Why Pastors Fail: Christian Leadership & Accountability with Larry Stockstill, Pastors University
Release Date: 05/06/2026
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info_outlineWhat should Christian leadership and accountability look like in today’s church? Join Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com for this insightful conversation with Larry Stockstill, founder of Pastors University, as he shares hard-earned wisdom from over 50 years in ministry. This conversation dives deep into leadership accountability, crisis communication, pastoral integrity, and mentoring the next generation of leaders. If you're a pastor or ministry leader, this episode will equip you to lead with integrity and build sustainable leadership structures that last.
Larry Stockstill is the founder of Pastors University and former pastor of Bethany Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His global ministry has helped plant thousands of churches and train leaders worldwide through mentoring and multiplication strategies.
🔑 In This Episode:
- Why accountability in leadership is essential to prevent failure
- Crisis communication essentials for churches
- The importance of mentorship in Christian leadership
- How to restore leaders after failure (and when it’s appropriate)
- Why every pastor needs trusted overseers who can ask hard questions
🔗 Resources & Links:
👉 Learn more about Pastors University: https://pastorsuniversity.org
👉 Larry Stockstill Ministries: https://larrystockstill.com
👉 Get the book Honor: The Secret of All Relationships: https://amzn.to/4eZUeLN
Phil Cooke, Ph.D. — Strategic Advisor | Cultural Influence & Crisis Leadership
Phil Cooke, Ph.D., is a strategic advisor to church, nonprofit, and media leaders navigating crisis, credibility, and cultural influence in a rapidly changing digital world. Founder of Cooke Media Group in Los Angeles and Nashville, he works with senior leadership teams globally to strengthen reputation and clarify mission. Author of “Church on Trial” and several other books on leadership and creativity, he has produced award winning media projects seen worldwide.
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**More About this Episode**
About Larry Stockstill, Founder – Pastor’s University
Larry Stockstill was raised in a ministry family, where he witnessed the strength of his parents’ 63-year marriage and commitment to faith. After college, he spent two years as a missionary in West Africa, followed by five years as an associate pastor at his father’s church before becoming Lead Pastor in 1983.
During his tenure, Stockstill placed a strong emphasis on missions. In 1993, he implemented a small group structure that became a national model and the basis of his first book, "The Cell Church." In 2001, he founded Surge, a church planting movement that, by 2015, had helped plant more than 22,000 small, rural churches across twelve global regions. Stockstill is the author of multiple books including "The Remnant," and his newest, “Honor: The Secret of All Relationships.” His latest initiative, Pastors University, distills his “50 lessons from 50 years” to equip the next generation of church leaders. Learn more at https://larrystockstill.com
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⏰ Timecodes ⏰
00:00 Phil Cooke introduces Larry Stockstill, Pastors University
09:00 Crisis communication for churches and pastors
11:50 The importance of leadership integrity
13:35 Accountability for pastors
17:00 The importance of overseers in a pastor’s life
20:58 How to assess a crisis situation
28:00 How to spot red flags
34:45 More about Larry Stockstill’s books
41:02 Get Phil Cooke’s book, “Church on Trial: How to Protect Your Congregation, Mission, and Reputation During a Crisis” available here: https://philcooke.com/crisis
For bulk purchases, email info@cookemediagroup.com for pricing.