In 2021, I knew it was time for me to begin transitioning out of the senior pastorate at my church. Last week, I shared some of what that process looked like. Today, I’ll finish the story.
As I was nearing the time to begin my transition, I sat with pastor friends and mentors that had already made their transitions, gleaning from their collective wisdom, which helped me sort things out and pray through our five-year transition strategy. When it came time for us to structure ourselves for transition, it was obvious we weren’t just modeling someone else’s plan or book outline. We were obeying the Holy Spirit and working through it specifically with our church culture and leaders in mind.
To me, the selection of a successor is critical. If it’s not a son that God has put His finger on, you have to look for recognizable skills of leadership within the next generation of called people.
Leadership development demands opportunity of us. If I’m grooming somebody to take the reins on what I’ve built or the church that I pastor, it demands that I hand responsibilities away and allow others to learn through doing. I told our team early on, “Listen, be creative. If you make a mistake, it’s okay because I’m still here and everybody understands. I can fix whatever you mess up, so go ahead and explore a little bit! Take the opportunity!”
Our team has done a great job of seeing needs that I didn’t point out and taking the initiative without being asked to do it. For instance, for the last five years, I haven’t hired one person. When it came time to fill key positions, I listened to the team’s dialogue and allowed them to make their own choices. I would give input from time to time, and if there were questions that needed to be asked, I may push those to the forefront, but I didn’t even participate in interviews. I allowed Joel and our leadership team to do the hiring.
One Sunday, I asked our congregation, “Everybody content with the way things are going? How do to you like it? You like the building program we’re in and the things we have going on?” Everybody gave me a great big amen. I said, “Well, what you need to know is that for the last five years, I haven’t made these choices. It’s been Joel the whole time.” I believe, Pastor, that your congregation needs to know that you were there during the decisions being made, but the final decision was made by those up and coming in the transition. Let your people know their new leaders are serving them well.
Part of a successful transition includes preparing the congregation for what lies ahead. I gave Joel and other good communicators on staff opportunities to minister publicly to the church. I chose those who loved the Word, spend time in it, and want others to take something away from the sermon. This opened the congregation to the idea of my transition. It was a process, but the congregation got comfortable with the idea of Sundays being a relay race, where I would hand over the baton of preaching until one day I handed it away permanently.
For years, I handed the baton to one of my staff for the weekend and then got it back so that I could affirm them, quote them, and do all the things necessary for them to grow in esteem. Early on with Joel, I gave him maybe five weekends a year and then incrementally increased that until last year, when he preached nearly twenty weekends. I preached just slightly more than half of the year, and we had special guests in for the other weekends. Now that we’ve transitioned, he will preach the majority of the year, and I will step back into the pulpit maybe every four or five weeks. This is our strategy: it’s giving me the opportunity to affirm the new leadership while letting people know I’m not abandoning ship.
Some of the pastors I know made a hard transition when their time was up. In particular, one friend of mine who transitioned left after his last day, and the congregation changed demographically. The older generation, who had deep pockets, left as the new generation came in, and around $1.5 million in tithes and offerings were lost during the first year. That hit hard, and he warned me about it. I’m glad he did!
Thinking back, I was twenty-eight when I started pastoring. We had five families in a Bible study when we started, but we grew rapidly. Joel is thirty-nine as he’s beginning his senior pastorate, and I’m handing him something that includes thousands of people and assets that number in the tens of millions of dollars. Being a leader at this level requires training, confidence and intentional mentoring. Very much like Paul to Timothy, I want to be visible on the front row, enjoying the next level of ministry, saying the loudest amens, and not regretting the decision to transition. Like the old saying goes, “Are you willing to plant the seed for the shade tree you’ll never sit under?” Yes, I am.
On my last day, I stood before our congregation and said, “I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to love you for the rest of my life. I’m more capable of ministering today than I have ever been. I’m not stepping aside because of obsolescence or scandal. I’m stepping aside because the next generation is ready. I have to make space for them. I will remain serving at our church, that I love, and I will serve at the pleasure of my pastor, Joel. He’s my pastor now. He’s going to bring the Word, and I’m going to enjoy every syllable that comes out of his mouth just like everyone else.”
I still have an office in the church building. I’m there to affirm Joel and the team, staying present and enjoying being a proud spiritual father. Because of my new position and age, I’m able to love people in a way I never could before. I can support them now and make a difference in a less assertive way. And I have the time to do creative things that I couldn’t do before.
Pastor, if it’s your time for a transition, celebrate! It can be a great experience. I’m here for you. I welcome questions and conversations that may help your leadership team transition well. Yes, it’s going to be different. That doesn’t mean it’s going to be bad. Everyone will still love you. Just check your ego and watch your words. You may be shocked how much of your identity was wrapped up in what you do rather than who you are in God. And remember the affirmation of your calling is the fact that people are being loved and loving Jesus, praying, and seeking God for themselves. And as long as you’re breathing, keep personally pressing towards the mark for the high call of God that is in Jesus Christ.
Article created using content from webinar Transitions: Preparing Your Church for What’s Next
