Succession by Transition
This is probably the best way to ensure a smooth, seamless transition of leadership in a church.
When we moved to Cairns in February 2006, this is what we in fact witnessed.
A long-time pastor handing over to his assistant of a couple of years. This was of course voted on and approved by the church membership after months to reflect and pray.
It also helped that the resigning pastor moved overseas (as it turned out to raise support for future missionary work).
There is nothing worse than the retiring pastor ‘looking over the shoulder’ of the new minister and people complaining to him about the new leader. This is unfair for the incoming pastor and also for the church.
It is like a father constantly making sure the new husband is ‘really’ looking after his daughter. If he didn’t think the young man would be a good husband, then why did he give permission in the first place for them to marry?
Transitions only work if the outgoing and incoming pastors are in agreement together with of course most of the church. There needs to be clear lines of transition and authority including some written guidelines to avoid disputes about promises and undertakings previously made.
I think some consideration can be given to an experienced pastor remaining after the formal transition if he can accept working as a mentor and ‘assistant’ to the incoming pastor and provided he is willing to give the new pastor time and space to make some mistakes as he finds his feet. This however should be the exception rather than the norm, that being a pastor leaving the church he has resigned from.
The danger to the original pastor staying is that the incoming pastor may never in fact have the liberty to lead the church the way he believes God would have him lead.
Succession by transition, when executed well, is a great testimony to the fact that the local church is no man’s play thing. We pastors come and go (as hard as that is for us to accept), but our churches hopefully will outlive and outlast us.
Christ is the Head of the church and His will is paramount.
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