Welcome to Season 2 of LeadingSmart! In this special premiere episode, we're switching gears from pastoral succession to something deeply personal - Tim Stevens shares his 40-year ministry journey and the lessons he wishes he'd known starting out.

What this episiode will cover:
✅ Tim's unconventional path from 18-year-old gap year to ministry leader
✅ 9 years with Life Action Ministries (including how he met his wife!)
✅ 20 transformative years at Granger Community Church
✅ Building teams at Vanderbloemen Search Group
✅ The unexpected call to Willow Creek during COVID
✅ Launching Leading Smart full-time

5 Key Lessons from This Episode:

1. Everything builds toward the next (even when you can't see it)
2. Knowing when it's the right time to move
3. Understanding "push vs. pull" in career transitions
4. Recognizing the difference between a "calling" and the "next right move"
5. Never burn bridges when you leave

🔥 Tim's Passionate Reminder: "You don't have to say everything in order to be telling the truth."

This season features 10-12 episodes condensing 40 lessons, plus special interviews with Tim's wife Faith, his adult children, and the "Granger OGs."

Next Episode: "The Long Game" - Why longevity matters in ministry leadership

#theleadingsmartpodcast #leadershipodcast #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipcoaching #leadership #40years #lifelessons #lessonslearned #lessonslearnedinlife

🎧 Listen to the full 40 Lessons In 40 Years series
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In the final episode of Season 1, Holly and Tim wrap up the series on pastoral succession by tackling a topic that’s often overlooked—but critical: staffing and structure in a new season of leadership.

Whether you're an executive pastor, board member, or senior leader, this episode will help you think clearly and strategically about what your team should look like after a new senior pastor steps in. From aligning your structure with the new leader’s strengths to preserving a healthy culture and avoiding silent staff turnover, this conversation is packed with insights you can act on.

You’ll learn:

• Why the team that worked for your last pastor may not work for the next one
• How to build your org chart from a blank slate—before slotting in names
• What healthy staff transitions look like—and when to expect natural turnover
• A simple four-box framework for evaluating your team’s fit and performance
• How to ensure your staff feels clear, aligned, and equipped to thrive

If you care about setting your church—and your new senior leader—up for long-term success, don’t miss this conversation.

Stay tuned for season 2, coming July 29th! 

#pastoralsuccession #churchleadership #staffingandstructure #orghealth #healthyteams #leadingsmart #churchconsulting #hollyandtim #teamculture #churchstaff

🎧 Listen to the full 40 Lessons In 40 Years series
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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
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Who Should Be On Your Transition Team and What Do They Actually Do?

In this episode of LeadingSmart, hosts Tim and Holly discuss one of the most critical components of pastoral succession - the transition team. If you're a church leader wondering how to navigate this important process, this episode is packed with practical insights you won't want to miss!

What You'll Learn:

- Why "transition team" is better than "search committee" 

- The ideal size and makeup of your transition team (spoiler: it's not your entire board!) 

- Essential qualities to look for in team members 

- Red flags: Who should absolutely NOT be on your transition team 

- The 8 key responsibilities of an effective transition team 

- How to avoid "scope creep" and keep your team focused 

- Practical tips for internal vs. external candidate transitions

Key Takeaways:

• Aim for 6-8 people with a mix of board members and congregation members
• Look for macro-level thinkers, not people with personal agendas
• Prioritize wisdom, prayer, and discernment over representation
• Define roles clearly to prevent the team from trying to "run the church"
• Plan for celebration, communication, and handoff processes

Resources Mentioned:

• "The Pastoral Search Committee Handbook" by William Vanderbloemen

LeadingSmart is your go-to resource for pastoral succession planning. Whether you're preparing for an upcoming transition or just want to be proactive, Tim and Holly provide expert guidance based on real-world experience.

Next Episode Preview: Episode 9 will cover building the ideal senior pastor profile for both internal and external candidates.

Need Help With Your Transition? The Leading Smart team offers coaching and advisory services to guide churches through successful pastoral transitions.

#PastoralSuccession #ChurchLeadership #TransitionTeam #PastoralSearch #ChurchManagement #LeadershipDevelopment #ChurchGrowth

🎧 Listen to the full 40 Lessons In 40 Years series
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Welcome back to LeadingSmart Podcast! This season, hosts Tim and Holly are diving deep into pastoral succession, and in Episode 7, they tackle one of the most critical aspects: communicating the transition effectively.

What You'll Learn:
✅ When to announce - the pastoral transition to your congregation  
✅ Cone of silence vs. going public - pros and cons of each approach  
✅ The four key audiences you need to consider in your communication plan  
✅ Common communication mistakes that erode trust and how to avoid them  
✅ How to frame succession as a WIN, not a loss
✅ Real-world examples from churches that got it right (and wrong)

Here are some key takeaways: 
"You can make the best decision ever, but if you don't communicate it well, you've lost the battle" - even the right decision can fail with poor communication.

