Ministry Transition
HELLO FRIENDS,
The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;
- Psalm 37:23 -
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.Proverbs 3:5-6
Like it or not, ministry transitions are a very common thing. I, personally, have much experience in this area. There are many who would approach transitions as a negative, and that could be the case in some situations. I would be cautious to jump to any conclusions about a transition without first understanding the situation. I have been through some good transitions with good causes and results, but I have been through some rough transitions with hurtful causes and results as well.
How do I know it’s time to transition ministries? How should I handle a transition in ministry? These are questions that must be addressed and thought through so that whatever decision I make, God is glorified in my life. How do I know it’s time? This is a hard one to lay a hard and fast answer to. I also do not want to give the classic “you will just know” answer. In each situation that I worked through, God began working in my life by placing a restlessness in my heart. I was no longer “at home” in my ministry. In full transparency, I really like change, so this was something that I had to guard against. I had to make sure it was God and not me. This is crucial that we distinguish between God’s working in us and our personal feelings and appetites.
We should also watch for areas in ministry where philosophical, doctrinal, and leadership differences may become a problem. These may lead to a transition, but they could just be a learning experience and growth opportunity where transition is not necessary. The transition could be brought about by God leading into a different avenue of ministry (ie. from youth pastor to lead pastor, etc.). Whatever the case, it is of upmost importance that we take it slow and evaluate what God is actually doing. We must pray, be in the Bible, seek council, and we must be patient. This is never a time to leap before you look. Transitions always come with difficulty and no matter what, someone can be hurt through even the most clear and innocent transitions.
How should I handle a transition? What do we do once we have carefully evaluated ourselves, our ministry, and God’s working in our life and we realize that a transition is necessary? We must take our time! I cannot say that enough. There may be times where transitions must be sudden, but in a sensitive situation like ministry transition, take your time. It is always a good practice to seek council. I personally like to seek council from within the ministry and from outside the ministry I am transitioning out of. If you are an assistant, communicate clearly with the Lead Pastor, and hear his thoughts and concerns. If you are the Lead Pastor, communicate with your leadership team, and hear their thoughts and concerns. Having someone who is not connected directly to the situation, but someone who knows you well and will speak truth into your life is important.
Once you have had the conversations and received the council you need, and through prayer and searching God’s Word you are sure that the transition is what God has for you there are steps that I highly recommend you taking.
1) Communicate clearly your intentions and plans with the leadership. Work to clearly have a plan of what will happen and when. Work with leadership on this. Determine how and when the congregation will be informed.
2) Do not linger in the ministry that you will be leaving. To put it simply, it just gets awkward! Letting everyone know you are transitioning to something else gets their minds thinking on the next steps and that is what they should do. You should step out as soon as possible to allow the freedom to fill void that you may leave, or to make the changes and adjustments desired without hurting anyone. I personally do not believe you should stay longer than one month once the decision has been communicated with the leadership.
3) Be kind and gracious. DO NOT speak poorly of the leadership or any of the membership. I have seen this happen, and it did not go over well for anyone. Communicate gratitude. Communicate grace. Communicate the love of Christ. Remember, no matter how careful you are, and how much you communicate God’s leading in a transition, someone may get hurt. This is why we need to be so careful.
4) Do not carry any baggage into your new ministry. If there were frustrations or resentments in the ministry you are leaving, these can hinder your spiritual growth and the spiritual growth of those in your new ministry. This may require a break between ministries, in some situations, to make sure your heart is right and ready.
In every situation of life and ministry, we must look for Christ to be glorified. It cannot be about me, only Christ. The Apostle Paul calls for Christians to give Christ the preeminence. There is no better way to transition than keeping Christ the center. Be pointed to Him, point others to Him.
Stephen Ashmore
Lead Pastor, Kings Mills Baptist Church