Church Unfiltered with Dr. Anthony Cobbs

You hired talented people. You gave them responsibility. But have you actually given them room to lead?

In Episode 87 of Church Unfiltered, Dr. Anthony Cobbs tackles micromanagement in the church and why many pastors and ministry leaders don’t recognize it in themselves. What leaders call protecting the vision, maintaining excellence, or staying informed can sometimes become excessive control that frustrates staff, slows decision-making, and creates a culture where people are afraid to take initiative.

This episode explores the difference between accountability and control, standards and personal preferences, and delegation and simply giving people more work. Dr. Cobbs also shares practical ways leaders can clarify expectations, define decision-making authority, build trust, create healthy checkpoints, and give gifted people room to lead—even when they don’t do things exactly the way the leader would.

The question isn’t simply, “Is my team doing enough?” Maybe the better question is, “Have I given them enough room to do what I hired them to do?”

Every organization has them. Every church has them. And whether you realize it or not, gatekeepers can either help move the mission forward or become obstacles to progress.

In this episode of Church Unfiltered, Dr. Anthony Cobbs explores the role of gatekeepers in church leadership and ministry. From administrative assistants and executive pastors to long-time volunteers, board members, and influential church members, gatekeepers often control access, information, relationships, and opportunities.

But are gatekeepers always a bad thing?

Dr. Cobbs discusses why gatekeepers exist, the value they can bring to an organization, and what leaders, staff members, and aspiring ministry leaders need to understand about building trust and credibility with those who hold influence. He also addresses unhealthy gatekeeping behaviors, how to navigate difficult situations, and practical ways to gain access without creating conflict or damaging relationships.

Whether you’re trying to get a meeting with a senior pastor, advance a ministry initiative, or better understand the informal power structures within your church, this episode provides practical insights for navigating church culture with wisdom and integrity.

In This Episode:

• What gatekeepers are and why they exist
• Healthy vs. unhealthy gatekeeping
• The hidden influence of unofficial church leaders
• Why some people protect access and information
• How trust impacts influence
• Common mistakes people make when approaching gatekeepers
• Strategies for building relationships and credibility
• How leaders can prevent gatekeeping from becoming a barrier to ministry

The goal isn’t to go around gatekeepers—it’s to understand them, work with them, and build the kind of trust that opens doors for effective ministry.

Keywords: #Churchleadership #churchculture, #gatekeepers #churchvolunteers

Subscribe to Church Unfiltered with Dr. Anthony Cobbs for honest conversations about leadership, ministry, church culture, and the realities of serving in today’s church.

What exactly is the difference between an Executive Pastor, Assistant Pastor, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Associate Pastor, and Chief of Staff? And more importantly—which role does your church actually need?

In this episode of Church Unfiltered, Dr. Anthony Cobbs tackles one of the most misunderstood topics in church leadership: the role of the second-chair leader. As churches grow and become more complex, many pastors find themselves overwhelmed by the demands of leadership, operations, staff management, and ministry execution. The solution is often hiring a “number two” leader—but churches frequently confuse titles with responsibilities.

Dr. Cobbs breaks down the key differences between today’s most common church leadership roles, explains how each position supports the Senior Pastor differently, and offers practical guidance for churches evaluating their leadership structure.

Whether you’re a Senior Pastor, Executive Pastor, church board member, ministry leader, or someone considering a leadership role in ministry, this episode will help you understand how healthy churches build leadership teams that support growth, clarity, and mission effectiveness.

In This Episode:

• The rise of the Executive Pastor role
• Executive Pastor vs. Assistant Pastor
• What a Church COO actually does
• The role of the Chief of Staff in ministry
• Why many churches have leadership confusion
• How to determine which second-chair leader your church needs
• Common mistakes churches make when hiring key leaders
• Why structure should follow mission, not tradition

If your church is growing, restructuring, or trying to build a healthier leadership culture, this conversation is a must-listen.

Keywords: Executive Pastor, Assistant Pastor, Church Leadership, Church Staff, Church Administration, Church Growth, Senior Pastor, Ministry Leadership, Church Governance, Church Structure, COO, Chief of Staff, Leadership Development, Church Consulting, Nonprofit Leadership, Church Operations, Leadership Teams, Ministry Strategy.

