The Elephant in the Boardroom: Speaking the Unspoken about Pastoral Transitions - How to Handle Pastoral Transition with Sensitivity, Creativity, and Excellence

by Carolyn Weese; J. Russell Crabtree

Publisher:

Fortress Press

, 2020

Overview

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.

Key Features

• Encourages churches to have hope in the midst of pastoral transition
• Offers a guide to developing a succession plan for smooth pastoral transitions
• Presents solid research and the authors' many years of experience working with churches in a wide variety of denominations

Contents

Part 1: The Principles, Cost, and Players in Health-Based Transition

• Principles of Transition, Jesus Style
• Counting the Cost
• The Five Key Players in a Healthy Transition

Part 2: The Four Church Cultures: Family, Icon, Archival, and Replication

• One Church, Four Variations
• Transition Strategies for Leaders in a Family Culture
• Transition Strategies for Leaders in an Icon Culture
• Transition Strategies for Leaders in an Archival Culture
• Transition Strategies for Leaders in a Replication Culture

Part 3: Components of a Transition Plan

• Strategic Planning and the Search Process
• The Asset-Preserving Ministry
• A Capability-and-Maturity Model for Churches
• Pastoral Transitions in Low-Performing Churches
• A Plan for Responding to the Crisis of Sudden Transitions
• Getting Started on a Plan for Your Church

Praise for The Elephant in the Boardroom

Carolyn Weiss and Russ Crabtree have done churches a great service in breaking the curious silence about pastoral transition, perhaps the most serious threat to churches in the less institutionalized twenty-first century world. Here you will find the reality-based principles that lead to strategic succession.

Bob Buford, founder and chairman, Leadership Network, Dallas, Texas, and author, Half-Time

At last, qualified authorities in church leadership have taken on the question of transition in a thoughtful way. Crabtree and Weese have supplied a carefully reasoned approach to an event that so often causes major problems for churches--replacing their leader. This book is well written and badly needed.

Rev. Dennis McCallum, lead pastor, Xenos Christian Fellowship, Columbus, Ohio

All of the personal and professional hot button issues involved in a pastoral transition are addressed in this book. They don't just point out the pitfalls, they show us how to get out of them!

Dr. David G. McKechnie, pastor, Grace Presbyterian Church, Houston, Texas

Product Details

• Title: The Elephant in the Boardroom: Speaking the Unspoken about Pastoral Transitions - How to Handle Pastoral Transition with Sensitivity, Creativity, and Excellence
• Authors: Carolyn Weese, J. Russell Crabtree
• Publisher: Fortress Press
• Print Publication Date: 2020
• Logos Release Date: 2020
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• ISBNs: 9781506463421, 1506463428
• Resource ID: LLS:9781506463421
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-06-07T02:14:00Z