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Executive Pastor Resources
XP Resources
Everything The Executive Pastor Podcast (XP Podcast) offers to help Executive Pastors lead well: training, books, a peer cohort, and a free alignment assessment.
Podcast Episodes
Weekly, tactical episodes on staffing, budgeting, AI adoption, and board communication for Executive Pastors.
The XP Cohort
A year-long executive pastor training and peer cohort program, Lap 1 and Lap 2, run by Intentional Churches.
Our Books
Field-tested books from hosts Doug Parks & Bart Rendel to help your church build a healthier, more aligned team.
Free Alignment Assessment
A short, free assessment to see if your church is aligned to the Great Commission, and where the gaps are.
Suggest a Topic
Tell us what you need help with as an Executive Pastor and we'll cover it in a future episode.
Questions
Executive Pastor Help, Answered
What is an Executive Pastor?
An Executive Pastor (XP) is the church leader who oversees day-to-day operations, staffing, and budgeting, so the Senior Pastor and other ministry leaders can focus on vision, teaching, and pastoral care. It's a hybrid role: part pastor, part operator.
What resources are available for Executive Pastors?
The Executive Pastor Podcast (XP Podcast) offers weekly episodes on staffing, budgeting, and AI adoption, a year-long training and peer cohort (The XP Cohort), books by the hosts, and a free church alignment assessment, all listed on this page.
How can I get executive pastor training?
The XP Cohort is a year-long training and peer cohort program built specifically for Executive Pastors, with two tracks: Lap 1 for newer XPs and Lap 2 for experienced ones. The podcast itself also functions as ongoing, free training, one practical topic per episode.
Where can Executive Pastors get help and coaching?
Beyond the podcast's weekly tactics, Executive Pastors can get direct help through The XP Cohort's peer coaching model, or by reaching out to Intentional Churches directly for consulting.
What's the difference between an Executive Pastor and an Associate Pastor?
An Executive Pastor typically leads staff and operations, budgeting, and systems across the whole church. An Associate Pastor typically focuses on direct ministry, like teaching, counseling, or leading a specific ministry area, rather than church-wide operations.