Pastoral burnout is real, and it often happens when we take on more than we should. Moses experienced this when leading the Israelites. He spent all day settling disputes until his father-in-law, Jethro, intervened:
“What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.” (Exodus 18:17-18, NIV)
Jethro’s solution? Delegate authority. Pastors need to do the same.
2. Stifled Church Growth
A church can only grow to the level of its leadership. When a pastor micromanages everything, it creates a bottleneck. People want to serve, but if they feel like they’re not trusted or needed, they disengage.
Ephesians 4:11-12 reminds us that pastors are called to equip the saints for ministry—not to do all the ministry themselves.
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
3. Underdeveloped Leaders
When pastors fail to delegate, they rob their team of growth opportunities. If people aren’t given responsibility, they won’t develop leadership skills. Jesus modeled delegation by sending out His disciples to preach and minister (Luke 10:1-3). He trusted them, even though they were imperfect.
As leaders, we must resist the temptation to do everything ourselves and instead empower those around us.
How to Fix It: The Art of Letting Go
If you’ve realized you’re holding onto too much, here’s how to start delegating effectively:
1. Shift Your Mindset: See Delegation as Discipleship
Delegation isn’t about offloading tasks; it’s about raising up leaders. Jesus spent three years training His disciples so they could carry the ministry forward. Who are you training?
2. Identify What Only You Can Do
Not everything requires your direct involvement. Make a list of responsibilities and ask:
• What requires my unique voice and leadership? (Preaching, vision-casting)
• What can be delegated? (Administrative tasks, event planning, facility management)
• What should be eliminated? (Unnecessary meetings, redundant programs)
3. Empower Trusted Leaders
Start with a core team of leaders you trust and empower them with real authority. Give clear expectations, provide resources, and check in regularly—but don’t micromanage.
4. Create Systems and Processes
Churches that grow beyond 200 members often do so because they have clear systems in place. Document standard procedures, create team structures, and use tools like church management software to streamline tasks.
5. Allow People to Fail (Within Reason)
Perfectionism will kill delegation. Give your team room to make mistakes and learn from them. The disciples didn’t get everything right, but Jesus patiently guided them.
6. Regularly Evaluate and Adjust
Delegation isn’t “set it and forget it.” Have regular check-ins to assess what’s working, what’s not, and how you can continue empowering others.
A Final Encouragement
If you’ve been struggling with doing too much, you’re not alone. But remember this: God didn’t call you to be the entire body of Christ—He called you to lead it.
Instead of being the person who does everything, be the leader who raises up others to share the load. That’s how you build a strong, healthy, and growing church.
So take a deep breath, pray, and start handing things off. Trust your people. Trust God. And watch how He moves when you step back and let others step up.
What’s one area of ministry you can delegate this week? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear how you’re empowering leaders in your church!
