Episode 317: Time Change: Preparing for Transitions

 

It seems that every doctor’s appointment I have now requires some kind of prep work and most of it is unpleasant.

 

If you’re not there you will be someday. Why? Because time in this world is not static and life moves on. Someone once said that all pastors are interims. From a time standpoint, that is certainly true. Because of this, we have a responsibility in setting a tone for times of transition. 

 

Succession planning is a hot topic in ministry circles. But succession only works where people have a healthy view of transitions. As church leaders, how we handle transitions of people in and out of our churches will have a great impact on the future of the church and the health of their transitions. Here are a few things we can do to help build a healthy environment for transitions:

 

1) Celebrate people who have a calling to ministry and send them with your blessing.

 

2) When people move, consider commissioning them to their new community, encouraging them to find a Biblical church, joining and serving in it.

 

3) When people leave due to church conflict, continue to love them, and pray for them. Be sure you have exhausted every chance at reconciliation.

 

4) Celebrate lay leaders who have served faithfully for a long time and help them plan succession for their area of ministry.

 

5) Talk about transition, preach about transition. In the flow of preaching, the Bible has a lot to say about transitions (healthy and unhealthy) in the lives of the patriarchs, the kings, the prophets. Jesus’ preparation for the disciples to minister without Him is a good example as well as Paul’s later writings where his death seems immanent.