Transitions for clergy

Bill Kemp
Bill KempPastor at The United Methodist Church
ComplementaryComplementary
TransitionsTransitions
TransitionsTransitions
see www. billkemp.infosee www. billkemp.infoby Bill Kempby Bill Kemp
Here and now, we are
children of God.
What we will be has not
yet been made known.
But we know that when
Christ appears, we
shall be made like
him...
(I John 3:2 )
Rembrandt
1633
Decent from
the Cross
the Cross
the Cross
the Cross
Transitions for clergy
1604
Entombment
Entombment
Entombment
The Resurrection is
perfect joyThe CrossThe Cross
is perfectis perfect
sorrowsorrow t
Rediscover
Process & Relationship
Process & Relationship
pre-modern modern 1700 - 1980 post-modern
Holy Week 2013
where are you?
Rate your experience
1....2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9..10
Holy Week 2013
What happened to you?
1) Too busy to experience it
2) Personal Problems / Conflicts Intruded
3)You were anxious about being reappointed
4)You didn’t find anything new in the Passion Story
Transition involves a major shift in expectations
and values that leads to new operating procedures
Transition occurs over a period of time and has a
middle ground place (the wilderness) which is not
like what is before or what comes after. Having a
process helps us travel through this middle ground.
The journey of transition forces us to acknowledge
what is lost and affirm our ownership over what
will be gained
Transition versus
Change
Which is the real Gulf
Fritillary?
Which is the real Bill Kemp?
• Adolescence
• Marriage/Divorce
• Imprisonment
• Career Entry
• Unemployment
• Empty nest
• Chronic or terminal illness
• Relocation / Home loss
• Recovery from an accident
• Other
Transitional Moments in
our Personal Lives:
What happens
when we...
when we...Deny our feelings?
Fail to recognize what is
lost?
Refuse new learning
Do not take the time to
orient the map or to reset
our clock?
Forget why we are on the
journey?
What?
Mandatory Bananas
Birth
Childhood to Teen
Teen to Young Adult
★Young Adult to
Older Adult
(Midlife)
Elder to Death
Kubler-Ross / Scott Peck:
[Transition creates] a place of “psycho-
spiritual growth,” and like the dying, we
find ourselves engaged in denial, anger,
bargaining, depression, and acceptance,
but not always in that order, as we
process the new learning that
[transition] thrusts upon us.
Bible Transition
Stories:
NoahNoah
ExodusExodus
RuthRuth
JonahJonah
Babylonian CaptivityBabylonian Captivity
John the BaptistJohn the Baptist
AdventAdvent
Jesus in WildernessJesus in Wilderness
LentLent
Post-EasterPost-Easter
Paul’s Arabian RetreatPaul’s Arabian Retreat
Narrative elements of transition:
Wilderness, Loss of the Familiar,
New Learning, Unexpected Healing or
Salvation, a required period of Time (40)
What does a bride wear?
•Something Old - what is
left behind
•Something New - what is
to be accepted &
anticipated
•Something Borrowed -
remembering our
indebtedness to past &
elders
•Something Blue - naming
what is makes us sad
Transition in
church
seasonsAdventAdvent
EpiphanyEpiphany
Transition in
church
seasons
Transition in
church
seasons
LentLent
Transition in
church
seasons
Eastertide -Eastertide -
PentecostPentecost
Transition in
church
seasons
Ordinary
time
Congregational
transition
is often caused by
trauma
• Loss of or betrayal by key Leadership
• Congregational Conflict
• Change in Context (External)
• Shifts in Congregational Size
Hints about
Congregational Trauma
1) The effects of misconduct or betrayal
last long after the leader departs
2) Those that left probably contributed far less
than people thought
3) Change always
creates new
opportunities for
ministry
Signs of a bad
transition:
• Personal investments are ignored
• Inappropriate reliance on technology and tradition
• Forward momentum is lost
• Hopelessness abounds
• Misdirected behavior is systemic
• Psyche/culture becomes risk-adverse
Every congregation and every individual will
experience trauma, loss, grief...
In the wilderness we will either discover
transformation
or become bitter
Navigating a transition
is a lot like coming
about in a sail boat:
• Maintain momentumMaintain momentum
• Don’t get tangled up in looseDon’t get tangled up in loose
lineslines
• A leader’s job is toA leader’s job is to
communicatecommunicate
• Timing and pace are to beTiming and pace are to be
respectedrespected
Transition Phase -
Congregation focuses on healing,
adapting to change, and reconnecting
with the denomination, and redefining the
pastoral role
Deepening Phase -
Spiritual formation is achieved through
more worship, study, fellowship, and
mission related activities
Management Phase - Work
is done to realign church structures with
church mission, vocation, or current reality
I wash,
I rinse,
I dry...
then
I do it all over
again!
