Rather than discuss what to do about this, let’s address How to keep this from happening to yourself or your church.
1. Rotate leadership on a regular, planned basis. That way, no one becomes possessive and secretive.
2. Put courageous people in leadership. When a troublemaker needs to be dealt with, they do not hesitate to take appropriate steps. Troublemakers should be dealt with by the lay leadership, not the pastor. The preacher has to minister to them in times of crisis. I am remembering the time I asked our administrator to retire the church hostess who had become a problem. She was past the official retirement age, so that was his approach. The family did not appreciate this, however, and most carried hurt feelings toward that staffer. But they loved me! (I would tease the staff member about this. He took it well, and recognized that this goes with the territory.)
3. Constantly test yourself. “Could I walk away from this job?” Give yourself minor tests by taking vacations and leaves as needed and appropriate.
4. Train your own replacements. That way, you are constantly reminding yourself that another will soon have this position.
5. In your mind, and if possible, with others also, set a date for the end of your work at this position.
Winfield Rich served numerous Southern Baptist churches as interim minister of education, and did so wonderfully. An interim can take quick action without people getting overly upset, since it was known from the first that his tenure would be short. Windy, as he was known, helped one church I pastored. He had a line that I’ve often quoted.
“I’ve come to leave,” Windy announced as he began work. And sure enough, three months or six months later, he would be on his way to another assignment.
In a very real sense, we are all interims, all of us serving the Lord’s church in between two people, the one we follow and the one who succeeds us. That being the case–we all being interim, whether pastor or staffer or church officer–here are some guidelines:
– We should get on with our assignment and not delay too long while getting our feet on the ground.
– We should try to leave the church in better shape than when we found it.
– We should try to leave on our terms, not another’s.
– We should try to leave peacefully and orderly, so that the church will be strong and Christ honored.
– We should leave them clamoring for more!
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/wwing
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