Join hosts Tim and Holly on the LeadingSmart podcast as they dive deep into one of the most critical aspects of pastoral succession: creating the perfect senior pastor profile. In this essential episode, discover why having a written profile is non-negotiable for successful church leadership transitions.

Key Topics Covered: 

• Why every church needs a detailed senior pastor profile before starting their search 

• The four primary leadership styles: Preacher, Leader, Shepherd, and Systems Administrator

• How to determine non-negotiables vs. nice-to-haves in your pastoral search 

• Common mistakes churches make when building profiles (including bending profiles to fit preferred candidates) 

• Navigating internal candidates and managing church relationships during succession 

• Using tools like Working Genius to understand leadership differences

Perfect for: Church boards, search committees, transition teams, denominational leaders, and anyone involved in pastoral succession planning. 

Whether you're facing an upcoming retirement, church plant, or leadership transition, this episode provides actionable insights from experienced church consultants.

Tim and Holly share real-world examples from their years at Vanderbloemen and their consulting work, including a powerful case study of a church with three internal candidates and how a clear profile helped make the difficult decision.

Don't miss our season finale next week - Episode 10 on staffing and structure after succession!

Season 2 of Leading Smart launches July 29th with fresh insights on church leadership and pastoral transitions.

#PastoralSuccession #ChurchLeadership #SeniorPastor #ChurchTransition #LeadershipSearch #PastoralSearch #ChurchConsulting #LeadershipDevelopment

🎧 Listen to the full 40 Lessons In 40 Years series
https://www.leadingsmart.com/podcast

Download 40 Lessons in 40 Years E-Book at leadingsmart.com/podcast

📩 Have questions or want to connect?
https://www.leadingsmart.com/lets-talk

🔔 Subscribe to stay updated on future episodes

Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leadingsmart-podcast/id1813933962

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1IqLLXtvtZBEgRsM2gOXpO?si=8b6cc3d0a1124bdc

📱 Follow us for more insights and resources
Instagram: @timstevens
Facebook: @timstevens