3 Signs Your Pastor (or You!) Can't Receive Feedback

May 27, 2026

Every pastor says they want honest feedback, but do their actions back that up? In this episode, Scott and A.J. walk through three clear signs that a pastor or any church leader may have a blind spot when it comes to receiving input, from defensive reactions to punishing the messenger to making decisions in a complete vacuum. If you have ever felt like bringing feedback to your leader is more trouble than it is worth, this episode will help you name what you are seeing.

Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are lead consultants at the Malphurs Group, a church consulting and coaching organization dedicated to helping established churches find a way forward. Each week on the Church Revitalization Podcast, they bring practical, field-tested insight drawn from years of working directly with pastors and church leadership teams across the country. Their conversations are honest, sometimes funny, and always aimed at helping churches become healthier.

• [4:35] Sign 1: Defensiveness — shutting down conversations and deflecting feedback
• [10:25] Sign 2: Punishing the Messenger — what happens when the person who brings information pays a price for it
• [12:58] Sign 3: Decisions Made in a Vacuum — leading without meaningful input from the team
• [13:57] Real-World Story — a case study from the consulting room showing all three signs in action
• [20:11] The Payoff of Humility — why leaders who welcome feedback lead longer and lead better

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Episode Article:
https://malphursgroup.com/342

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