[S3EP15] What Church Leaders Are Really Struggling With Right Now/ LeadingSmart Gatherings Recap

Welcome back to Episode 15! What happens when you stop telling church leaders what to talk about — and actually ask them? In this episode of The LeadingSmart Podcast, hosts Tim and Holly Tate recap three back-to-back gatherings held in Palm Springs and Clearwater, Florida, sharing the raw, unfiltered topics that rose to the top when executive pastors and lead pastors were given the mic.In this episode, you'll hear:How they used ChatGPT and AI tools to analyze open-ended survey responses — and what surprising topics surfaced that never appeared on a preset listWhy meeting structure and meeting culture became one of the hottest topics among church leaders in 2026How burnout and unsustainable pace showed up across both lead pastor and executive pastor groupsWhat an org chart exercise with 20+ church leaders revealed about structure, staffing, and what's actually workingWhy pastoral succession is quietly front-of-mind for 20–25% of executive pastors — even when no transition is announcedWhat made one attendee call this gathering "one of the best experiences in the last eight years"Whether you're a lead pastor, executive pastor, or church operations leader, this episode is a window into the conversations happening in rooms across the country — and a reminder that you're not navigating these challenges alone.Mentioned in this episode:LeadingSmart Gatherings (Palm Springs & Clearwater, FL)Upcoming Large Church Gathering (10,000+ attendance) — Registration opens next monthNext Winter Gatherings launching in JuneFree eBook: Simply Strategic — available at leadingsmart.com/resourcesSubscribe + get notified when June gathering dates go live → leadingsmart.com 📱 Follow us for more insights and resourcesInstagram: @timstevensFacebook: @timstevens💻Visit LeadingSmart.comNeed help facilitating your next staff retreat or strategic offsite? https://www.leadingsmart.com/lets-talkHouston listeners — join the Houston Roundtable on June 4th (only 25 spots). https://www.leadingsmart.com/houston-roundtableListen to Leading In Real Time Podcast Series https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ2wnxRYYqm_ThAiSPBwjH7vQH5i3H3aKListen to the full 40 Lessons In 40 Years serieshttps://www.leadingsmart.com/podcastDownload The Simply Strategic Show https://www.leadingsmart.com/books-2📩 Have questions or want to connect?https://www.leadingsmart.com/lets-talk🔔 Subscribe to stay updated on future episodesApple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leadingsmart-podcast/id1813933962Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1IqLLXtvtZBEgRsM2gOXpO?s...