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The Harsh Truth About Post-COVID Church Leadership

On this episode of The Next Sunday Podcast, hosts Jim Sheppard and Frank Bealer dive deep into the new rules of church leadership in a post-COVID world. The conversation explores how pastors and ministry leaders are navigating the realities of church leadership post-COVID while also preparing for the next generation of believers.

In today’s post-post-COVID landscape, leaders are being asked to be emotionally available, culturally fluent, theologically sound, digitally competent, and excellent at running the business side of the church, all while being “always on.” But is this realistic? Jim Sheppard and Frank Bealer unpack what expectations are truly fair for church leaders and how churches can adapt to the new rhythm of attendance and engagement.

The discussion highlights one of the biggest shifts facing ministry today: people are attending church less often, while expecting more from their leaders when they do engage. Regular attenders may only show up one or two times a month, leaving pastors with the challenge of creating consistent touchpoints and meaningful discipleship in fewer interactions.

Jim Sheppard and Frank Bealer argue that church leadership post-COVID is not about stirring the pot with controversy but about adjusting expectations, building healthy guardrails, and leading with wisdom across multiple generations. They explore how the pandemic accelerated trends that were already emerging, such as lower attendance frequency, generational divides in church culture, and the growing hunger of Gen Z for authentic faith experiences.

A highlight of the episode is their optimism about the future. Gen Z and Millennials, they note, are carrying physical Bibles more consistently than older generations, showing a renewed passion for scripture and discipleship. They share stories of revival movements on college campuses, bold young leaders stepping into ministry, and national movements like Unite College that are shaping the next generation of pastors and church planters.

The conversation also addresses the leadership crisis in seminaries, where traditional training models may not be preparing pastors adequately for the complexity of leading modern churches. The hosts emphasize the need for hybrid education, mentorship, and residency programs to raise up capable leaders who can thrive in today’s environment.

Finally, Jim Sheppard and Frank Bealer turn toward one of the most pressing issues: burnout. They candidly discuss how the relentless job description of senior pastors, emotional counselor, organizational leader, teacher, and digital strategist all at once, is pushing many toward exhaustion. They advocate for “prehab over rehab,” through ministries like the 10:10 Project, to deal with deep issues like family wounds and unhealthy expectations before they take leaders out of ministry entirely.

This episode will resonate with pastors, ministry staff, seminary students, and church members alike who want to understand the future of church leadership and the challenges leaders face in a shifting cultural landscape. Whether you’re leading a megachurch or a small congregation, Frank and Jim provide practical wisdom, inspiring stories, and a clear call to reimagine how we measure discipleship and leadership health in the years ahead.