The Executive Pastors Forum
A trusted peer group for Executive Pastors and Directors of growing churches.
You don't have to lead alone.
Why I Started the Executive Pastors Forum
After serving for two years as Executive Director of Redeemer East Side, I came away convinced that leaders in this role need a group of trusted peers who understand what they do.
Executive Pastors and Directors carry an extraordinary range of responsibilities.
You work alongside the Senior Pastor to turn vision into reality while simultaneously leading staff, shaping culture, managing finances, overseeing operations and facilities, planning for the future—and dealing with whatever unexpected challenges arrive each day.
You have to think strategically while constantly being pulled into the operational weeds.
And because of your position, there are some things you can't fully discuss with your Senior Pastor, your staff, your Elders—or even your spouse.
It's an exciting and deeply meaningful role. But it can also be a lonely one.
Sometimes the people you most need are peers who have sat in the same chair.
About the Executive Pastors Forum
The Forum is a group of like-minded leaders helping each other be more effective and impactful; it’s a place where you can confidentially let your guard down and help each other by sharing best practices and talking through opportunities and challenges
Monthly Peer Forum
We meet by Zoom each month for a devotional, member updates, a best-practices discussion, and a deep dive into a real opportunity or challenge facing one of our members.
Quarterly In-Person Gatherings
Four times a year, we'll meet in person at a member church creating more time for deeper discussion, learning and relationships
Monthly 1-on-1 Coaching
Each member also meets individually with Carter each month to work through priorities, leadership challenges and whatever is most important at the time.
Founding Membership
We're currently assembling the founding group of Executive Pastors and Directors. Special founding-member terms are available for leaders joining the initial cohort.
About Carter
I've sat in the chair.
For more than two years, I served as interim Executive Director of Redeemer East Side during an unusually complex season that included searching for a new Senior Pastor, building and moving into a new church building, and navigating significant financial and organizational challenges.
I experienced firsthand both the joy of the role and its challenges—including how isolating it can sometimes feel.
Before that, I spent much of my career as an entrepreneur and management consultant, starting, running and ultimately selling a software and services business and later advising organizations navigating growth and complex change.
For the past six years, I've also led a peer advisory group of Christian CEOs in New York City through Convene and I’ve served as an Elder at Redeemer for several decades.
I've seen how powerful it can be when a small group of leaders develop enough trust to share openly, challenge one another, learn from one another and help each other become better leaders.
The Executive Pastors Forum grew directly out of those experiences.
