January 1, 2026
Elders! Help Put the “Success” in Succession!
If succession is not done effectively, it may result in the loss of momentum, people, resources, and more. Fully engaged elders help put the “success” in succession.
Articles for tag: Pastoral transitions
January 1, 2026
Succession: When It Works, When It Doesn’t
Perhaps the greatest single benefit of succession success is that when it works, succession success honors God and results in positive momentum in the church as well as in the larger community.
October 27, 2021
CCLN Looks to Help Churches with Pastoral Transitions
The Christian Church Leadership Network wants to help churches find a better way to transition from one pastor to the next. The organization has developed a working relationship with Interim Pastor Ministries, which supplies experienced interim pastors to churches who are searching for their next leaders.
January 14, 2017
Strategic Solutions for Significant Stages
By Jennifer Johnson Writers of short-think pieces like this one love to quote statistics about the hundreds or even thousands of pastors who are leaving the ministry each month. However, as Ed Stetzer pointed out on his blog last October, those provocative numbers have yet to be backed up with any solid data or reliable sources. In fact, actual recent surveys, like the September 2015 study conducted by LifeWay Research, show that while the demands of pastoring a church can frequently feel “overwhelming” to more than 50 percent of senior pastors, the vast majority (92 percent!) also feel regularly encouraged
July 15, 2007
TRANSITIONS: Facing the Facts of Transition
By Darrel Rowland If there”s one organization that should realize this life doesn”t last forever, it ought to be the church, says Russell Crabtree. But you wouldn”t know it from churches” lack of planning, especially for leadership transitions. “We live in absolute denial of the fact that the tenure of our leaders is going to come to an end,” said Crabtree, co-author of The Elephant in the Boardroom: Speaking the Unspoken About Pastoral Transitions. “We really don”t have the structures that encourage this kind of thinking. We have a mind-set about the clergy that they are like parental figures. Well,
December 17, 2006
The Discipline of Staying
Should a leader stay or go? Greg Marksberry urges servant-leaders to embrace the discipline of staying—expecting downturns, embracing growth’s cost, and enjoying the long-term yield of stable, faithful ministry.
How Can You Help Him?
A preacher who has left the ministry may face shame, loss, and deep upheaval. Jerry Langley shares his story and offers practical ways to pray, keep the relationship, encourage, and help former ministers recognize lasting fruit.
October 9, 2005
The “In-Between” Guy
When a minister leaves—especially after conflict—churches can rush into another painful transition. Learn how an intentional interim minister helps congregations grieve well, resolve conflict, and prepare for a healthy new beginning.
October 9, 2005
How to Finish a Ministry Well
Floyd Strater offers practical guidance for ministers weighing a move or a stay—why not to decide on Monday, how to evaluate the whole church context, and how to leave with peace and integrity.
September 25, 2005
How to Help Your New Preacher
Practical counsel for congregations who want to strengthen a preacher’s ministry: set realistic expectations, listen for application, encourage with support and outreach, and pray for courage, humility, and wisdom.
