Breaking Through Legacy Church Barriers: Part 4 – Comfortable or Called? Changing the Leadership Table

When you walk into the leadership meeting at most legacy churches, you'll often see the same faces around the same table, making the same types of decisions they've been making for years. Before we jump to conclusions about exclusivity or arrogance, we need to understand what's really happening here. These leaders aren't trying to keep others out – they're unconsciously choosing comfort over growth, familiarity over faith-driven expansion.

This pattern creates what I call "leadership islands" – small, isolated groups that become so comfortable with each other that they forget to build bridges to new voices, fresh perspectives, and emerging leaders. The result? Stagnation disguised as stability.

The Comfort Trap: Why Leaders Retreat to Familiar Tables

Most leadership teams that operate in isolation aren't being intentionally exclusive. They've simply discovered that working with people they know well feels easier, faster, and less complicated. When you've been serving alongside the same five people for a decade, you develop a shorthand communication style. You know each other's strengths, weaknesses, and decision-making patterns.

But here's the problem: comfort becomes the enemy of growth. When leadership teams prioritize ease over expansion, they unconsciously send signals to potential new leaders that there's no room at the table. New voices get the message that their ideas, energy, and perspectives aren't needed or wanted.

The "we'll do it all" mentality often stems from this comfort preference. It's not that these leaders don't trust others – they simply find it easier to handle responsibilities themselves rather than invest time in training, explaining, and empowering new team members.

Breaking Down the Barriers: Practical Steps for Change

1. Acknowledge the Pattern Without Shame

The first step toward change is honest recognition. Leadership teams need to have frank conversations about their current dynamics. Ask yourselves:

• How long have the core decision-makers been in their positions?

• When was the last time we intentionally recruited a new leader?

• Are we making decisions based on "this is how we've always done it" or "this is what God is calling us to do next"?

Remember, recognizing comfort-seeking behavior isn't about assigning blame. It's about choosing to be called to something greater than what feels safe and familiar.

2. Create Intentional Invitation Opportunities

Stop waiting for new leaders to volunteer and start actively recruiting them. This means:

• Identifying people who demonstrate leadership potential in other areas of life

• Creating apprenticeship opportunities where new leaders can observe and learn

• Establishing clear pathways for leadership development rather than assuming people will figure it out on their own

During recruitment conversations, be honest about your church's growth areas. Don't oversell the opportunity, but do communicate your genuine desire for fresh perspectives and new energy.

3. Implement the "Empty Chair" Policy

At every leadership meeting, literally place an empty chair at the table. This chair represents the voice that's missing – the perspective you haven't heard, the leader you haven't yet discovered, the solution that requires fresh thinking.

Before making any significant decision, ask: "Who should be sitting in that empty chair for this conversation?" Sometimes the answer might be a recent newcomer to the church, a young adult with digital ministry ideas, or someone from a different cultural background who could offer valuable insights.

4. Rotate Leadership Responsibilities

Instead of permanent positions, consider rotating certain leadership responsibilities every 6-12 months. This approach:

• Prevents any one person from becoming indispensable

• Creates opportunities for multiple people to develop different skills

• Keeps the leadership team from becoming too comfortable with status quo approaches

• Allows for fresh energy and ideas in various ministry areas

5. Schedule Regular "Leadership Development" Sessions

Don't just focus on church business during leadership meetings. Dedicate time specifically to developing leadership skills and expanding perspectives. This might include:

• Reading and discussing leadership books together

• Inviting guest speakers from other growing churches

• Attending leadership conferences as a team

• Participating in community service projects that stretch your comfort zones

Training Leaders to Think Beyond Comfort

Many legacy church leaders genuinely want to grow and change, but they lack the tools and training to do it effectively. Here's how to equip your leadership team for expansion:

Develop Communication Skills for Diverse Groups

Not everyone communicates the same way. Some people process information quickly and prefer bullet points. Others need time to think through decisions and ask clarifying questions. Train your leadership team to recognize and adapt to different communication styles rather than expecting everyone to conform to one approach.

Practice Conflict Resolution

Growing leadership teams will inevitably face more disagreements as new voices join the conversation. This isn't a problem to avoid – it's a healthy sign of diverse thinking. However, leaders need skills to navigate these disagreements constructively rather than retreating to "we'll just do it ourselves" mindsets.

Learn to Delegate with Clear Expectations

Many church leaders struggle with delegation because they've never been taught how to do it effectively. Train your team to:

• Clearly communicate expectations and timelines

• Provide necessary resources and authority

• Establish check-in points without micromanaging

• Celebrate successes and learn from mistakes together

The Pastor's Role in Leadership Table Transformation

Pastors play a crucial role in either perpetuating or transforming isolated leadership dynamics. As the pastoral leader, you have the authority and responsibility to model inclusive leadership behaviors:

• Publicly acknowledge and thank new volunteers, even for small contributions

• Share leadership opportunities during sermons and announcements

• Create mentorship relationships between established and emerging leaders

• Be transparent about your own learning process and growth areas

Remember, your congregation takes cues about leadership culture from your example. If you only work with the same trusted few, others will assume that's the preferred model.

Moving From Islands to Bridges

The goal isn't to disrupt effective working relationships or create chaos in your leadership structure. Instead, you're building bridges between your established foundation and your future growth potential.

Start small. Choose one ministry area where you can experiment with expanded leadership. Invite one new voice to join one committee. Create one apprenticeship opportunity. Take one leadership retreat focused on inclusion and growth.

Document what works and what doesn't. Celebrate the successes, learn from the challenges, and gradually expand your approach to other areas of church leadership.

Your Next Steps

This week, schedule a leadership team meeting dedicated entirely to this topic. Use these discussion questions:

• What leadership opportunities are we currently handling that could be shared or delegated?

• Who in our congregation demonstrates leadership potential that we haven't tapped into?

• What specific barriers (spoken or unspoken) might prevent new leaders from joining our team?

• How can we measure progress toward more inclusive leadership?

Remember, changing leadership culture takes time, patience, and intentional effort. But when you choose to be called to growth rather than comfortable with familiarity, you create space for God to work through new voices, fresh perspectives, and expanded impact.

The question isn't whether your current leadership team is effective – many comfortable teams accomplish good work. The question is whether you're willing to trust God with something bigger, broader, and more challenging than what feels safe and familiar.

Ready to expand your leadership table and break through comfort zone barriers?Contact us at Layne McDonald Ministries for personalized coaching and training that will equip your church leadership team for growth-focused ministry. Our leadership development resources help legacy churches build bridges, not just maintain islands.