This weekend Heather and I were privileged to go back to Sulphur Springs, Texas. I had the opportunity to preach Sunday at the Shannon Oaks Church, where I was student pastor for 5 years (2004-2009).
It was amazing being back with that church family that holds a very special place in our hearts. We got to catch up with a lot of great people. Our weekend was full of hugging necks of people we lived life with, catching up with people that partnered up with us in ministry, and getting updates from students that I had the privilege to lead during our 5 years there.
The weekend felt like a big family reunion. Truly special.
When Heather and I made the decision to become the student pastor at NORTHchurch, our number one prayer was for a smooth transition. To transition from one church with the love, honor, and respect that it deserved and to transition to another church with the energy, excitement, and focus that it deserved.
Our heart’s desire was to teach truth throughout our transition: to follow after God, no matter what or where that may take you. We wanted to make sure the ministry that we poured so much of ourselves into for 5 years was in good hands for the future. We wanted to allow time for tears, remembrance, and celebration. Finally, we wanted to leave for a blessing.
God answered those prayers.
I love that I still have an amazing relationship with the Shannon Oaks Church, while being fully committed and focused at NORTHchurch.
But I know that is rare. I am very aware that healthy transition is too often considered a pie in the sky dream. I have seen pastors get chewed up and spit out by churches; I have seen pastors coldly hurt and abandon churches; and everything in between. I have seen firings, resignations, moral failures, accepting another ministry job, and leaving ministry altogether.
The question I find myself today is why? Why is healthy transition in ministry so difficult? Is the answer simply because people are imperfect? That seems like a cop out. Is the answer that people are hesitant and naturally oppose change, especially if the thing that is changing is good? Possibly.
I’m just saying that a place (the church) that is filled with so much love and understanding combined with anointed, godly men and women with gifts of communication should be able to transition healthily.
I know it is possible. I have experienced healthy transition that was communicated with love, timing, thanks, teaching, vision, and hope. I want more of my partners in ministry and their churches to experience this healthy transition.
It is time that healthy transition becomes the norm, not the exception.
________________
Thoughts? Why is healthy transition in ministry so difficult?
(Artwork entitled “Transitions” by Sanaye)
Healthy transitions… I don’t know a definite answer to this questions that you have brought up. I can only speak to my personal experiences. After 15 years in full-time ministry I have been employed at 3 churches. I can honestly say that I believe I had a healthy transition when leaving all three. Thankfully my transitions were ones in which I initiated the change based upon being led/sent by God to pursue another direction. I think that problems with transitions occur when there are hurt people involved. Personal pain only opens up the door for the enemy to wedge his way into our lives and mess things up. It all boils down to how we pray for and submit to the hedge of protection that only comes from the Father. I know that this sounds ‘churchy” but when we trust our God even in the midst of the pain/hurt from firings, moral failure, injustice and even the pain/hurt caused by following God’s leading ~ it always works out better. It’s humbling but it always works out better. I would much rather humble myself and allow the Lord to lift me up in His timing ~ when I am ready for it, than to allow pride to sneak in and lift myself up when I am not ready…
“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures…Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:1-3,7-10
I like that you used the word transition.
I believe the greatest determinant of how a transition goes is seen in the change that preceded it.
Change always comes before transition.
Change is “The Wedding”. Transition is “The marriage, leaving and cleaving…”.
Change is “Graduation”. Transition is “discovering independence”.
Change is “Accepting a New Job”. Transition is “The dynamics of leaving and cleaving”
Change is “losing a job”. Transition is “The dynamics of leaving and cleaving”.
Great weddings are where there is healthy blessing from all parties on the couple coming together. Great marriages are determined by the processes of working out the new “oneness”.
Ministry Changes – and how they take place – determine the health of great transitions.
When there are painful, lingering, and unresolved issues in the “change” – then it’s more challenging to transition well.
Great Transitions typically flow out of Healthy Changes.
Healthy Changes flow out of a common vision for good and what’s right/best.
Healthy Transitions flow out of strong united relationships.
Anyone with a good heart wants what’s best for others. The problem is when there’s a huge discrepancy between what we see as “best”.
In my opinion – this is where James 4 kicks in.
We disagree on things – and selfishness and pride take over.
Selfishness and pride always create devestating realtional transitions.
Wish I could start over on a transition or two in my life.
Great post.