Transition - Process
leaders who can weigh
options, guide change, and
redefine relationships
Deepening - Experts in
spiritual formation and
congregational growthManagement - Detail oriented
leaders who can help the church
develop stewardship and realign assets
to fit their mission
Leadership Needs:
Holy Spirit grows the
church
Transition: spiritual passion is tested found
authentic (winter/early spring)
Deepening: spiritual passion grows as
congregation develops authentic worship,
study, fellowship, and witness (summer)
Maintenance: structures are shifted to support
the mission and vision of the congregation’s
spiritual passion (fall harvest)
Buffer between long pastorates
Bring healing to traumatized congregations
Help with Leadership Change
Reconnect with denomination
Focus on Process
Motto: “The process is more important thanMotto: “The process is more important than
anyany
one decision”one decision”
Intentional Interims
Presence?
Do you think of churches as
complex family systems?
3 ways to make a decision
Implementation
Range
Process
Time
Leadership
expectation
Authority Soon Short Decisiveness
Majority Weeks or Months Medium Fairness
Discernment Long Long Resource provider
During Transition:
•Simplify
•Avoid Added Stress
•Celebrate the grace of God
•Reconnect with biblical/ spiritual images
Five Developmental tasks (Loren Mead)
Task 1. Coming to Terms with History
Task 2. Discovering a New Identity
Task 3. Allowing Needed Leadership Change
Task 4. Rethinking Denominational Linkages
Task 5. Commitment to New Directions in Ministry
Marks of Level 5 Leaders:
• Personal Humility
• Take responsibility when things go wrong – give
credit to others when things go right
• Keep the focus of the organization on its main
thing
• They often will sacrifice their own gain for the
sake of the organization
• Committed to long-term results
Notperfectyet.com
Practical thoughts for Pastors:
• Seek to participate in and understand the
existing worship form before making
changes
• Do an assessment (NCD) early
• Listen to history - discover land mines
• Create shared ownership of missional
vision (strategy vs. tactics)
• Don’t criticize your predecessor
• Look for a easy “win”
Notperfectyet.com
Practical thoughts for congregations:
• Do a good goodbye
• Have a worship service in which the exiting pastor
is released from pastoral duties
• Let the laity handle the first service after the pastor
arrives
• Do cottage meetings
• Do a church photo directory
• Do an assessment (NCD) early
• Listen for boundary issues - respect the parsonage
family’s privacy
• Share your history
• Share your expectations but be prepared to
negotiate
Here and now, we are
children of God.
What we will be has not
yet been made known.
But we know that when
Christ appears, we
shall be made like
him...
(I John 3:2 )
The Spiral
Rule
The spiral rule
applies to every
church
It applies to small
and large churches
It’s not a Methodist
thing
The Spiral Rule
Congregations that focus
outward, Travel Upward
Congregations that focus
inward, Travel
Downward
Changing Religious Climate
Loss of trust for institutions and/or hierarchyLoss of trust for institutions and/or hierarchy
Lack of willingness to become a member or joinLack of willingness to become a member or join
anythinganything
Give by texting / serve by showing upGive by texting / serve by showing up
Whatever...Whatever... (relativistic attitude about beliefs)(relativistic attitude about beliefs)
Relational approaches to problem solvingRelational approaches to problem solving
1 of 46

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Transitions for clergy

  • 2. Here and now, we are children of God. What we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be made like him... (I John 3:2 )
  • 3. Rembrandt 1633 Decent from the Cross the Cross the Cross the Cross
  • 6. The Resurrection is perfect joyThe CrossThe Cross is perfectis perfect sorrowsorrow t
  • 7. Rediscover Process & Relationship Process & Relationship pre-modern modern 1700 - 1980 post-modern
  • 8. Holy Week 2013 where are you? Rate your experience 1....2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9..10
  • 9. Holy Week 2013 What happened to you? 1) Too busy to experience it 2) Personal Problems / Conflicts Intruded 3)You were anxious about being reappointed 4)You didn’t find anything new in the Passion Story
  • 10. Transition involves a major shift in expectations and values that leads to new operating procedures Transition occurs over a period of time and has a middle ground place (the wilderness) which is not like what is before or what comes after. Having a process helps us travel through this middle ground. The journey of transition forces us to acknowledge what is lost and affirm our ownership over what will be gained Transition versus Change
  • 11. Which is the real Gulf Fritillary?
