Spiritual & personal
Lead from your core, not from your exhaustion
For pastors, elders and church leaders who want to see more clearly which function is truly theirs — and which behaviour is unknowingly burdening their congregation.
Being a pastor is not a job but a collection of roles that get layered onto you over the years: preacher, pastor, leader, organiser, mediator, sometimes even manager. JANE helps you bring back what is truly yours, and recognise which behaviour you use to keep the rest going — behaviour that often costs more than it delivers.
Does this sound familiar?
- You notice you do something 'because it has to be done' while inwardly you are not in it.
- You see patterns in your work where you get stuck, but you can't find the words to talk about them with colleagues.
- You feel that the congregation sees more of your role than of who you really are.
- You feel a tiredness that doesn't go away with a week's holiday.
What Jane® does for you
Distinguishing between your function and your role.
JANE reveals which of the 27 functions is genuinely yours — independent of what the congregation or your tradition expects of a pastor.
Recognising the blind spot.
For pastors, step 3 — the compensation analysis — is often the most valuable. The behaviour you use to keep your 'role' going inevitably affects your congregation.
Positioning within the fivefold ministry.
Are you an Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor or Teacher — or a specific combination? This framework helps you prioritise more consciously.
A fully confidential journey.
Unlike a congregation-wide programme, this is one-on-one and discreet. No reporting to the church council, no judgement — only your clarity.
What does the journey look like?
- 1
Confidential exploratory conversation
1 hour
We look at whether the journey fits, which questions matter to you, and how we safeguard confidentiality.
- 2
Step 1 — Who I am not
1.5 hours + homework
We name the roles you fulfil but that are not essentially yours — often a longer list than expected.
- 3
Step 2 — Who I am
1.5 hours + homework
Identifying your core functions from the 27 and your position in the fivefold ministry.
- 4
Step 3 — What holds me back
2 hours + homework
An in-depth analysis of your compensation behaviour, with attention to its effect on your congregation.
- 5
Conclusion & next-step choices
1.5 hours
A personal diagram, a conversation guide for your elder team (only if you want one), and concrete next steps.
- 6
Monthly guidance
6–12 months
Optional: light coaching over 6 to 12 months to embed the insights.
This fits you if…
- You are a pastor, elder, chair of the elder council or in a comparable leadership role.
- You are open to looking deeply at your own patterns — even when they are confronting.
- You are willing, in the second half of the journey, to make choices that could change your role.
Less suitable if…
- You are in the middle of a conflict in the congregation — resolve that first.
- You are looking for a formal assessment of your performance as a pastor.
- You are not willing to weigh confidential insights seriously.
The method behind this journey
JANE has been used for pastors since 2008, beginning with the VPE pilot 'Jane instruments for church leaders'. The most fully developed coaching file is that of a pastor (published with permission as an anonymous case). The method is suitable for Pentecostal, evangelical, free evangelical and reformed pastors — wherever leadership and spiritual ministry come together.
Frequently asked questions
Should my church council or elder team know about this?
Not necessarily. This is a personal journey with full confidentiality. Whether and how you share insights is your choice.
Isn't this the same as a sabbatical?
No. A sabbatical is taking distance; JANE is gaining insight. A combination can be effective — a sabbatical with a JANE journey in its first months.
How much time does it take alongside my regular work?
Count on roughly 4–6 hours per month: a ninety-minute session + 2–4 hours of homework. The journey runs 4–6 months depending on pace.
Does this also work for younger or just-starting pastors?
Yes, and often it's an advantage: the earlier in your ministry, the less consolidated the compensation behaviour.
One last step
An honest conversation about what is yours and what is not costs you an hour. Schedule a confidential exploratory conversation — no obligation, no reporting, no judgement.