Redefining how the church navigates leadership change.
A fresh approach to handle leadership transitions and terminations with grace, so your community multiplies, not divides.
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SUCCESSION
PLANNING
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TRANSITION
MESSAGING
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ELDER & BOARD
SUPPORT
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CAREER
COACHING
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COUNSELING
CARE
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KINGDOM
OUTPLACEMENT
Have you ever had to fire someone in ministry?
When it comes to letting someone go, the "desired outcome" is not always the "actual outcome." While we believe that in most transitions, leadership want for things to go well, it is more often the exception, not the rule.
The result is a deep wound and often long-term pain and bitterness from the outgoing leader, confusion and resentment from the congregation, and regret from the leadership. Everyone is left scratching their heads and wondering what went wrong.
How does Pastoral Transitions work with church leadership to ensure a healthy change?
We specialize in compassionate support that helps close the gap between the “desired outcome” and the “actual outcome” in ministry transitions. When we do this well, it will multiply, not divide the church. (x NOT ÷)
Pastoral Transitions provides comprehensive services, so the outgoing pastor and their family can thrive in their next season, whatever their calling.
CAREER
COACHING
COUNSELING
“Wish I found you sooner.”
The sentiment we hear most frequently - whether from former pastors or board members - is a profound wish for a different past, one where our guidance could have made the transition smoother, less painful, and more constructive.
At Pastoral Transitions, we strive to alleviate regret by offering timely, compassionate support to guide individuals and communities through the complex maze of leaving ministry - turning hindsight into foresight for a better tomorrow.
Listen to the Life After Ministry podcast on Apple, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.
We can begin helping you navigate this path right away. Here’s how…
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Schedule a call to get started.
Schedule a confidential call to talk to someone on our team over the phone or Zoom to assess your needs.
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Together, we create a roadmap.
We talk with your church leadership while supporting your pastor (and their family) as they begin a new season.
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Make a healthy transition.
The best outcome is one where your church and outgoing pastor feel supported and loved as part of the family of Christ.
Check out our growing network of ministry partners!
What are the challenges facing outgoing ministry leaders and their families?
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Trauma
A wide range of emotional, spiritual, and relational trauma is experienced by the pastor and family members.
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Loneliness
A pastor and their family lose relational and spiritual support from members of their church community.
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Finding employment
The average pastor takes a year before finding a new job, and they frequently switch fields.
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Unemployment benefits
Pastors are not usually eligible for unemployment benefits, and many church leaders do not know this.
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Financial devastation
Transitioning out of ministry causes financial hardship for pastors, resulting in housing relocation.
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Spiritual deconstruction
Coming out of church ministry, pastors experience spiritual deconstruction, and their future ministry suffers.
“Jesusʼs most pressing concern before leaving the earth was our unity. He was looking ahead, to every generation of believers. And as he prayed, he made it clear that our witness as his body in this fractured, messed-up, chaotic world would depend on our love for another.”
— Ed Galisewski, A Simpler Faith: Hope For Those Who Struggle With Church
What are the challenges facing ministry leadership in transitions?
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Modeling Poorly
How we care for our people, and especially outgoing pastors, serves as a model for how the church should treat one another.
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Loss Of Trust In Leaders
If there is a loss of trust between leadership and its members, it can be difficult to ever regain that trust.
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Division In The Body
When a ministry leader moves on for whatever reason, there is potential for taking sides and division. Leadership has to do this right.
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Loss Of Giving
When people are upset with how leadership handles a situation, it will often lead to a lack of giving, followed by leaving.
Dedicated to serving the Kingdom of God, wherever help is needed.
Churches + Denominations
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Our goal is to help your ministry transition well. Why?
It enhances
unity.
Our goal is to help ministries achieve the best possible outcome during times of change. By caring well for your outgoing leaders and their family, we're confident your members will feel thankful for the best possible outcome of what is usually a difficult situation.
It models the
love of Jesus.
Pastoral Transitions provides a roadmap to help leadership model love and the fruit of the Spirit - even in the midst of conflict. Our resources encourage, equip, and enable church leadership to part with their pastor that brings honor to God during times of change.
It breeds a healthy ministry transition.
We want to see departing leaders succeed in their next chapter – and we believe that with our help, they will. Our goal is to make sure the outgoing leader feels a sense of commitment, restoration, and love from their community.
Transitions in churches frequently result in church division and long-term animosity for, and from, the pastor and their family. This guide highlights five essential steps that, when implemented, minimize the negative impact of transition and preserve unity in the church.