Pastoral Transitions Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Lewis Center for Church Leadership

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The Lewis Center draws upon years of research and training in offering resources for pastors preparing to move from one congregation to another and for denominational leaders who wish to do regional training to prepare those leaving ministry in one place and beginning in a new setting. We also offer a resource called “The Right Start.”

Leading Ideas

Easel with WELCOME written in chalk in a church sanctuary

May 29, 2019 0

7 Suggestions for Welcoming New Pastors

Barry Howard outlines ways a congregation can prepare spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally for the arrival of a new pastor to make the most of a…

April 24, 2019 0

Episode 31: “Leaving Well and Starting Strong: Planning for an Effective Pastoral Transition” featuring Lovett H. Weems, Jr.

How can a pastor avoid common pitfalls and make the most of opportunities when moving from one congregation to the next? In this episode we speak with Lovett H. Weems, Jr., about how to plan for a pastoral transition, leave well, and get off to a strong start in a new church.

50 Ways

Smiling pastor and their spouse carrying moving boxes

March 22, 2019 0

50 Ways to Improve Pastoral Transitions

Pastors moving from one church to the next need to focus on how they can effectively conclude their ministry in the church they are leaving,…

Focus

Illustration of a person trying to fit a square peg in a round hole

March 19, 2019 0

Reducing the Number of Pastor-Congregation Mismatches

Perhaps the most impactful task for bishops and superintendents is matching pastors and congregations through the appointive process. Despite their best efforts, some matches do…

50 Ways

March 12, 2019 0

50 Ways to Welcome a New Pastor

Congregations can help a new pastor get off to a strong start with these 50 Ways to acclimate a new pastor and make that new…

Focus

Train at Union Station, Toronto. CREDIT: Chris Cheadle, All Canada Photo, Universal Images Group, Rights Managed, For Education Use Only

December 11, 2018 0

The Process of Appointment-Making

Bishops and their Cabinets are entering the season of appointment-making. Many bishops and superintendents have developed careful processes and then seek to improve them each…

Leading Ideas

Groups of people chatting after church, including one holding an infant

June 6, 2018 0

Honoring the Context of a New Ministry Setting

Lovett H. Weems Jr. says incoming pastors tend to see everything through the lens of their own experience, vision, and interests, rather than learning how…

Leading Ideas

May 2, 2018 0

Unsticking a “Stuck” Institution

In 2014, Amy Butler stepped into the pulpit of The Riverside Church in Manhattan, a church well known for its public witness and prominent pastoral…

Leading Ideas Talks Podcast -- Leading a Historic Congregation

May 2, 2018 0

Episode 9: “Leading a Historic Congregation” featuring Amy Butler

How do you balance tradition and innovation? In this episode, Lewis Center Director F. Douglas Powe, Jr., speaks with Rev. Amy Butler of The Riverside Church in New York City. They discuss insights for leading a historic church.

Related Resources

Unsticking a “Stuck” Institution by Amy Butler
Discovering God’s Future for Your Church Video Tool Kit

Leading Ideas

Jigsaw puzzle in the shape of a $100 bill

April 25, 2018 0

Stewardship in Times of Transition

Angela Denker describes how stewardship and giving can be difficult in times of pastoral transition in churches. She says it is critical that stewardship be…

Leading Ideas

Stock photo of a silhouette of a church in a sunset

June 21, 2017 0

Sources of Authority for Pastoral Leadership

Lovett H. Weems, Jr., explains that while people may give pastors a leadership position, the true authority needed to lead must be worked out among…

Leading Ideas

Two people meeting for the first time and forming first impressions

May 10, 2017 0

Why First Impressions Really Do Matter

Lovett H. Weems, Jr., says people’s first impressions are often shaped by assumptions and stereotypes. And the early information we get about a person influences…

Leading Ideas

A hand holding a set of keys embarking on one of life's transitions

May 10, 2017 0

4 Key Challenges in Pastoral Transitions

What challenges are most commonly faced when pastors move from one ministry setting to the next? Lovett H. Weems, Jr., says four key challenges are…

Leading Ideas

May 25, 2016 0

Becoming the Person God Created You to Be

Laurie Haller says that clergy going into a new church can only lead effectively when they are authentic to who they know they are and…

Leading Ideas

April 27, 2016 0

How Incoming Pastors Can Navigate the Changeover Zone

In a relay race, the two runners exchanging the baton run in tandem in their changeover zone lane of 20 meters. For most runners, this…

Leading Ideas

April 27, 2016 0

Passing the Baton to Your Pastoral Successor

In a relay race, there is an “incoming” and an “outgoing” runner. At different times, and in different races, runners must play either part. So…

To The Point

September 19, 2015 0

To the Point: Suggestions for Churches with a Clergywoman

Celebrate your new pastor. Know that your new pastor continues a tradition of women in ministry going back to biblical times. Do all that you…

To The Point

April 24, 2015 0

To the Point: Why Women Are Clergy

The many Christian denominations that ordain women as clergy do so for sound biblical, historical, and theological reasons — even though there are traditions that…

Leading Ideas

Stock photo of a wrought iron welcome sign

June 4, 2014 0

Preparing to Receive a New Pastor

Welcoming a new pastor in genuine and effective ways lays the groundwork for a healthy and vital relationship and for the development of stable, long-term…

To The Point

Stock photo of a young, smiling African American woman

April 8, 2014 0

To the Point: Suggestions for Churches with a Single Pastor

All clergy face many challenges. But single persons in ministry can face a unique set of challenges around maintaining boundaries, privacy, and social connections, particularly…

To The Point

September 10, 2013 0

To the Point: Suggestions for Churches with a Young Pastor

Churches that receive a young pastor need to remember how lucky they are. Many congregations say they want a younger pastor, but few have the…

Leading Ideas

June 8, 2011 0

Three New Books on Effective Pastoral Ministry

The pastoral excellence movement has given rise to a growing body of literature analyzing the nature of effective pastoral ministry and offering advice on how…

Leading Ideas

Stock photo of an African American man pointing something out in an open bible

April 13, 2011 0

Loving Your Old Pastor and Falling in Love with the New Pastor

Churches shouldn’t have to choose whom to love. Congregations can’t be asked to forget the former pastor, forget where he or she led them, and…

Leading Ideas

April 13, 2011 0

First Year Priorities When Pastors Move

How does a pastor gain a congregation’s trust? How does a pastor warrant their respect? These are lessons I have learned through my own experiences…

Leading Ideas

Stock photo of a diverse group of people praying

February 9, 2011 0

What About the Second Pastors in New Congregations?

While many studies report on the work of church planters, few studies examine the experience of “second pastors,” those who follow founding pastors of new…

Leading Ideas

Stock photo of someone running along a beach with four moons and an aurora overhead

May 19, 2010 0

The Four Stages of a Pastoral Transition

A time of transition for a pastor can be both exciting and terrifying. The possibility of a new start with its challenges and opportunities brings…

Leading Ideas

Stock photo of someone's workspace that has a moleskine notebook, a MacBook Air, an iPhone, and a cup of espresso

February 3, 2010 0

Retirement Best Practices for Pastor and Congregation

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,…

Leading Ideas

Stock photo of "MENTOR" carved out of wood

September 1, 2009 0

Clergy Mentor Resources Available

Research and experience both point to the importance of clergy mentoring, particularly in helping those in the early years of ministry. But clergy mentors indicate…

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