 |
 |
The Elephant in the Boardroom… Transition, Jesus Style (Part 1)
Orginally published on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 at 10:15 AM
by Todd Rhoades
For the past month of Tuesdays we’ve been looking, in depth, at the topic of pastoral transitions. We’ve be using the new book titled "The Elephant in the Boardroom—Speaking the Unspoken about Pastoral Transitions" by Carolyn Weese and J. Russell Crabtree. Today, we’ll begin with a few excerpts from the book that take an interesting look at how Jesus handled transition. This week we’ll look at the first three of six principles. The authors write…
Jesus managed two major leadership transitions in His life. He managed His succession of His predecessor; and He managed His own departure. Today’s leader has to manage these same transitions as well.
Practically, honoring our predecessor means that we should use TLC with members regarding a predecessor. That's talk, listen, and comfirm.
Leaders help the transition process if they simply talk about their predecessor. Jesus did. He talked about John the Baptist on multiple occasions in public settings (Matthew 11:11; Mathew 21:32; Mark 11:30) Jesus was not afraid to talk about His predecessor in public. Yet many church members experience an eerie silence on the part of their new pastor regarding the work of his or her predecessor.
This leads to listening. Members need leaders to listen to them talk about their affection for their predecessor. This enables them to integrate their past and present experiences rather than compartmentalize them. If the leader is unwilling to do this, it places an emotional burden on the members.
Finally, the members need to have the leader confirm the importance of the past. As we develop, we generally are trying to find integrity in our lives. It is important to discover that a common thread has been running through our years, and that life is not merely a series of events that have no relationship to one another. Members and leaders need to confirm that past experiences, including those with a predecessor, made an important contribution to the drama of their lives even when a significant change has to be made.
Principle Two: Build on Health
Jesus said, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instruced about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old (Matthew 13:52). Jesus reached into the treasure chest of the pastor and pulled out what was healthy and strong, thus fashioning the timbers of the new work He was building. Many of the stories Jesus told were not original to Him; neither were many of His ideas. Jesus know where to find islands of health in His tradition, and that is where He planted His feet.
Today, one prevailing stream of thinking about leadership transitions tends to be illness-based. A pastoral departure is treaed like a terminal diagnosis; just as no one plans for cancer, no one plans for a leadership transition either. Once the leader has moved, grief sets in. Organic change has taken place. A death has taken place. The congregation is wounded in all the ways an individual is wounded by a personal loss, and it responds in a similar manner.
Considerable pressure is often brought to bear on a new leader to fix what is broken. Get inactive members to come back. Restore the women's association to its former strength... Focusing on these pockets of dysfunction is a poor transitional strategy. Jesus knew that. Build on health.
Principle Three: Complete the Past
Jesus was a master at completing the past. The past was neither His whipping post nor His prison. The past was the first stage of a two-stage rocket headed upward.
Jesus understood John the Baptist's role as preparatory to His work; there was no arrogance here relative to John. Jesus understood His own work as preparatory to that of His disciples; He understood the past as the forerunner of the present.
Jesus did not deal with the past by assassination, but by completion. He generally assumed that the past was the necessary path to the presend. The role of the new leader is to discover how he or she can complete the work of a previous leader or take it to a higher level.
What are your thoughts? How does looking at the way Jesus handled transition apply to each of us when we're considering a move? I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments!
This post has been viewed 177 times so far.
TRACKBACKS: (0)
There are 9 Comments:
Hi... I'm Todd Rhoades. I'm a Christ-follower, husband, father and I love to connect leaders with other leaders. Hopefully you'll find something here at MMI you like and will return often. If you want, you can find out more about me or follow my every step on Twitter.
MondayMorningInsight.com | PO Box 446 | Bryan, OH 43506 |
-
Posted by
Tuesday, February 15, 2005 at 12:29 PM
-
Posted by
Tuesday, February 15, 2005 at 12:58 PM
-
Posted by
Tuesday, February 15, 2005 at 2:12 PM
-
Posted by
Tuesday, February 15, 2005 at 2:49 PM
-
Posted by bernie dehler
Tuesday, February 15, 2005 at 9:28 PM
-
Posted by
Tuesday, February 15, 2005 at 9:30 PM
-
Posted by
Wednesday, February 16, 2005 at 11:56 AM
-
Posted by
Saturday, February 26, 2005 at 8:38 PM
-
Posted by
Monday, February 28, 2005 at 1:56 PM
Post Your Comments:Great stuff! In honoring the past, it is important that we honor according to knowledge. To speak highly of someone who wounded the congregation as a whole is similar to praising a scoundrel at his funeral. However, we will always do well to honor those who went before us and to highlight the things which they contributed positively to the overall history and ministry of the church. We never win when we are critical of those who went before us. Too often, that is done with the hope of making us look better. I have found that if I regard highly previous pastors who were highly regarded by the congregation, I find quick acceptance.
