The ‘Hand-Off’Toward Better Transitions

Why Are We Here?

A word about D. Min Projects

“Passing the Baton”

Making itinerancy work better!

The ‘Hand-Off-Hebrew Bible Style

Moses to JoshuaNumbers 27:15-23

15Moses spoke to the Lord, saying, 16“Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint someone over the congregation 17who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the Lord may not be like sheep without a shepherd.” 18So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand upon him; 19have him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and commission him in their sight. 20You shall give him some of your authority, so that all the congregation of the Israelites may obey. 21But he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the decision of the Urim before the Lord; at his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he and all the Israelites with him, the whole congregation.” 22So Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation; 23he laid his hands on him and commissioned him—as the Lord had directed through Moses.

What lessons stand out to you?

Moses to Joshua

Successor named publicly

Tenure Overlaps

Clear that Moses approves

Others?

Elijah to Elisha2 Kings 2:9-15

9When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” 10He responded, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” 11As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. 12Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

13He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over. 15When the company of prophets who were at Jericho saw him at a distance, they declared, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” They came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.

Elijah to Elisha

What lessons stand out to you?

Clear transfer of power

Successor named/known publicly

Tenure overlaps

Others?

Hebrew Bible- Key Points

The incoming leader is known and embraced by outgoing leader

The tenure of the two leaders publically and intentionally overlaps

While the two leaders may be very different, the vision for ministry of God’ s people remains consistent

There is intentional space to grieve the loss of the outgoing leader, and space to welcome the incoming leader

The ‘Hand-Off’New Testament Style

Transition Continues

John the Baptist

The ‘transition’ from Old to New

I must decrease so that He might increase

Highlighted own purpose and ministry

Pointed toward the futureContinued to perform ministry until the last day of his

service

Holy Spirit visibly present in the transition“I saw the Spirit descend like a dove”

Jesus - John the Baptist

Met with John the Baptist at the river

Honored John the Baptist’s authority in his own ministry

Withdrew to Galilee following their meetinguntil it was time

Named and claimed (appointed)

Holy Spirit present in the transition

Even Jesus!

Mentor

Empower-er

Jesus – the Disciples

Jesus held His own ministry lightly

Continuously prepared the disciples

Empowered them through His own availabilityquestions, affirmation and correction (mine fields)

Rejoiced in their success

Affirmed their abilities to succeed

Prepared them for the ‘big day!’

Prayed for them!

the Holy Spirit will teach you all things!

Paul

Paul

Ananias - reached out in introductory relationship

Barnabas - transitional figure

Lydia, Aquila, and Priscilla- local connect

Silas, Timothy, Titus - transition of his own disciples

Jerusalem

Holy Spirit

Prayer - always Prayer!

“It’s not so much that we’re afraid of change or so in love with the old ways, butit’s that place in between that we fear…It’s like being between trapezes…

There’s nothing to hold on to…”Marilyn Ferguson, American Futurist

Letting Go

Clergy: What do you wish you had known before you entered your current appointment?

Laity: What do you wish your current pastor had known prior to being appointed to serve and lead you in ministry?

Clergy: How are you helping to prepare your current church to receive their new pastor?

Laity: How have you/are you preparing to say ‘good-bye’ to your current clergy partner?

Clergy: How are you helping to prepare your successor for a smooth transition?

Laity: How will you help to prepare your community of faith to receive your new pastor?

Form small clergy group of others transitioning out for mutual monthly support and accountability.

Start pulling back from involvement meetings. A ‘last round’ the month in May should suffice.

Consider preaching a last series of celebration of what has been and anticipation of all that God will do -

Consider a lay preacher your last week - take that week to finish packing - it serves as a quiet buffer of transition in the pulpit.

Begin making ‘last calls’ on your homebound members as soon as possible - to thank them for the privilege of serving them, reminiscing about what has been and let them know how excited you are for the wonderful things God has yet to do in and through them under their new leadership

Pray early and often - with the church, for the church, for your pastorate, for the pastorate still to come.

Pastor: call the pastor to welcome him/her and set up an initial meeting ‘just to talk. So much better to be able to authentically tell the church I’ve met your new pastor - what a keeper!

Pastor: At the initial meeting see what the incoming’s personal/community needs and considerations are(family, medical, educational, etc.) and how the new church might be of assistance in meeting these needs. Share the needs and considerations expressed with the church leaders so that the lay leadership can gather information in response to these needs and considerations for the incoming clergy.

Lay leadership: gathers and sends the information requested to the new pastor with a note of welcome - first connection.

Beginning praying for the new pastor (and family) by name during worship services as approved by the DS.

Pastor: compile the last two years’ charge conference reports, budgets, bulletins for regular and communion Sundays, as well as bulletins for special services. Include information regarding clergy meetings and clergy contacts in the district. It would be great to have another colleague on the district to introduce the successor to as an ‘instant friend.’ Other ideas?

Laity: begin preparing to receive not only the pastor but family - send them a photo directory so they can start learning your names and praying for you; perhaps some ‘church kids’ could email the incoming clergy family’s children and give them the scoop!

Laity: prepare to bid farewell to your outgoing pastor and celebrate her/his time of ministry with you!

Pastor: include the incoming clergy in the preparation of the ‘first service’ so that there are no surprises.

Pastor and Laity: be at peace in knowing that all you had planned to do in your ministry together might not have be accomplished - and ‘getting ’er done’ might not ever come to be - the incoming is not there to continue the previous pastor’s ministry but to follow where God is taking you next! Some things are to be left undone - some things might indeed be carried forward - but nothing is for sure except that:

I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 (CEB)

Taking the Hand-Off

• Change Everything vs. Change Nothing

Listen. Listen more- intentional space

Change things that are critical (aka, use your brain)

Embrace change that is already in progress

You don’t know what you don’t know!!

Clergy: Meet with your predecessor, several times if possible

Laity: Arrange (or ask outgoing pastor to arrange) a listening tour. Then actively participate.

Clergy: Seek 3rd party accountability. And remember, July 1.

Clergy and Laity: PRAY!

Have fun!! (no, really)

Confirm with DS that this is a healthy transition. If not, then really focus on “you don’t know what you don’t know”

Small Groups- What examples of transition fun have you heard about/seen?

New ideas to try?

Wrap up

Share ideas

Questions, comments, thoughts?

Any questions we did not touch on?

Sending forth