Today you can:
What is United4Pastors?
United4Pastors is a space to connect, strengthen, and unify faith leaders throughout Nashville across ecumenical, racial, neighborhood, socio-economic, and diverse lived experiences in a more connected, collaborative, and supported community of pastors and ministers.
United4Pastors is committed to creating safe, authentic relationships that give every faith leader the place to be in an encouraging community of care. Pastors appreciate interacting with others who understand the unique calling and daily challenges of pastoring and enjoy building meaningful relationships with pastors from around the city, for the city.
FOUNDATION
United4Pastors
1 Cor. 3:11
With Jesus
The foundation of United4Pastors is first and foremost the fully God, fully human person of Jesus Christ. We build on this foundation through the history of Operation Andrew Group and through supporting the deepening of unity amongst faith leaders and the Body of Christ .
Through Roundtables, Cohorts, Retreats, One-on-One connections, affinity conversations, and resources, United4Pastors seeks to support, resource, and care for pastors so they can continue to lead well and so that our city can flourish through shared calling, shared trust, and shared relationships.
Matthew 22:37-39
Flourishing of Self
With Ourselves // Great Commandment
According to Barna’s State of Pastors data released in 2024, 60% of pastors in the last year have doubted their calling, 73% have felt emotionally or mentally exhausted, 55% have felt isolated, and 54% felt lonely in the last three months.
This pillar prioritizes hospitality, opportunities, and resources to support pastors as humans first, then as leaders, so that they may continue to love God and themselves, and that they may be able to love their neighbor in the same way.
Jesus modeled his personal leadership through retreats, prayer, and rhythms of care, and being around a small group of trusted friends around tables where he shared life and the felt needs of his soul. If we are going to love God with all our mind, body, and soul, we need to be sustained to not neglect loving ourselves for the love of our neighbor.
John 17:20-23
Flourishing of Pastors
With Each Other // Great Collaboration
According to State of Nashville: only 31% of Christians trust another Church’s leader, and we need a pillar of unity through our shared vocational call.
This pillar prioritizes relational connection, ensuring each pastor/church leader feels deeply welcomed into a community that understands them, cares for each other, and can build trust with one another.
Built on the unity of Jesus’ prayer in the garden, the responsibility and unique understanding of the call of pastoring, the trinitarian creation for relationship, and the felt need for trust among church leaders in Nashville, United4Pastors continues to be built on a foundation of unity, so that the world will know.
Matthew 28:18-20
Flourishing of Congregations
With Our Church // Great Commission
Barna State of Pastors Data shows that 72% of pastors fear that the Christian Church will decline because of inadequate leadership. It also showed that nine out of ten pastors were willing to consider new ways to conduct ministry with appropriate tools, personal relationships and fellow sojourners.
This pillar prioritizes the call of leadership and the church communities with which we gather. Leadership in this cultural context requires flexibility, adaptability, and resources that support leading within the congregations we have been called to serve.
Jesus was a tremendous leader, meeting the needs and opportunities with compassion, grace, humility, love, and faithfulness. United4Pastors provides tools, resources, and community for those are leading in similar leadership positions and context.
Matthew 25:31-46
Flourishing of our City
With Our City // Great Compassion
According to the State of Nashville, our community is lonelier, burned out, depressed, fearful, anxious, stressed and has experienced more trauma than most other communities. Rallying around the felt, tangible needs of our community, Greater Nashville is looking for a community of churches committed to the flourishing of all.
According to the State of Nashville, our community is lonelier, more burned out, depressed, fearful, anxious, stressed, and has experienced more trauma than most other communities. Rallying around the felt, tangible needs of our community, Greater Nashville is looking for a community of churches committed to the flourishing of all.
State of Nashville
Healthy and thriving pastors work toward building healthy and thriving churches, and healthy and thriving churches are crucial to building a Nashville where all our neighbors can thrive. The first act of United4Pastors was to launch the State of Nashville study.
Why launch this study?
The State of Nashville was born out of listening to pastors and sought to understand one major question:
How is Greater Nashville?
Operation Andrew Group launched this demographically representative study in partnership with Barna & the Charis Foundation, a study that examined how our neighbors think about:
- Human Flourishing
- Worldview, Spirituality, & Beliefs
- Views on the Church, Christians, & Pastors
- The Church & Community Engagement
- Church Preferences
- Unchurched People’s Barriers
According to the State of Nashville study, 50% of people in our communities see the Church as a place of hope. Our neighbors are in need of hope, and they share with us their needs, desires, and longings for our entire community. This study, and United4Pastors, is a chance to be in community with church leaders where we acknowledge our diversities, understand the call, and love our neighbors. Whether you are passionate about Gen Z and their discipleship, or how your congregants want to see the Church impact the city, The State of Nashville is a resource for you and your faith community.
To learn more, click here, or click the button above to learn how your church can have a State of Nashville presentation for your team, congregation, or as part of your Sunday morning worship experience.
How can we pray for you?
Our team at Operation Andrew Group is committed to praying specifically for you so if you or your community have a request, please share with us below.