Church Example:
Tim shares insights from Willow Creek's recent successful transition, where the announcement, gratitude, and vision casting all happened in just 30 minutes - allowing the church to continue "without missing a beat."

Rant vs. Raves Segment:
The hosts share their favorite brands including Shady Rays sunglasses, Vuori clothing, and more!

 LeadingSmart Partners Partners
- **Reach the Lost** - Church SEO and online presence
- **InTulse** - Phone systems and church communication
- **TouchPoint** - Church management systems

Next Episode: The Transition Team - who's on it and why it matters

🎧 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

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Welcome back to The LeadingSmart Podcast! Your hosts Tim and Holly tackle the topic that most people tend to avoid. Nobody wants to talk about church finances, but ignoring them during succession is a recipe for disaster.

🔑 What Tim and Holly cover:

• The three critical financial areas that can make or break your succession
• Why pastors stay too long (hint: it's often about money, not ministry)
• How to close the financial gap when your founding pastor isn't retirement-ready
• The sticker shock of paying market rate for your new pastor
• Creative ways to fund that overlap season without breaking the bank
• Getting real data on what pastors actually make in your area

💡 You'll want to listen if you're:

• A board member wondering how to help your pastor retire without going broke
• A senior pastor worried you can't afford to leave
• Anyone planning a succession and realizing you need two pastor salaries
• A church that hasn't done a compensation study in... ever

🎉 Fun Segments: Tim and Holly's Southwest Airlines debate - they could NOT disagree more about cattle-run boarding vs. assigned seats!

🤝 Special thanks to our partners at Generosity OS (helping churches with capital campaigns and donor development) and Thrivent (church lending that actually makes sense for churches).

🎧 Next Episode: How to communicate your transition plan - because all this prep work means nothing if you can't get the message right!

Subscribe for more episodes on healthy church leadership and succession planning!

#pastoralsuccession #churchfinances #churchleadership #pastors #churchboards #succession #churchmoney #leadership #generosity #churchlending #thrivent #leadingsmartpodcast #generosityos 

🎧 Listen to the full 40 Lessons In 40 Years series
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Download 40 Lessons in 40 Years E-Book at leadingsmart.com/podcast

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Welcome back to The LeadingSmart Podcast!

In this episode of LeadingSmart, hosts Tim Stevens and Holly Tate tackle one of the most critical questions in pastoral succession: Should you promote from within or look externally? When that promising teaching pastor or student ministry leader seems like the perfect fit, is it really an opportunity—or are you walking into a landmine?

Tim and Holly break down the real challenges churches face when considering internal candidates for senior pastor roles. From the emotional complexity of the "American Idol" approach to succession, to the harsh reality that less than one in ten internal candidates who don't get the job actually stay at the church, this episode doesn't shy away from the tough truths.

What You'll Learn:

• When promoting internally works (and when it absolutely doesn't)
• The critical landmines that can destroy both relationships and church health
• Why timing matters more than you think in succession planning
• How to objectively evaluate someone you know personally
• The importance of having clear leadership development pathways

Key Insights:

• If your church is growing and healthy, internal promotion can maintain momentum
• If your church is plateaued or declining, you likely need fresh external perspective
• Never let the process drag on—make internal candidate decisions within 3-4 months
• Avoid stacking internal candidates against external searches

Plus, don't miss Tim's surprising rave about airplane travel and Holly's passionate rant about men not wearing wedding rings!

Whether you're a senior pastor planning your succession, a board member navigating this process, or a ministry leader wondering about your own future, this episode provides the honest, practical guidance you need.

Hosts: Tim Stevens and Holly Tate bring years of church consulting experience to help leaders navigate the complexities of pastoral transitions.

🎧 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

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Tim and Holly get real about one of the messiest parts of church leadership: navigating succession with your board. They share stories from the trenches about what makes succession healthy (and what doesn't) and how to actually have those tough conversations.

🔑 What Tim and Holly cover:

• Why trust has to come first (and what to do when it doesn't exist)
• Who really gets to make the succession call - and how to get on the same page
• The "goalpost problem" - why pastors keep changing their minds about timing
• Having honest conversations without the whole board knowing (the "cone of silence")
• Should you find someone just like your current pastor or totally different?
• Two questions your board better ask before you start looking for anyone

💡 You'll want to listen if you're:

• An executive pastor watching this play out with your senior pastor
• A senior pastor trying to figure out your own succession timeline
• A board member who has no clue how to bring this up
• Anyone who's seen succession go sideways and wants to avoid that mess

🎧 Leading Smart Podcast - Episode 4: The Board's Role in Healthy Succession

Tim and Holly get real about one of the messiest parts of church leadership: navigating succession with your board. They share stories from the trenches about what makes succession healthy (and what doesn't) and how to actually have those tough conversations.