I found that the teachings and example of Christ is the only one to follow. Christ was not braggant at his increase and John the Baptist decrease, he actually esteemed him. If one has to demean another to rise to a place of exaltation, are they really being exalted by God? Have they really received a promotion or have they promoted themselves? The only one intimadated by someone else is one who was never secure in who they were. Christ chose the disciples to build upon the foundation which he had laid. He chose them to expand, increase and “fish for souls.” We speak of walking in the likeness of Christ but when we see someone increasing in the doings of God how do we encounter them. Do we embrace them. As one sits under a leader they should learn from them as well as from God. There should be an inheritance from the knowledge, not a digression. Until we learn that walking in the unity of the faith will include growing in the spirit we have failed. Precedecessors are to leave us with several things, a legacy of wisdom, impartation and increase of purpose. Lessons of failures and successs to help us stay grounded as we pursue our purpose and above all compassion for those who are to follow after us so they not only can become a part of our legacy but that we don’t hinder their destiny.
Following a well loved long-term pastor can be intimidating. I am currently serving in a church following the retirement of a man who served this congregation faithfully for 21 years. His tenure was followed by a man who lasted less than two years, something that is not uncommon. For whatever reason, my immediate predecessor failed to honor the man he followed and this was was one of many factors in his demise.
I have been fortunate in that one month after beginning ministry here I had the opportunity to attended our annual men’s retreat. Our retired pastor was in attendance with men from a chruch he is planting about a two hour drive from here. We had the opportunity to sit down and talk for a couple of hours on Saturday afternoon. As I asked questions about the church, it’s history and his feelings about its most recent difficulties I was struck by the fact that his heart for ministry and the chruch dovetailed so well with mine. A few weeks later, he delivered the message at my installation service. You would not believe the amount of positive energy was created as he was able to pick up and pass the torch that had been dropped by my predecessor.
Vernell said:
“The only one intimadated by someone else is one who was never secure in who they were.”
Tell me about it!
The pastor of my former organization (a huge megachurch), one that I was raised in for years and the staff of which I belonged for several years, fired nearly 15 staff pastors over a period of 1 1/2 years.
Instead of utilizing those pastors’ gifts in planting them in their ministries, his insecurity fueled the fear that he could be replaced. In their place, he has installed his sons, none of which can hold a candle to the pastors that left.
Author says:
“Jesus said, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old (Matthew 13:52).”
(This is one of my favorite passages, and motivations for learning how to “correctly handle the Word of God.” I like the primary meaning of the passage, not the meaning “twisted” out of it to support the concept in the article.)
In summary, yes, we should highly regard everyone, those in past and present service. This is about God and His kingdom; not about us.
...Bernie
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/247
I appreciate that the focus is Jesus Style. But I think some of the transitions were left out. For example before John the Baptist we have Joseph and Mary unto which Jesus replied “I must be about My Father’s business.” Then it mentions how Jesus submitted Himself to them as parents. In another passage after the baptism of John we read that Jesus mother and brethren thought that Jesus was beside Himself and came to see Him at a gathering and some said “Jesus your mother and brethren are outside” and Jesus said “who is My mother and who is My brethren but those who hear the Word of God and do it they are My mother and brethren.” Another transition is where Jesus preaches His First sermon at His home synogogue and they reject the message that He is the Messiah. Then Jesus rebukes their unbelief and points out how this has cost them in the past. They responded by trying to kill Him by throwing Him off a cliff. The apostles the closest followers all forsake Him on the way to the cross and the reconciliation after the resurrection: “Peter if you love Me feed My lambs.” The place where Jesus lost one: “friend why have you come?” so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. The place where the Holy Spirit comes on the bride and the life of Jesus is manifested to a lost and needy world.
Interesting stuff!
There are two sides to this concept. One, honor and build on those who have preceded us and two, leave behind a good heritage and support for the next person following us.
I believe that teaching principles about relationships between pastor/teacher and members will carry over farther than personalities and loyalties to individuals.
When we resign, we should do a great deal of preparatory work and teaching rather than just “fill the pulpit”. It is all part of being a shepherd, isn’t it? If we love the sheep, we’ll not only deal with our own feelings of loss and expectancy, but concentrate even more in helping people through a transition instead of a permanent loss. No wonder there is pain.
Also, we need to respect the position and place for a present pastor where we once ministered. We need to honor his leadership and influence with the people. I remember staying away for several years from a church because I did not want to influence members regarding the new pastor’s leadership. When I was invited back to speak for Homecoming, I made sure I honored his leadership both in the pulpit and in private.
“In honor preferring one another” applies to those of us who are “full-time” ministers as well as laymen.
Please, please help, help, help,
I’ve pastor at this church for five years, yet I’ve been in court four of the five years I’ve been here. The judge ordered a church vote which included members that had joined other church beyond ten years and more. Thank God we prevailed and were allowed to stay here. They took me back to court and failed again. Now, for the past couple of weeks they have been cutting my car tires and painting my car. They have made it almost impossible for me to live having to spend money week after week. The police stated that they would have to caught them in the act. Our lawyer have filed motions after motions for the judge to put a stop to it. Some have even stood and yelled curse words while I was preaching. THey have vowed not to stop until I’m gone. Their are yet good and spiritual people at this church, but they are tired of the battle and are quiting. I’m thinking about leaving;I seek to do God’s will- need help, help, help, help, help… yesterday.
Byron,
Get out, and move on. Take up your sandals shake the dust of them, and head down the road. Just my advice, from what your saying. Of course I have not heard the whole story, but God will be with you whatever decision you make. My advice to you is leave, don’t put your family through it.
Page 1 of 1 pages