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Pastoral Transition:
A Crucial Time for a Congregation
A Crucial Time for a Congregation
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The Nature of Congregations
The Nature of Congregations
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:117%'>uCongregations hav=
e a
wealth of stability in them.
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:117%'>uThey resist
change.
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:117%'>uThey are organiza=
tions
in homeostasis, in equi=
librium—they
tend to stay put.
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:117%'>uThey maintain a
continuity of personality and behaviors.
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:117%'>uThat’s a good thi=
ng.
The Nature of Congregations
uMany congregations
would say that they=
are
“frozen in perfection,” meaning
that things are just right the way
they are and that they are amazingly
effective in ministry.
The Nature of Congregations
uThe not-so-good p=
art:
Congregations are h=
eavily
resistant to the very effo=
rts
people put into them to make them
better.
The Nature of Congregations
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:117%;visibility:hidden'>u
uHow
does change happen in a congregation
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:117%'>uSo that you don’t
destroy the people in it…
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:117%'>uDon’t subvert its
values…
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:117%'>uAll the while,
affirming the people, their basic values,
and strengthen their effectiveness?
Pastoral Transitions
and Congregational Change
and Congregational Change
<=
span
class=3DBB style=3D'position:absolute;left:-4.42%;top:.39em'>uKurt =
Lewin:
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:133%'>uOrganizations are
always stable beca=
use
they are a balance of opposing forces
held together, frozen in equilibrium
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:133%'>uThey cannot change
until that equilibrium is
somehow disturbed, or ‘unf=
rozen.’
Pastoral Transitions
and Congregational Change
and Congregational Change
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:133%'>uThe desired chang=
e has
to be installed
<=
/span>
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:133%'>uThe organization =
has to
be refrozen with=
the
change in place.
Pastoral Transitions
and Congregational Change
and Congregational Change
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:150%'>uAlban Institute
research followed.
Pastoral Transitions
and Congregational Change
and Congregational Change
u Instead =
of
trying to make change happen in a congregation, it is wise to use the <=
/span>natural time of ‘unfreezing’ that a pastoral transition brings to maximize the growth <=
/span>and development of a congregation and its leaders and members.
uIntentional Inter=
im
Pastors are specifically trained
to step into a congregation at the time
of a pastoral transition and facilitate healthy growth and help the congregation <=
/span>take charge of, and make decisions =
about, what kind of new life is possible.
Unf=
rozen
Congregations…
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:38%;visibility:hidden'>u
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:150%'>u“Your having lost=
a
pastor is not a disa=
ster
at all; it is a moment fraught with
possibility.”
Unf=
rozen
Congregations
uChurch renewal is an extraordinary gift from God. It =
comes
where it will and when it will if
we open ourselves to it.
u The one place I am
certain that renewal touch=
es is
at the moment of a change of pastors.
u Therefore, I urge
pastors and layperson to focus
on that moment and encourage congregations
to go as deep as they can when
it happens.
uLoren B. Mead
Signs of normalcy at the time of a pastoral transition:
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:120%'>uAnxiety is high&#=
13;
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:120%'>uSome are depressed
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:120%'>uSome disappear=
3;
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:120%'>uSome panic
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:120%;visibility:hidden'>u
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:120%'>uEveryone has a ch=
ance to “own” the church that has been passed on to them by previous generations.
When your pastor leaves, what’s =
a <=
span
style=3D'color:#FF9900;mso-color-index:3'>congregation’s natural instinct?=
When your pastor leaves…
uQuickly find a “warm body” to take his place?
<=
/span>
uImmediately form a Call Committee so no time is
wasted?
uObtain a vacancy pastor to
maintain some normalcy?
uTry to spread Senior Pastor
duties among existing staff?
uTry to keep everything and
everyone ‘frozen in perfection’?
u
u
u
When your pastor leaves…<=
/div>
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:183%'>This could be a time to grow =
spiritually!
Intentional Interim Minist=
ry
can be a positive step in many situations.
uFollowing a long term pastorate
u=
After the sudden loss of a pastor
u=
When there have been long term difficulties between people and pastor
u=
When the pastor leaves behind a divided congregation for a variety of causes
<=
span
style=3D'visibility:hidden'>u
The loss of a pastor requir=
es
a time to grieve.
a time to grieve.
uMany close relationships are broken
u=
The future is unknown, so people have uneasy feelings
u=
The arrival of a new pastor can again be <=
/span>a source of uneasiness
u=
No matter the talents of the new pastor, <=
/span>he will not be the same as the one who left.
<=
span
style=3D'visibility:hidden'>u
Conflicts may need to be addressed
u Time =
and
effort are well spent to keep this from happening
<=
span
class=3DBB style=3D'position:absolute;left:-4.14%;top:.39em'>uWhate=
ver
tension is left after the pastoral transition will be transfe=
rred
to the new pastor, unless intentional work is done in the
congregation
<=
span
class=3DBB style=3D'position:absolute;left:-4.21%;top:.39em'>uIf the
problems are not addressed, there is a good chance the new pastor will leave after a short period
of time, affecting both the congregation and the pastor’s fu=
ture
ministry. (He becomes the unintentional interim amidst pain on
both sides.)
<=
span
style=3D'visibility:hidden'>u
Intentional Interim Ministry
continues the congregation’s work and more
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:117%'>uA seasoned and tr=
ained
pastor continues the
ministry to the level you require
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:117%'>uHe then leads the
congregation in a plan=
ned
and tested process preparing for a