🎉 Fun Segments: Tim's pickleball obsession and Holly's surprise musical improv experience!

🤝 Special thanks to our partners at Michael Best, an international law firm specializing in church legal needs and succession planning support.

🎧 Next Episode: Internal successors - good idea or bad idea?

Subscribe for more episodes on healthy church leadership and succession planning!

church leadership, pastoral succession, executive pastor, senior pastor succession, church board, succession planning, pastoral transition, church governance, ministry leadership, pastor retirement, church staff, leadership transition, pastoral search, church bylaws, board relationships, ministry succession, church administration, pastoral leadership, church management, senior pastor search

🎧 Listen to the full 40 Lessons In 40 Years series
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Download 40 Lessons in 40 Years E-Book at leadingsmart.com/podcast

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In this deeply personal episode, Tim and Holly talk about the emotional and vulnerable side of pastoral succession that often goes unspoken. We get real about what senior pastors—especially founding pastors—actually face when they start thinking about stepping down.

Here's what we cover:

The Identity Crisis: Why pastors who've led for 20-30+ years struggle with questions like "Is this my last Easter?" after leading 37 consecutive holiday services.

The Two Biggest Fears: How identity confusion and financial uncertainty keep pastors holding on longer than they should, and practical steps to address both.

The Ripple Effect: The often-overlooked impact on spouses and children, including staff transitions and identity shifts for the entire pastoral family.

The Art of Transition: How outgoing pastors can become "Chief Cheerleader Officers," transferring trust to their successors while new leaders elevate the legacy of those who came before.

Who pastors should talk to: From trusted board members to financial advisors to other pastors who get it.

This Episode is for:

• Senior pastors contemplating succession
• Second-chair leaders supporting pastoral transitions
• Church board members dealing with leadership changes
• Anyone interested in healthy organizational succession

Plus, don't miss our signature "Rant vs. Rave" segment where we discuss everything from Seth Godin's disruptive thinking to the modern evolution of engagement announcements!

Next Episode: The board's role in healthy succession planning

00:00 Introduction: The Emotional Journey of Senior Pastors
00:16 Understanding the Vulnerability of Senior Pastors
02:14 Identity and Financial Fears
03:07 Support Systems for Senior Pastors
05:19 The Role of the Spouse and Family
08:16 Transitioning Roles and Legacy Building
13:46 Rant vs Rave: Engagements and Celebrations

The LeadingSmart Podcast - Where leadership wisdom meets real-world application.

#pastoralsuccession #emotionaljourney #churchleadership #faithcommunity #churchlegacy #generationaldifferences

🎧 Listen to the full 40 Lessons In 40 Years series
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Welcome to Episode 2 of the LeadingSmart podcast! If you've ever wondered about the right time to talk about pastoral succession, this episode is for you. We unpack key talking points and share insights to help you identify when it's time to take your next steps. This season is all about pastoral succession, and in this episode, we break down the right time to start those crucial conversations using seven key indicators to help assess your church’s current situation. Whether it's a plateauing congregation, aging members, or staff turnover, we explore the signs that it might be time for a leadership change. Plus, we discuss the importance of self-awareness and planning for the future. Join us as we provide actionable insights to ensure a smooth transition for your church's leadership.

The 7 Signs It’s Time to Talk About Pastoral Succession:

The church is plateaued or in decline
– Even if no one is failing, a lack of growth could signal a need for new leadership and fresh vision.
The congregation is growing older
– A church often reflects the age of its pastor. As the pastor ages, so might the congregation unless intentional efforts are made to attract younger members.
The pastor has lost passion or energy
– This isn’t always tied to age, but when passion for the local church diminishes, it's time to consider what’s next—for the pastor and the church.
There is significant staff turnover
– High turnover, especially among strong staff members, may be an indicator of leadership or cultural shifts that need to be addressed.
The pastor has developed a passion for something else
– Whether it's a nonprofit, writing, or new ministry interests, a shift in passion can be a cue to start succession conversations.
A strong internal successor is on staff
– When a capable future leader is already part of the team, it might be time to consider transitioning before they leave for another opportunity.
The pastor’s age
– Age alone isn't the issue, but it does impact long-term effectiveness and relatability—especially to younger generations.

00:00 Introduction to Pastoral Succession
00:46 When to Start Talking About Succession
01:17 Signs It's Time for Succession
05:07 Staff Turnover and Leadership
06:30 Passion and Interests Outside the Church
10:31 Identifying a Strong Successor
13:19 Considering the Pastor's Age
15:25 The Most Important Reason for Succession
16:40 Rants and Raves
19:45 Conclusion and Resources

#theleadingsmartpodcast
#leadershippodcast 
#pastoralsuccesion
#churchleadership 
#podcast

🎧 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?
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🔔 Subscribe to stay updated on future episodes

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