A special article from Dr. Clay Smith
Clay Smith is a friend. For the last few years, I have been working with his church, ADBC in Sumter, SC, on a few issues, including the succession plan for his leadership after 30 plus years.
Clay looked at some cases in his area and wrote an excellent paper. This article is his summary.
In today's ad, you can find out how to get a FREE copy AND a FREE webinar to ask questions. It’s coming up soon, so don’t miss out.
~ 600 words - two minutes
A pastor friend of mine recently remarked, “Churches have been calling pastors for a long time, and they usually get it right.” My pastor friend was contemplating retirement after pastoring the same church for eighteen years. He was trusting the church to do what they had always done in choosing a new pastor. Is that the best approach?
My friend overlooked a key truth: The longer a pastor serves a church, the more the church forgets how to look for a pastor.
Jesus told us “By their fruit you will recognize them… (Matthew 7:16).” By looking at statistical fruit from four churches, two with successful transitions and two that did not transition well, we can see the true cost of calling a pastor that might be the wrong choice.
What is the real cost of calling the wrong pastor?
Consider first the cost of the search itself. Churches must incur the cost of travel, advertising, and moving a new pastor. It is common for churches to spend $10,000 to $50,000 on these costs. If a new pastor does not work out, often the church must negotiate a settlement with the pastor they dismiss. In the case of one church, that cost $160,000.
When there is not a good fit with a new pastor, there is often a falloff in generosity. In two churches I studied, giving fell by over 30%. There can also be a falloff in attendance. One church showed a decline of 50%; another, 40%. This represents Kingdom retreat. Contrast this with two churches where the transition went well. Each saw attendance gains of over 25% and a corresponding rise in generosity.
THERE IS A HIGH COST WHEN YOU HIRE THE WRONG PASTOR!!
A new webinar and booklet just for you.
Clay Smith is the Senior Pastor of ADBC church in Sumter, SC. He will step down later this year after more than 30 years of service to this church and community.
As he began thinking about his next season of life and ministry, he researched and produced a fine booklet: “The High Cost of Hiring the Wrong Pastor.”
Befitting his PhD, he conducted some statistical research and combined it with the stories of four churches.
If you want to see a copy, go here and let me know.
Join us on a webinar on March 26, 2025, at 4 p.m. Eastern as he presents his findings and takes questions. To register for that webinar, go here.
Story continues…
There are further costs that cannot be monetized, such as momentum.
People are attracted to winning teams and hopeful congregations. When a congregation does not feel positive about its future, people stop inviting friends. Leadership becomes risk averse. When momentum is lost, it can take a new pastor two to three years to swing back to positive momentum. Damage to the church’s reputation may take decades to repair.
Although none of the churches I studied used an outside consultant, all could have benefited from such a service.
Many churches balk at the price of an outside person. The cost of the consultant is minor compared to the risk of calling the wrong person. Pastoral Transition Consultants are different from Search firms. Transition consultants focus on process. The process will include a plan that helps the outgoing pastor leave well, how to position the church to receive a new pastor, and how to onboard a new pastor.
I am in the midst of my own pastoral transition. I have pastored my church for over thirty years, seeing the church quadruple in size, become multi-ethnic, and multi-site. Our church is currently engaged in the “Senior Pastor Smart Succession ™” process.
We are receiving excellent guidance from our consultant. As a result of working through this process myself, I am currently being certified to use this process with select churches in the US.
Calling a new pastor is a difficult, high-stakes faith journey.
In a time when it is essential for strong churches to stay strong, selecting a new pastor requires wisdom, prayer, counsel, and above all, the leadership of the Spirit. The fields are ripe for harvest; we need the right foreman to lead the harvesters into the fields.
I would like to share with you a fuller version of this study. Please email me at clay@wclaysmith.com and I will send you the e-book “The High Cost of Calling the Wrong Pastor.” You can also call me at 803-968-7811.
Other FREE Resources for You:
Next Sunday Podcast – Featuring Jim Sheppard and Frank Bealer from Generis.
33 Basic Statements on Senior Pastor Succession – free booklet for US mailing addresses. Request here.
Emergency Succession Plan Template Request - every pastor and church needs one. Just email me for a free template you can use. Dave.Travis@Generis.com