Between Here and There: Transitions with “There” in Mind (Part 2)

home title Wisdom for Navigating Pastoral Departures home title

Patricia Duckworth, Associate Executive Minister, ABC of the Northwest

In part 1 of this article, I pointed out the transitions that will be coming to the churches of our Region. I discussed the need to follow the process for getting from “here” – where we are – to “there” or the next chapter of ministry and outreach with the Good News of Jesus to a lost world. In part 2, I’d like to share with you that each of us has an important part to play “between here and there” – the transition time – and just what those parts are. 

 
So as the transitions come, what should ALL of us in ALL congregations do?
 
• It is significantly important we ALL know there is a process for securing the next pastor for a church. It is also extremely important to remind ourselves that this process works and it has worked for many years with success. We know it works because churches have continued to do ministry and outreach with pastoral leadership.
 
• Even more important than knowing that there is a process is acting on the belief that the Lord has someone prepared to become the pastor and that the Lord has more ministry for this congregation to do. What does acting on that belief look like? Here are some of the major indications of acting on belief that I have found in working with congregations:
 
  • Individually and collectively everyone is praying for the next pastor, even though no one yet knows the person’s name, when the person will start, or where that person will come from. 
  • The search committee is encouraged to take the needed time to call the next pastor and is supported as it does so.
  • People resist the temptation to “look for greener pastures” elsewhere. By that I mean, people do not leave the fellowship and they encourage each other to stay and see what the Lord is going to do in their midst.
  • Lay leaders resist the temptation to see the time of transition as a time to “save money.” Pulling away from providing sufficient ministry funds results in a weakening of the church’s mission and ministry. It also sends a signal of uncertainty so others in the congregation do indeed pull back or look elsewhere.
  • People continue individually sharing the love of God in Jesus through word and deed.
  • People look for and identify the ways the Lord is at work in their midst during this transition time. These ways are publically shared and celebrated.
  • There is an overall sense of joyful expectation. This one is hard to measure, but it is there. Of course, there is a time of sadness that comes with the departure of a pastor. But the joyful expectation tends to show itself in the patience and the grace people extend to each other in the congregation. There is no need to be anxious with each other because people are doing their parts and looking for the Lord to do his part.
 
It is clear that everyone has a part in the transition. But given this process for transition, what should an individual pastor do?
 
• Whether a pastor is resigning or retiring, it is paramount the pastor contact Charles Revis and/or Patti Duckworth to alert us to pending plans. The sooner this can be done, the better. We can advise pastors to put some things in place BEFORE departing the ministry so the transition will be more positive and smooth for the congregation, for the interim and ultimately for the next pastor.
 
• Put the lay leadership in contact with Charles and/or Patti by either sending their names and contact information to us or making sure the leaders contact us directly.  We can do much to reassure them that there are resources and help for them and the congregation in this time of transition.
 
• A pastor needs to do all he/she can to put things in order for the next pastor, whether interim pastor or the called pastor.  There are good resources available to pastors along these lines, one of which is called “Running through the Thistles: Terminating a Ministerial Relationship with a Parish” by Roy Oswald (available from the Alban Institute).  Some of the things that need to be done have to do with relationships in the congregation; some have to do with the needs of the organization, the systems in the congregation.
 
• Once a pastor resigns or retires, the pastor needs to be absolutely clear in following the Code of Ethics and not re-engage in pastoral activities with that congregation. It is hard to say “no” to pastoral requests when one has also become a friend with people in the church. But to help the transitions, pastors must say “no” to future pastoral ministry in their previous congregations.
 
What should congregation leaders do?
 
• Call for people to form prayer groups and arrange for specific times and places where all the people can gather for prayer for the sole purpose of praying for the church in transition, for the leadership and the interim, and for the next pastor.
 
• Guard your unity in Christ. Make Ephesians 4:1-4 your focus as leaders. Call for the congregation to do the same.
 
• Lead the rest of the congregation by example in patience and grace with each other (Eph. 4:32). Discourage gossip; encourage people directly to those they have concerns with.
 
• Do not hesitate to contact Charles Revis and/or Patti Duckworth at the earliest time to help you understand the process and the resources available to you and the congregation.  Each congregation has unique needs and is in a situation unlike other churches.  Having discussions about the current situations will help us bring you the best assistance possible.
 
What should the congregation as a whole do?
 
• Participate in congregational prayer times for the future ministry and pastor of the church. Make the effort to be present physically. Even if you are always a silent pray-er, your attendance at such times encourages your brothers and sisters.
 
• Encourage the search committee and church leaders. This can be done with a word, an email, or a card. Let them know you are praying for them and believe the Lord will use them in this process is a huge source of encouragement and strength.
 
• Speak kindly but firmly to those who might be pressuring the search committee or the congregation about hurrying the process or about a particular person they want to be pastor. As much as leaders need to guard the unity, every attender needs to do the same. 
 
• This is not a time for campaigning or personal agendas. It is a time for pulling together, praying together, and preparing together for the next thing the Lord wants to do.
 
• Avoiding asking a previous pastor to do pastoral work with you. Friendships are natural and to be encouraged. But seeking the advice or counsel of a previous pastor as pastor hinders the interim pastor or the next called pastor’s ability to fully be the pastoral leader of the congregation he/she is called.
 
As a conclusion, please let me highlight two things:
 
First, thank you for giving to the Region and the mission we are on together. Please continue to give so the resources will be available to help your congregation in the transition when the time comes.  As time “bears us onward,” that time of transition will come for you and your congregation.
 
Second, as you have read all this, you will note that I believe prayer is the beginning, middle and end of this process (and everything else for that matter).  And I do believe it is.  So as you finish reading this, I would ask you take 2 minutes and pray for your Region staff, the interims who serve (past, present and future), and the search consultants. Pray especially for the pastors the Lord is preparing for our churches’ future needs. Pray for all those who do not yet know Jesus and for the ones we as part of ABC of the Northwest are called to reach.
 

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