Subscribe to Church Unfiltered with Dr. Anthony Cobbs for practical conversations on church leadership, ministry effectiveness, staff culture, and the future of the church.

EPISODE 84: Is your church prepared for these trends?

A major leadership shift is happening in the church world and many congregations are unprepared for what’s coming next.

In Episode 84 of Church Unfiltered, Dr. Anthony Cobbs unpacks the growing reality known as the “Silver Tsunami,” the wave of aging pastors, ministry leaders, and church staff approaching retirement. But this conversation goes beyond retirement statistics. It explores the deeper trends reshaping church culture, leadership development, staffing, succession planning, and the future of ministry in America.

Drawing from current research from Pew Research, Barna, and Lifeway, this episode examines why younger generations are engaging faith differently, how churches are adapting to digital ministry, and why many organizations are struggling to develop healthy leadership pipelines.

Whether you are a pastor, church staff member, ministry leader, or simply passionate about the future of the church, this episode offers honest insight, practical perspective, and necessary conversations churches can no longer avoid.

In this episode:
• What the “Silver Tsunami” means for churches
• Why pastoral succession is becoming urgent
• The changing relationship younger generations have with church
• How digital engagement is reshaping ministry
• Why churches must redefine success and sustainability
• Practical leadership insights for navigating the next decade

Purchase Dr. Cobbs books, "The Supporting Cast: A Guide for Church Staff" and "You Have Everything You Need" by visiting:

www.anthonycobbs.com

#Church leadership #pastoral succession #silver tsunami #church trends 2026 #ministry leadership #church staffing pastor retirement, future of the church, church culture, Gen Z church trends, Millennial church engagement, church growth, digital ministry, church strategy, leadership development, church health, ministry burnout, church podcast, Anthony Cobbs, Church Unfiltered

Excellence is a value but what if it’s quietly damaging your church culture?
 In this episode of Church Unfiltered, Dr. Anthony Cobbs unpacks how excellence can drift into pressure, performance, and burnout if it’s not properly defined and supported. Learn how to build a culture that honors God without exhausting people.

To order Dr. Cobbs' new book "You Have Everything You Need" go to: 

anthonycobbs.com

For church staffing, training, onboarding, and coaching, consider bringing Dr. Cobbs in for a workshop or personalized services.

How do you navigate the dual relationship of your pastor also serving as your supervisor? In chapter 10 of Dr. Cobbs new book, "The Supporting Cast: A Guide for Church Staff" he looks into this often overlooked aspect of working on staff at the local church. 

In this episode, Dr. Cobbs explores:

* The person you see on Sunday might seem different on Monday.

* The boundaries a staff member should establish with their pastor/boss.

* How staff members can help the pastor serve in the appropriate role.

Order "The Supporting Cast" by Dr. Anthony Cobbs

www.anthonycobbs.com

When you work at your place of worship sometimes you can find yourself struggling to have a meaningful devotional life.

In this episode Dr. Cobbs brings up a few ways to ensure you do not lose your spiritual fervor when you become part of a church's staff.

Pre-order Dr. Cobbs' new book, "The Supporting Cast: A Guide for Church Staff"

Visit www.anthonycobbs.com

Working on church staff might seem like wonderful, fulfilling work. Ideally it is, but there are times when it is challenging and even difficult.

In this episode Dr. Cobbs relays a few ways to determine if working on church staff is the way to go. Taken from his new book, "The Supporting Cast: A Guide for Church Staff" listeners will hear:

What questions to ask when considering a staff position

What has been Dr. Cobbs' most challenging part of being a church Exec?

Website

anthonycobbs.com

Across the country church attendance has dwindled. There are practical reasons people have chosen to stay at home and worship. This episode revisits the projections made during the pandemic in episode 17 and updates the possible reasons people have still not returned to in-person worship.

Previous episode referred to:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1116260/4617122-e17-what-if-they-don-t-come-back-valid-reasons-why-some-people-won-t-return-to-church.mp3?download=true

The relationship between Pastor and church staff is one that is rarely mentioned and often overlooked. As a result, many leaders are unaware of what their staff experiences in the work space. Dr. Cobbs and Breakthrough Ministry Consulting is conducting research on church staff members to identify areas of strength and areas of growth to ensure high morale. This episode is a glimpse into the initial findings.