Etiquette For Assistant Pastors

Etiquette For Assistant Pastors 

In the ministry it is good to start with the good foundation of working under the superiority of a senior pastor or General Overseer  . However , there are some moral etiquette that every child of God must exhibit , if indeed , he wants to be a successful subordinate pastor to the senior pastor .  There are some behavioral qualities that are required of you as an assistant pastor .Let us consider , these qualities in a prayerful mood ;    

 1. Respect you senior pastor

Every assistant pastor must know that one day he too will be  senior pastor ,and for that matter you have to respect your senior pastor. This is very important , because it will attract the blessing of service upon your life . If at any time you disrespect your senior minister , you are giving room for the enemy to destroy your future ministry .

What you sow is what you reap in the ministry , if you are fond of disrespecting your senior pastor or General Overseer it will result in abasement of your future ministry . The scriptures declares :.'' Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour'' Romans 13:7

2. Use his rightful title to introduce him 

Whenever you are talking ,or referring to your senior pastor , learn to use his rightful title in office . Do not just mention his name ,rather use his ministerial title that denotes his office in the ministry , this is how you also contact the grace of God upon his life . Anytime you refer to him by his office title , an auction is released . Titles like , pastor , Rev. Dr. Bishop , Archbishop , apostle , prophet , Seer, G.O , Evangelist , bible teacher ,  are very needful to refer to when talking about a man of God . 

3. Do not expose his weakness 

Every man of God may have his own peculiar weakness , but you as an assistant pastor  , should not expose his secret sin . Especially in front of the congregation. . Try as much as possible to cover up for his weakness .  

4. Honour him as a father in the Lord

Try as much as possible to  show him the honour of a spiritual father or father in the Lord .

'' Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour  '' Roman 13:13-14

5. Pray for him 

All ministers of the gospel  need  prayer  , in the same vein , your senior pastor needs it more . Praying for your senior pastor will bring more grace into your life and ministry   . 

6. Serve Him like your master 

You have to be under the service of the man , if anything you must see him as your master , you must serve him with the excitement that you will receive grace upon your . Be completely under the service of your senior pastor .

7. Do not talk about him badly 

Do not say bad things about  your senior pastor in public or private, This will give him a poor self image

8.  Follow his vision  

If God has deemed it fit that you should work under someone's ministry , then you should know that you are the armour bearer . This means you have to follow your senior pastor's vision, and personally work on it so long as you are in that ministry . Do not initiate  another vision aside from your senior pastor's vision , so long as you are in his ministry .

Follow his vision with your whole heart , and work for the success of the vision , remember it the vision for his ministry that the Lord gave him  . So ultimately it is the Lord's vision that you are working on . 

9. Acknowledge him often 

Always acknowledge his presence , even when he is not the one ministering , Let his presence counts to you and the congregation . In his absence speak good things about him to the congregation . 

10. Give testimonies about him 

Always try to give testimonies of the good things about him and what the Lord has used him to do in your life or for others to the congregation . If you do it for him, in the near future , your own assistant pastor shall do the same for you . 

11. Do not lie against him 

It is a hideous sin to lie against your senior pastor ; that is when you fabricate stories against him to some members because you need some favour from them . When you do this you are sowing a seed of destruction into your destiny , you are a deceitful worker , and that means you will attract a curse like Gehazi the assistant of Elisha .  '' Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and ...'' Jeremiah 48 :10

12 . Do not breakaway with his members 

Do not break away with your senior pastors members , in case you decide to start a ministry of your own . If it becomes possible for you to start your own ministry , try as much as possible to start it in a different location , such as a town or city that is far from the mother church .

Avoid influencing members to follow you , rather start afresh with new converts or new members in a new locality far from your mother church . And always make sure you do not offend , challenge , slander, or offend your senior pastor before leaving the church . Leave in peace , after you have prayerfully decided to go .  

13. Do not connive with anyone against him 

It is important that you do not take sides with anyone against your senior pastor . If you connive with a member to fight your head pastor , you are sowing a bad seed in your own ministry , which you will reap some day . If a member or members rise your senior pastor , do not join them in the act ,beware ! 

14. Respect his wife 

You need to respect your head pastor's wife , no matter who she is ? She is one flesh with your head pastor and for that matter she deserves to be treated well with all the respect and honour due her . Your senior pastor is your father in the Lord , and his wife is your mother in the Lord . 

15. Treat his children well 

Treat your senior pastor's children well , like your brothers and sisters in the Lord .Give them the necessary help , and good treatment for the sake of your senior pastor .

16 . Learn from him 

It is important that you learn a lot from your head pastor  . You should know that working under his ministry is a divine arrangement for you to learn something for your future ministry. So do not take him for granted , do not despise his anointing  nor the grace of God upon his life . 

17. Let him be your mentor 

You need to see him as your mentor , learn to be like him , absorb all the virtues in his ministry , listen to his messages even in your home .Learn his ways of doing ministry and pray  for the grace upon his life to become your portion. 

18. Regard him as your superior 

Regard him as your superior , irrespective of your age , spiritually he is your head , you must submit to him in the ministry . He is an authority over your head , you must submit to his leadership and honour him as such .

19. Do not entertain members who talk against him 

Do not entertain church members or people who talk so badly or complain all  the time about your senior pastor . Please do not join them to talk against your head pastor . Instead you have to defend him as much as you can , providing explanations on his behalf . 

Do not provide a safe environment for anyone to talk against your head pastor , it is important , discourage any bad conversation geared towards tarnishing the image of your senior pastor .