Whether they leave out of preference for another ministry or due to serious conflict, pastors who relinquish parish ministry face misunderstanding and even hostility. Pastors in Transition brings clarity to this little-examined aspect of the pastorate by examining the main reasons why pastors in five Protestant denominations have left parish ministry. The fruit of careful sociological research, Pastors in Transition presents the findings of the largest-ever study of recently ended ministries. More than 900 ex-ministers, representing the Assemblies of God, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the United Methodist Church, were surveyed or interviewed. Besides gathering facts and figures, the book contains personal stories, forthright opinions, and concrete recommendations from former pastors for strengthening parish ministry in the future.

Packed with new research, new interviews, and practical solutions, this updated and expanded edition of Next will equip pastors, ministry teams, and Christian organizations to navigate leadership changes with wisdom and grace. While there is no simple, one-size-fits-all solution to the puzzle of planning for a seamless pastoral succession, Next offers church leaders and pastors a guide to asking the right questions in order to plan for the future. Vanderbloemen, founder of a leading pastoral search firm, and Bird, an award-winning writer and researcher, share insider stories of succession failures and successes in dozens of churches, including some of the nation's most influential. The authors demystify successful pastoral succession and help you prepare for an even brighter future for your ministry. Includes a foreword by John Ortberg and an introduction by Eric Geiger and Kenton Beshore.

"Designed as a practical and deeply spiritual guide for congregations facing pastoral transition, this new book from experienced transitional pastor and consultant on interim ministry, Rev. Dr. Marcia Bailey, uses the framework of the Christian worship service to help church leaders usher their faith community through a process of honoring the past, healing the present, and discerning the future. Includes worship resources for each stage in the transitional season, from bidding farewell and processing grief related to the outgoing minister, to celebrating the gifts of community and anticipating the next stage in the congregation's life together"--

One way or another, every church will eventually lose its pastor or minister, yet few congregations prepare for this dramatic event. The pastor's departure evokes a range of reactions and problems--sorrow and grief, uncertainty, loss of mission and momentum, power struggles--yet no one wants to talk about this elephant in the church boardroom. Carolyn Weese and J. Russell Crabtree--experts in the field of church leadership--have written a nuts-and-bolts guide to developing a succession plan for smooth pastoral transitions. Filled with strategies and solid advice, this handy resource is based in solid research and the authors' many years of experience working with churches in a wide variety of denominations. Weese and Crabtree clearly show that leadership succession should be part of every church's planning process. Using assessment tools and quizzes, the book walks church leaders through the process of identifying their particular church's culture type and creating a succession plan that will meet their congregation's needs. Firmly rooted in biblical principles and the best management thinking, The Elephant in the Boardroom puts the focus on health, asset building, and resiliency. Its many examples from real-life situations and solid explanations offer elders, deacons, board members, and other lay leaders a how-to manual for planning, preparing, and executing a leadership transition.

How clergy and congregations can navigate the tricky transition from one pastor to the next. The Changeover Zone addresses a critical and perennial need in the church: the process of handing the baton of pastoral leadership from one person to the next. Authors Jim Ozier and Jim Griffith offer practical, clear instructions and guidance for both clergy and congregations. They provide detailed sections especially for clergy who are taking over from a founding pastor and for those replacing long-tenured pastors. The book is packed with real-church examples, helpful tips and tactics that have been proven successful. This resource will expertly guide pastors, supervisors, and congregations in nearly any church setting or denomination. I just love this quote from the book: "How fast you run will keep you in the race; how well you hand off will win it". Over the next 10 years we will see one of the largest pastoral leadership transitions in our history. How well we handle this hand-off to the next generation may well determine our future. The Changeover Zone is timely, helpful and insightful as we approach these transitions in leadership. Every personnel committee, pastor, judicatory leader, district superintendent and bishop should read this book before approaching any major leadership changes. --Bob Farr, Director of Congregational Excellence, MO Conference, UMC; author, The Necessary Nine The Changeover Zone provides a roadmap for how to make healthy pastoral transitions, especially in churches making their first transition or first transition in a long time. This book will help you learn how to not only survive a church pastoral transition but how to thrive and gain momentum through the transition. We have utilized this roadmap in East Ohio and it works. I recommend this book to anyone involved with pastoral transitions at any level. --Kelly P. Brown, Director of Congregational Vitality, East Ohio Conference, UMC A great resource for pastors and churches who are going through transitions. I love how the change in a church pastor is seen not as an event, but as more of a process and from various key perspectives. This will be a valuable tool for my coaching with pastors and churches who are entering a season of transition. --Ken Willard, leadership coach, certified church consultant, and author, Time Management for the Christian Leader When our church learned that both long tenured pastors were leaving at the same, we knew we needed expert help. Jim Ozier led our leaders in a workshop based on The Changeover Zone to prepare us for this scary change. In this book the authors use sound biblical footing to show you what to do and how to do it, as you go through a pastoral change. --Cheryl Lee, SPPR Chairman, Ebenezer United Methodist Church, Suffolk, VA The action plan for the 100 days before and after a change of pastors (the Changeover Zone) is brimming with time-tested wisdom. Pastors, churches, and supervisors will be prepared to not only minimize the pain and confusion that comes with pastoral transitions, but actually maximize the potential for growth and new life in congregations. --Ken Irby, Shreveport District Superintendent, Louisiana Annual Conference, UMC This book is filled with insight and excellent counsel. I have been using the authors’ advice on making a great handoff for several years. You will nod your head as you read, and say, Of Course. Keep nodding. It will make a difference in raising up stronger leaders and building reproducible systems. And that’s what we all want. --Cathy Townley, Townley Coaching FINALLY! A simple, straightforward way to think about an essential part of ministry - transitions. Transitions can make or break a ministry and too often they happen without the purposeful thought that can make them successful. Whether your context is a new start pastor moving on or a long tenured pastor receiving a new appointment, this book will be your comprehensive guide in the process of ending well and starting strong.- Rev. Nicole Reilley, Director of New Ministries, Cal-Pac Conference