In this episode of The Backstage Pastors Podcast™️, Phil and Tyler sit down with longtime friend and ministry partner Ed Marcelle to explore the dynamics of the Lead Pastor (LP) and Executive Pastor (XP) relationship. Drawing from their shared history planting Terra Nova Church in upstate New York, the conversation traces Ed’s journey from solo church planter to national church planting leader. Along the way, they unpack lessons on burnout, vision, organizational leadership, team-based ministry, and the importance of mutual submission between LPs and XPs. The episode also highlights Ed’s transition into his current role serving church planters across the country and reflects on what it means to steward God’s investment in leaders for long-term, generational impact.

Note: This interview was recorded a few years ago, but we decided we liked it so much, we just had to keep it.

Resources Mentioned

• 🗣️Follow Ed

• 💻Harbor Church Planting Network

• Unstuck Event: Church Building Masterclass with Phil Taylor

From Our Partners

💻 ⁠The Church Hub⁠: The Church Hub serves pastors, ministry leaders, and their spouses through equipping and training resources. Learn more at https://thechurchhub.org

Connect with Phil Taylor

✉️ ⁠Get Phil's Newsletter⁠

✉️ ⁠⁠phil@backstagepastors.org⁠⁠

🗣️ ⁠⁠@philtaylorxp⁠⁠

📚 ⁠Books by Phil⁠

💻 ⁠backstagepastors.org⁠

💻⁠plainjoestudios.com⁠

Connect with Tyler Drewitz

✉️ ⁠⁠tyler@myxp.church⁠⁠

🗣️ ⁠⁠@tylerdrewitz⁠⁠

💻 ⁠myxp.church⁠

💻⁠ridgelineprinting.com⁠

The best way to support this podcast is to like, subscribe and share it with a friend.

LIKE & SUBSCRIBE

📹 ⁠Youtube⁠

🍏 ⁠Apple⁠

🎤 ⁠Spotify

CHAPTERS

02:00 – Ed’s first church plant and lessons from solo pastoring

07:00 – Discovering the power of LP and XP partnership

12:00 – Vision, risk, and planting Terra Nova Church

22:40 – Impact on church planting in the Northeast

26:00 – Steps 1, 2, and 100: visionaries and implementers

29:33 – Behind the scenes of a healthy LP/XP relationship

34:22 – Ed’s transition to Harbor Network

40:14 – Influencing leaders and long-term ministry impact

43:01 – Advice for Lead Pastors and Executive Pastors

– –

Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co.

In this preview episode, hosts Phil Taylor and Tyler Drewitz introduce the Backstage Pastors™️ Podcast, a show created specifically for executive pastors and second-chair leaders in churches and nonprofits. They unpack why a niche podcast like this is needed, explain the “backstage pastors” concept, share their ministry journeys, and outline what listeners can expect when the show officially launches on January 21, 2026.

Phil and Tyler talk about their heart for under-the-radar leaders who bring vision into reality, their desire to platform both well-known and lesser-known practitioners, and their hope that the podcast will be a high-ROI investment for the Kingdom by resourcing those who rarely get the spotlight but carry enormous responsibility.

From Our Partners

💻 The Church Hub

Connect with Phil Taylor

✉️ Get Phil's Newsletter

✉️ ⁠phil@backstagepastors.org⁠

🗣️ ⁠@philtaylorxp⁠

📚 Books by Phil

💻 backstagepastors.org

💻plainjoestudios.com

Connect with Tyler Drewitz

✉️ ⁠tyler@myxp.church⁠

🗣️ ⁠@tylerdrewitz⁠

💻 myxp.church

💻ridgelineprinting.com

LIKE & SUBSCRIBE

📹 Youtube

🍏 Apple

🎤 Spotify

Chapters

00:00:00 – Welcome to the Backstage Pastors Podcast

00:00:45 – Why Another Leadership Podcast?

00:02:28 – The Executive Pastor Niche and Phil’s Book Journey

00:04:29 – Meet Co-Host Tyler: Roles, Churches, and Businesses

00:05:59 – Meet Host Phil Taylor: Coaching, Cohorts, and Plain Joe Studios

00:09:39 – The “Backstage Pastors” Idea and Story Behind the Name

00:12:44 – Why This Podcast Matters for Second-Chair Leaders

00:19:04 – Launch Date, Release Schedule, and First Guest Preview

– –

Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co.