What if leading a team wasn’t a tension to manage—but a calling to steward?

In this episode, Elevate host Bill Ferrell (Executive Pastor of Central Support) sits down with Brian Coates (Executive Pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church) to talk about one of the biggest challenges in church leadership: learning to lead both as a shepherd and a supervisor. From managing team chemistry to navigating difficult conversations, they share wisdom for pastors who want to care for people and call them to more.

Whether you’re stepping into leadership for the first time or trying to balance your gifts with your growing responsibilities, this episode offers practical tools—and biblical perspective—for leading like Jesus.

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Timestamps

• 00:00 – Shepherd vs. Supervisor: Why pastors struggle with the tension—and why both roles matter.
• 03:00 – The Push and Pull of Leadership: How early mistakes in ministry can shape how we lead today.
• 06:45 – Listening First, Leading Second: Why the first year in leadership should be focused on relationships.
• 08:00 – Praying With Your Team: A simple habit that builds trust and earns the right to be heard.
• 10:30 – Hiring for Chemistry: Why fit matters more than you think—and how to build a team that thrives.
• 13:00 – Structure That Supports Ministry: How clear systems and accountability help keep your staff healthy.
• 16:30 – Setting SMART Goals: How well-defined goals actually shepherd your team, not just manage them.
• 18:00 – Tools to Develop Leaders: From scenarios to book studies, how to disciple your team into better leadership.
• 23:00 – Mentorship Matters: Why learning from others outside your organization is key to long-term growth.
• 26:00 – Giving Feedback with Clarity and Compassion: Mistakes pastors make in conflict—and how to speak the truth in love.
• 29:00 – Weekly 1:1s: The underrated discipline that builds trust, accountability, and alignment.
• 31:00 – Equipping Church Leaders of Every Size: Ideas for staff development, no matter your church’s budget or context.
• 35:00 – Play the Long Game: The power of patience, perspective, and pastoring for the next five years—not just the next five weeks.

Resources Mentioned

• The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber – A must-read on why good leaders can’t do it all themselves.
• Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni – Insights on building trust, managing conflict, and creating team cohesion.
• The Emotionally Healthy Leader by Pete Scazzero – How personal health fuels healthy leadership.
• Myers-Briggs, DISC, Enneagram – Personality assessments to help you understand your team dynamics.
• Five Love Languages (Gary Chapman) – Surprisingly useful for building relational equity with your staff.
• Leadership Development Pipeline at Brentwood Baptist – Structured training to grow ministry leaders (available internally).