By Dr. Floyd Godfrey
Churches across the globe are led by pastors and ministry leaders who love God and desire to see people transformed through the gospel. Yet, it is not uncommon to find leaders who are unaware of the emotional issues they bring into their attempts at ministry. These emotional deficits, though often hidden behind spiritual language or outward service, can shape the entire culture of a church. When emotional immaturity is left unaddressed, it affects relationships, decision-making, conflict resolution, and the overall discipleship environment.
In his book The Emotionally Healthy Leader, Scazzero (2015) states, “When we talk about emotionally unhealthy Christian leaders, we are referring to the emotional and spiritual deficits that impact every aspect of their lives. Emotional deficits are manifested primarily by a pervasive lack of awareness” (p. 25). Unfortunately, these deficits often go unnoticed because Christian leaders may equate ministry activity with spiritual maturity. Without self-awareness, leaders struggle to see how their inner life is directly influencing the spiritual health of their team and congregation.
Over the past 30 years, I have worked with a variety of churches and denominations. In doing so, I have observed a consistent pattern: the emotional health of a church’s leadership directly reflects in the community itself. In some churches, I have seen a culture of humility, empathy, and accountability, all rooted in emotionally aware leadership. In other communities, the opposite has been true. A lack of emotional maturity at the leadership level has produced congregations marked by confusion, burnout, unresolved conflict, and a lack of spiritual depth.
Scazzero (2015) further explains, “Unhealthy leaders lack, for example, awareness of their feelings, their weaknesses and limits, how their past impacts their present, and how others experience them” (p. 25). When these emotional blind spots are not addressed, leaders can unintentionally project anxiety, insecurity, or rigid control onto their staff and congregation. This creates an environment where authenticity is suppressed and spiritual growth stalls.
A key indicator of emotional immaturity in leadership can be observed when congregation members begin leaving the church after a season of involvement, expressing that they do not feel like they are growing or being discipled. This may point to a leadership culture that is more focused on performance or programs than on healthy, relational discipleship. Scazzero (2015) notes that such leaders “lack the capacity and skill to enter deeply into the feelings and perspectives of others” (p. 25), and this deficit impacts how people are cared for and spiritually formed within the church.
It is essential that church leaders become more intentional about cultivating emotional health as a core part of their spiritual maturity. Leaders must invite God to examine their inner life, seek feedback from trusted mentors, and do the work necessary to understand how their past experiences and emotional patterns influence their present leadership. As Scazzero (2015) puts it, “They carry these immaturities with them into their teams and everything they do” (p. 25). This sobering truth reminds us that the emotional health of a leader cannot be separated from the health of the church they serve.
Pastors and church leaders who pursue emotional growth will not only improve their personal well-being, but they will also foster church cultures where authenticity, discipleship, and spiritual formation can thrive. Such growth is not easy, but it is vital if the church is to be a place of healing, transformation, and deep relational connection.
Floyd Godfrey PhD is a Board Certified Christian Counselor and has facilitated groups within different churches and denominations over the past 30 years. You can read more about Floyd Godfrey PhD at www.FloydGodfrey.com.
References
Scazzero, P. (2015). The Emotionally Healthy Leader. Zondervan Reflective.
