Healthy Leadership Transitions

Download Notes

Think in the context of our pastoral team, your elder team, location leaders.
Think long term, build community, journey together. “plant roots”
Average pastor is 4 years, average youth pastor is 18 months
80% of pastoral transitions do not go well
1500 pastors leave the pastorate each month in America – moral failure, burnout, contention
Unhealthy transitions – some churches just close, others split, or the church stalls
How can we be more intentional, deliberate, and healthy when transitions arrive?

What not to do…

Don’t make a decision and then invite the pastoral team in after the decision has already been made.
Don’t talk to your elders and ministry leaders and tell them to not talk to others pastors or coaches.
Don’t put other pastoral friends in an awkward position.
Don’t start applying for jobs before talking to your pastoral leaders. Involve them in the process.
Don’t hand in a two week resignation letter when you can have a longer transition roadmap. It’s unfair to the congregation.
Don’t leave and recruit people to another church in the same community.
Don’t poison the well – don’t express discontentment or grievances to the elder team when you’re frustrated

What to do…

Include pastoral team leaders in the process of praying and discerning.
Do tell your pastoral team so they can communicate to the elder team with you.
Do watch out for the best of the congregation and the future of the ministry.
“This church doesn’t belong to me, it belongs to God.”
Do sit down with HR, BTC coaches, and talk about the timelines through a healthy transition.
Do bless the ministry you are leaving and affirm what you can.

Signs of Leadership Drift

Scripture References