Development of a Pastor Competency Model

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to develop a pastor competency model by exploring tasks that pastors routinely perform, by identifying pastors' competencies, and by analyzing these competencies according to knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Twenty-five pastors working at G church of 5000 members participated in the survey and in the workshop. Based on the results of this study, we suggest a pastor competency model for churches of 3000 to 6000 members. Results show that pastors routinely perform tasks of teaching, preaching, managing, leading, and caring. In order to carry out these tasks effectively, pastors need competencies in mastery of the Bible, sermon preparation, acquisition of information about members, organization of knowledge about members, administration, management, communications, relationships, integrity, spirituality, passion, love, obedience, and sensitivity. These competencies are divided into three domains: knowledge, skills, and attitudes. In addition, competencies are classified into intrapersonal and interpersonal domains. Among these three domains, pastors gain knowledge first, skills second, and attitudes last, while performing roles of preachers, teachers, leaders, and administrators of the local church.