In this issue:

Retirement Best Practices for Pastor
and Congregation

A God Corrected Vision

The Right Question

In a time of change, many congregations look for leaders who will make their problems and challenges simple. Instead, they need leaders who will help develop their capacities to respond effectively to the challenges at hand.

Kenneth J. McFayden

Retirement Best Practices for Pastor and Congregation
By David Rich

The retirement of a pastor from his or her ministry is a unique and critical transition involving the pastor, his or her family, the staff, and the congregation. Planning together for this transition offers the pastor and congregational leadership the opportunity to manage the transition. It also serves as the first step toward working together to do their best in ministry in their last months or years together.

Too often the retirement of the pastor is approached with secrecy, a lack of openness, and an attitude of "biding our time." Parking lot conversations among church leaders become times of gossip and questions: "Has he or she talked with you about retirement? How old is she? How long do you think he will stay?" And the pastor talks about retirement with his/her family, trusted colleagues, and friends, but not with key church leaders for fear of being a lame duck: "Don't tell anyone that I am thinking about retirement."

Developing and implementing a transition plan builds a solid foundation for ministry — for the congregation and the retiring pastor. A transition plan allows the pastor and congregational leadership to have control of the transition and avoids the pastor becoming a "lame duck" by providing direction for the remaining months of vital ministry until the retirement date. Without a transition plan, the pastor simply waits to see what happens after the announcement of the retirement date.

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A God Corrected Vision
by Melvin Amerson

"Where there is no vision, the people will perish," Proverbs reminds us. Vision is one of the five human senses, but is also one of the guiding forces in the lives of believers and congregations. Without vision and insight, people would easily drift aimlessly with little purpose. There are times when vision appears less perfect. Often, when vision is limited or impaired, individuals or churches limit themselves to familiar areas and practices.

Many suffer from near sightedness and far sightedness. Others develop astigmatisms and cataracts that obstruct and distort viewed objects. For individuals, vision challenges can often be corrected or improved by prescriptive eyewear or surgery. With congregations, it is usually more difficult to detect loss of vision. Therefore, the process of discerning a church's vision acuity is typically lengthy and viewed as an arduous task. Is it not ironic that both individuals and congregations periodically need to have their vision checked? Over a period of time, we all need new God Corrected Vision.

The Right Question

Leaders do not need answers.
Leaders must have the right questions.

Some have used these questions to discover energy, issues, and hopes of a congregation.

What energizes you about your church?
What concerns you about your church?
What excites you about the future of your church?

Editors:  Lovett H. Weems, Jr. and Ann A. Michel
Production and distribution: Carol Follett