Whether accepting a call to another church, beginning a different ministry, or entering a season of retirement, caring pastors leave their churches wisely. Here are five basic principles to follow when leaving a pastorate:
- Prayerfully plan a transition. Each situation is different and time constraints present special challenges, but carefully thinking through a transition is essential to the church’s health. Trusted leaders of the congregation are especially helpful to pastors in planning everything from an initial announcement to the pastor’s final day in the pulpit. When possible, a season of prayer gatherings and/or a special sermon series will help the congregation stay focused on the Lord.
- Encourage the church. Reminding the congregation of God’s sovereignty helps them face future uncertainties. They are comforted knowing the God who led their pastor to step aside is the same God who will bring their next shepherd. At the same time, however, separations are difficult, and pastors should allow members time and space to process grief. Finally, the pastor should bring an encouraging “farewell sermon” on his last Sunday, a message full of hope, praise, and gratitude to the church for ministry shared together.
- Stay away as much as possible. Once the pastor steps aside, he should in most cases do his best to stay away from the church for some time. His absence from the congregation helps the church move forward. To be sure, some churches have implemented succession plans that allow a minister to remain in the congregation as pastor emeritus or to serve in some other capacity. Even in these situations, however, the pastor must remember he has stepped aside from his pastoral role and exercise caution before agreeing to serve in any capacity that may interfere with the new pastor.
- Point questioning members to new leadership. It is common for church members to reach out to the former pastor during challenging times of an interim and/or early stages of a new pastor. Change is nearly always difficult, and the road forward can be bumpy. Former pastors help members cope by speaking positively of new leadership and encouraging members to express their concerns directly to their new pastor.
- Avoid saying anything negative. Once a pastor has left the church, he should always speak positively of former members, staff, and leaders. It’s bad form to speak negatively or disparagingly about anyone. While there may be future occasions requiring an honest discussion about a former member’s behavior or a staff member’s work ethic, even then “let your speech always be with grace” (Colossians 4:6).
Pastors: what other principles would you add to this discussion?
