In this article for XPastor, which has a mission of "Business Brain + Pastoral Heart = Executive Pastors," ECFA President & CEO Michael Martin shares why leader care is ministry care, and why adopting a bold standard will build trust and seed the ground for life-transforming ministries to flourish.

When it comes to ministry boards, godly wisdom is the number one quality that we need in our leadership. And Scripture tells us that when we lack wisdom, we ought to pray. But how can we practically cultivate this spirit of prayer that’s so vital for ministry boards?

In this article in Outcomes, a magazine published by the Christian Leadership Alliance (CLA), ECFA President & CEO Michael Martin shares why churches and ministries should create a culture of care for their senior leaders, as well as first steps to that end. “If we’re serious about ministry risk management… we should not overlook the unique opportunity for ministry boards to come alongside and proactively support the leader within the context of Christ-centered governance,” he wrote.

Church and ministry boards have a unique opportunity and responsibility to invest in holistic care for their organizations’ senior leaders. This resource gives an overview of the “why” behind for ECFA’s Leadership Standard, as well as practical tips for pursuing the “how” of effective leader care conversations. 

Wise boards invest time—up front—to ensure their CEO’s soul is not neglected.

In this article in Advance, a magazine published by the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU), ECFA President & CEO Michael Martin shares why we are proposing a new Leadership Standard. “We have seen what happens when leaders’ health erodes,” he wrote. “But imagine where Christian leaders can take their institutions and the communities they serve as they lead from a position of holistic strength.”

Healthy leadership is increasingly used beyond physical health to include mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being in the lives of leaders in faith-based communities. Have you invited your board or eldership into this space?

The tone of integrity set by an organization’s top leader is a critical, foundational element in promoting a healthy culture and environment. Equally, one of the greatest risks to a nonprofit or church today is a moral failure by its leader, as we’ve unfortunately seen in all too many instances recently. Not only are the financial and other operations of an organization significantly impacted by the leader’s integrity, but the public’s trust and the very mission of an organization can be at risk when there is a breakdown in leadership integrity.

Those in leadership roles, particularly ministry leadership, can easily fall into isolation. We believe boards and leadership teams who develop intentional plans for leader care and accountability create environments where leaders can thrive in their relationship with the Lord and others.

When leaders strive for perfection, they rob their followers and themselves of joy while preventing genuine connections. ECFA President Michael Martin shares insight into how to lead from a place of greater joy and confidence while cultivating the trust of others.

A spiritual core—a call to connect with God to discover what he is wanting you to do.

No one could have imagined as we began the new year the challenges we would be facing in our ministries, in our relationships, our finances, and our personal lives caused by the “invisible enemy”—Covid-19.  However, all the news is not bad news. There is a silver lining in the midst of all of the confusion and anxiety in our culture.

Conflict is a thief. Each year it robs ministries of valuable staff and thousands of dollars in wasted time, turnover, and legal expenses.

Five fundamental opportunities for Christ-centered ministries desiring to model leadership

Today's cultural landscape is rife with potential landmines for your organization.

In today’s celebrity era, it’s easy to assume that unique and strategic positions like these cannot find a viable successor. Not true. Also today as Baby Boomers move on from ministries they’ve founded or significantly grown, the common stereotype is that new generations lack interest in continuing an organization that operates on such a large scale. Not true either.

In fact, the opposite is often the case. While news media tend to highlight succession disasters (it’s rare to find a headline titled “Smooth, Seamless Succession Here”), the good news is that healthy succession planning is on the rise. Looking back over the last decade or so, the science of succession is being honed among evangelical churches and ministries.

Assessing your board’s performance is the first step to improving it.

In an age of filtered photos and “fake news,” people are desperate for authenticity. Even so-called reality TV is not real (no shocker there!).

Facing an insatiable desire for transparency, trusted ministries find the balance between being appropriately transparent while measuring privacy concerns and administrative burdens.

Trusted ministries acknowledge the challenges of understanding nonprofit finances.

Trusted ministries use compensation-setting practices that model integrity.

Trusted ministries build and maintain their relationships with givers through truthfulness, transparency, and clarity.

How a ministry fulfills a giver’s intent regarding specified gifts sends a strong message about whether a ministry can be trusted.

Trusted ministries recognize that some potential gift transactions are fraught with significant complexities and must be treated with appropriate caution.

Trusted governance involves leaders relying on the subtle dynamics of the Holy Spirit.

Trusted ministries are not in a race with other ministries to see who can be the greatest.
Conversely, servants keep getting bigger and bigger in God’s eyes.

The biblical pattern for Christ-centered ministries and their leaders is based on verifiable accountability.

Trusted ministries do not borrow trouble with related-party transactions.
These transactions are minimized to avoid even the slightest appearance of impropriety.

Trusted ministries understand risk-taking and risk management.

Trusted governance starts with spiritual leaders who deeply know God,
seek to find God’s will, and delight to obey God.

Trusted ministries serve boldly following the invitation and command of Jesus, who set the ultimate example.

A captain who would rather stay in port than go to sea does not engender trust.

Trusted ministry leaders understand the importance of never giving up.

A ministry’s tone of trust is based on the tone at the top and throughout the team.

Just as individuals need a personal rule of life, so trusted ministries need biblical rules, guideposts, or railings to ensure consistent practices which glorify God.

When ministries lack trust, the issue that created the lack of trust is on center stage and Christ shifts to the wings.

Trusted ministries inspire positive perceptions, creating the power of a rolling ocean wave—building a tsunami of trust—and, more importantly, give the right impression of Christ our Savior!

God is a truth-teller. We must be truth-tellers.

Wayne Pederson shares valuable reminders to leaders of Christ-centered organizations.  He shares the wonderful quote from A.W. Tozer: “A true and safe leader has no desire to lead but is forced into a position by inward pressure of the Holy Spirit and the press of circumstances.”

Information Systems

Our actions impact the ministry decades or even centuries in the future. The ultimate tests of leadership include maintaining mission integrity, assuring visionary flexibility, building a cohesive climate, facilitating communal morale, insisting on financial discipline, encouraging institutional loyalty, and investing in organizational momentum.

Few search for wisdom and integrity from God's unfathomable reserves to establish who they are. Franklin Graham, President of Samaritan's Purse and The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, examines three questions on integrity: Who has integrity? How does one obtain integrity? What does integrity exhibit?

ECFA Advisory Opinion on ministry activities on the Internet

Recommends principles and guidelines to consider when evaluating potential marketing programs for a ministry

Tough financial times generally require tough decisions

A look at two aspects of accountability: submitting to accountability and holding others accountable