[S3EP26] Church Crisis Leadership: 4 Types of Crises and How Leaders Can Respond

In this episode, Tim Stevens and Holly Tate unpack the four types of crises churches commonly face: character, credibility, cash, and cultural. Drawing from Tim’s experience leading through crisis at Granger and Willow Creek, they discuss why crisis can feel like everything is on fire and how naming the type of crisis helps leaders focus on the right problem instead of spinning their wheels.They also talk about why communication matters when trust begins to erode, how credibility crises can form in the absence of clarity, why cash crises require courage and honesty, and how cultural crises can put pressure on church leaders in ways that feel impossible to navigate.Additional topics include:church crisis leadershipchurch communicationorganizational trustleadership credibilitychurch staffing and structureleading through changechurch healthexecutive pastor leadershipboard and elder leadershipTimestamps00:00 Do the next right thing01:15 Why churches need language for different types of crises02:20 Tim reflects on leading through crisis at Granger and Willow Creek05:20 Character crisis: when a leader’s failure creates public fallout07:25 Credibility crisis: when trust in leadership begins to erode10:20 When clarity lacks, negativity fills the void13:35 Cash crisis: when the numbers tell a hard story15:45 Cultural crisis: when outside events create pressure inside the church 17:00 How multiple crises can stack together18:25 Why doing the next right thing is simple but not easy20:00 How LeadingSmart helps churches navigate pivotal moments20:50 Random segment: favorite travel brands📱 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...