Is 2022 a key year for Pastor Succession?
The Factors that have led to a 4 x increase in conversations
Fourth and final article in the time series. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 are here.
709 words ~ 2 1/2 minutes
Bottom line: 2022 could be a record year for Pastor and Church Legacy planning. Here’s why.
Since the start of 2022, I have done a minimum of two sessions a week with a long-serving pastor or team of a church discussing their plans for Pastor Succession. Some weeks it is as many as five.
Senior Pastor Succession is my primary consulting practice. Around 65% of my work is in this area, with the balance of Building Better Boards and Storycrafting for church strategy.
Succession is a field I have worked on since 1996 and have helped over 145 larger churches in thinking, planning, and sometimes coaching the team through the process. People call me to kick around their thinking.
Lately, my business has exploded. Here are some of the reasons that 2022 is a crucial year. Most of the readers of this newsletter, and most clients, are in larger churches. Statistically in the top 1% of churches in America. (anything over 1000 in attendance fits that category.) Many of the primary leaders are older.
This past year has been different. I’ve worked with pastors in their 40s, early to mid 50s, and those just past 60 years of age.
Pivots for 2022: External Factors
Pandemic – Health and Vitality measures have changed for everyone. For churches, the traditional measures were laid aside as attendance dropped. Staff and boards have felt pressure to return to normal while protecting the flock from harm. In the peak pandemic season, every decision painted a target on a pastor’s back for disagreement and discord. For some churches, this led to catastrophic splits and ugliness.
Politics – This is another election year. The pandemic politics of 2020 have continued, and cable news outrages have nationalized the elections in many states. This is true of red lens people and blue lens people. The local school board, planning boards, and other county elections have also been polarizing, especially in suburban contexts. In many cases, the issues debated related to pandemic policies will be short-lived but drive division.
Purpose Pause – The pandemic gave many workers pause as to ultimate meaning in life. Pastors felt it too. As the ministry trials grew more arduous, the reserve energies spiritually, emotionally, and physically ran low. This has led many to consider alternative callings or different fields of serving God’s kingdom.
Other factors after the ad
Many of you have participated in the special legacy series of monthly webinars including:
Seven Serious Ways to Mess Up Succession, and
Should I stay or should I go?
But this month, we have a special session at a new time:
“Can't I lead my own succession process?” You can. Seven reasons to reconsider that.
But after looking at several dozen churches that have tried this and suffered because of it, I will point out reasons you need to reconsider this idea.
At a minimum, you will learn some potholed others have hit so you can avoid them.
It’s a different time this month:
Thursday, April 21, 11 AM ET, 10 AM CT, 9 AM MT, 8 AM PT.
You must register to attend. Do that by clicking here.
Story continues…
Pivots for 2022: Internal Factors
Weight – because of some of the externals, leadership has looked different in the past 20 months. “I have many arrows in my back.” The weight of the ministry has now become too much for some. For some, this is a recognition they cannot carry that weight over the next five years and survive.
Wealth – Those who have made steady investments in their future retirement plans and other investments saw good growth over the past three years. “I never imagined having this much money in an account (or balance sheet) when I approached retirement.” An entire industry is built on the fear of not enough, but among my conversations with potential clients, they should be fine.
Wellness of Church – despite the pandemic and all the factors above, most of our client churches have remained healthy for core constituents, and finances are in good shape. While increased staff turnover and unsettledness have increased, it looks much better than we feared two years ago. Some see this time to plan their legacy season and what the church could look like three years from now.
What about your next season? Are you thinking - “It’s time for a new chapter – am I the right person to lead it?”
This is a Kairos time for many leaders. (see part 3). Long-serving pastors say, “While I could lead the Covid Comeback, is it not better for a younger leader to get the rebound and chart the path for the next season.” Or I hear: “I know the next ten years will look nothing like the last ten years. I was comfortable in the last 10, and while I think I could learn, might as well make a change now.”
The legacy season does not mean these long-tenured leaders will necessarily leave the church where they currently serve. They might reposition to a new role for the next season. This happens now with about 65% of my clients. That can be done well with care.
But it is hard to conceptualize, envision, and advocate for that sort of role without outside counsel in most cases.
If that is you, let’s talk. Shoot me a direct email Dave.Travis@generis.com. I have a set of slides to walk you through. Even those that don’t work with me say: “That helped us think creatively and productively about this process.” Happy to do that for my readers that are lead pastors, executive pastors, or board members.
Won’t do it for the pirate that wants to take over a church though. ;)