If your pastor is under the age of 60, you probably haven’t heard the term “succession” since the hit HBO television show of that name went off the air in May 2023.
But it’s a word you should get to know.
Every church needs a succession plan for their lead pastor — no matter the age. Planning for what’s next may seem like a distant concern, but the truth is, unexpected transitions can come at any time.
That’s where succession planning comes into play.
What Is Succession Planning, Really?
Succession planning is the process of creating a roadmap for your church’s next leadership transition. It defines how you’ll identify potential new leaders, mentor them, and transition leadership functions to them. It also describes how you’ll engage your staff and the congregation as a whole in the process.
The term comes out of the business world where billions of dollars often hinge on whether a leadership transition is smooth. But let’s be clear. Your church has much more at stake than just money. Nothing less than the future of your community and the spiritual lives of your congregants is at stake.
Why Your Church Can’t Afford to Wait
It’s easy to think that you have time before you need to think about a succession plan. But when it comes to preparing for leadership change, time is never really on your side.
Churches that don’t prepare often face:
- A loss of direction and vision. They may move on to a new leader, but the vision doesn’t come along for the ride. Then all the momentum fizzles. Ministries stall. Community outreach falters. People step off the bus.
- Declining member confidence. When people don’t know who the next leaders will be and where those leaders will take the church, they typically disengage. Over time, the church’s sense of community will erode and weaken its impact outside the church.
- Divisive struggles over leadership. When there is a leadership vacuum, people will clash to try to get control. Even before the previous pastor leaves, people will begin to jockey for position to either become the next leader or to get in the new leader’s good graces upon arrival.
Whether it’s a loss of direction and vision, declining member confidence, or divisive struggles over leadership, the costs are high if you wait to prepare for a leadership transition.
Key Benefits of a Succession Plan
Succession is more than a safety net that makes sure your church doesn’t face the consequences of disrupted leadership. It’s also a proactive step your church can take with benefits long before your pastor hands the reins over to someone else. For example:
- You’ll develop a strong leadership culture. At the heart of a succession plan is a commitment to mentor and develop leaders. If you take the time to create an effective plan, you’ll not just prepare a future senior pastor, but you’ll disciple a new generation of leaders throughout your church’s ministry.
- You’ll rediscover a fresh sense of vision and purpose. A key part of crafting your plan involves revisiting your church’s vision and mission—making sure you can clearly pass it along to the next leader. As you reflect together on the “why” behind what you’re doing, it’s a perfect chance to double-check that your ministries are all on the same page and heading in the right direction.
- Your congregants will have greater confidence in the direction of the church. When your church prepares for the future, you’ll reassure your members that you’re ready for whatever comes your way. Leadership change isn’t the only big transition your church faces in the future. If you can show people you’re ready for this one, you’ll let them know you’re ready for others.
You get these three benefits as soon as you begin working on your succession plan. You don’t have to wait for the leadership transition.
How to Get Started
Creating a succession plan is an important part of church ministry today, but it’s not difficult. It’ll take some time, thought, discussion, and prayer, but getting started is pretty simple.
- Start the conversation. The earlier you can start talking about a transition, the better. Invite other leaders and the broader congregation into the conversation. Tell them about some of the benefits mentioned earlier in this blog post about getting started on this process. Begin to pencil in some next steps and meetings to iron out a plan.
- Prioritize discipleship and mentoring. Succession plans are about preparing a new generation of leaders for ministry. Even if your church eventually looks outside the congregation for a new leader, creating a culture of mentoring within your church makes a huge difference. It helps everyone be better equipped for the key aspects of a future leadership transition.
- Make sure you have the tech you’ll need. A successful succession plan revolves around transparent communication. You’ll need to get the word out about your plans through email, social media, your mobile app, etc. The right tools help you get the right transition messages to the right people at the right time. Now is the time to make sure you’re ready for this. Find out more about our communications tools to see where you might have some gaps.
To help your church further get ready for your next important leadership shift, we’ve put together a simple guide full of helpful information, templates, and next steps. Get started on your succession plan by securing your copy of Planning for Tomorrow: Effective Succession Strategies for Church Leaders.
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