Should your church do strategic planning during a pastoral transition—or wait until a new pastor arrives? In this episode of the Church Revitalization Podcast, Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu tackle one of the most common questions churches ask during seasons of change. They outline why planning now is almost always the better choice and how it can set up your next pastor and congregation for long-term success.

Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are church consultants with The Malphurs Group, equipping churches worldwide to grow healthier through strategic planning, leadership development, and revitalization. With over a decade of experience, they share practical wisdom for navigating transitions with clarity and confidence.

In this episode:

[02:10] When strategic planning may not be the right timing [05:30] How planning shapes better job postings and candidate alignment [08:13] Why pre-planning strengthens mission, vision, and pastoral fit [12:49] Increasing congregational buy-in and unity during transition [18:38] Giving your next pastor a better decision-making framework [22:01] Addressing the concern of "cutting out" the new pastor

Links & Resources:

Healthy Churches Toolkit: https://healthychurchestoolkit.com Episode Article: https://malphursgroup.com/313Website: https://malphursgroup.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/malphursgroup Instagram: https://instagram.com/malphursgroup YouTube: https://youtube.com/themalphursgroup X (Twitter): https://x.com/malphursgroup