  • 12. Which is the real Bill Kemp?
  • 13. • Adolescence • Marriage/Divorce • Imprisonment • Career Entry • Unemployment • Empty nest • Chronic or terminal illness • Relocation / Home loss • Recovery from an accident • Other Transitional Moments in our Personal Lives:
  • 14. What happens when we... when we...Deny our feelings? Fail to recognize what is lost? Refuse new learning Do not take the time to orient the map or to reset our clock? Forget why we are on the journey?
  • 15. What?
  • 16. Mandatory Bananas Birth Childhood to Teen Teen to Young Adult ★Young Adult to Older Adult (Midlife) Elder to Death
  • 17. Kubler-Ross / Scott Peck: [Transition creates] a place of “psycho- spiritual growth,” and like the dying, we find ourselves engaged in denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, but not always in that order, as we process the new learning that [transition] thrusts upon us.
  • 18. Bible Transition Stories: NoahNoah ExodusExodus RuthRuth JonahJonah Babylonian CaptivityBabylonian Captivity John the BaptistJohn the Baptist AdventAdvent Jesus in WildernessJesus in Wilderness LentLent Post-EasterPost-Easter Paul’s Arabian RetreatPaul’s Arabian Retreat
  • 19. Narrative elements of transition: Wilderness, Loss of the Familiar, New Learning, Unexpected Healing or Salvation, a required period of Time (40)
  • 20. What does a bride wear? •Something Old - what is left behind •Something New - what is to be accepted & anticipated •Something Borrowed - remembering our indebtedness to past & elders •Something Blue - naming what is makes us sad
  • 26. Congregational transition is often caused by trauma • Loss of or betrayal by key Leadership • Congregational Conflict • Change in Context (External) • Shifts in Congregational Size
  • 27. Hints about Congregational Trauma 1) The effects of misconduct or betrayal last long after the leader departs 2) Those that left probably contributed far less than people thought 3) Change always creates new opportunities for ministry
  • 28. Signs of a bad transition: • Personal investments are ignored • Inappropriate reliance on technology and tradition • Forward momentum is lost • Hopelessness abounds • Misdirected behavior is systemic • Psyche/culture becomes risk-adverse
  • 29. Every congregation and every individual will experience trauma, loss, grief... In the wilderness we will either discover transformation or become bitter
  • 30. Navigating a transition is a lot like coming about in a sail boat: • Maintain momentumMaintain momentum • Don’t get tangled up in looseDon’t get tangled up in loose lineslines • A leader’s job is toA leader’s job is to communicatecommunicate • Timing and pace are to beTiming and pace are to be respectedrespected
  • 31. Transition Phase - Congregation focuses on healing, adapting to change, and reconnecting with the denomination, and redefining the pastoral role Deepening Phase - Spiritual formation is achieved through more worship, study, fellowship, and mission related activities Management Phase - Work is done to realign church structures with church mission, vocation, or current reality I wash, I rinse, I dry... then I do it all over again!
  • 32. Transition - Process leaders who can weigh options, guide change, and redefine relationships Deepening - Experts in spiritual formation and congregational growthManagement - Detail oriented leaders who can help the church develop stewardship and realign assets to fit their mission Leadership Needs:
  • 33. Holy Spirit grows the church Transition: spiritual passion is tested found authentic (winter/early spring) Deepening: spiritual passion grows as congregation develops authentic worship, study, fellowship, and witness (summer) Maintenance: structures are shifted to support the mission and vision of the congregation’s spiritual passion (fall harvest)
  • 34. Buffer between long pastorates Bring healing to traumatized congregations Help with Leadership Change Reconnect with denomination Focus on Process Motto: “The process is more important thanMotto: “The process is more important than anyany one decision”one decision” Intentional Interims
  • 36. Do you think of churches as complex family systems?
  • 37. 3 ways to make a decision Implementation Range Process Time Leadership expectation Authority Soon Short Decisiveness Majority Weeks or Months Medium Fairness Discernment Long Long Resource provider
  • 38. During Transition: •Simplify •Avoid Added Stress •Celebrate the grace of God •Reconnect with biblical/ spiritual images
  • 39. Five Developmental tasks (Loren Mead) Task 1. Coming to Terms with History Task 2. Discovering a New Identity Task 3. Allowing Needed Leadership Change Task 4. Rethinking Denominational Linkages Task 5. Commitment to New Directions in Ministry
  • 40. Marks of Level 5 Leaders: • Personal Humility • Take responsibility when things go wrong – give credit to others when things go right • Keep the focus of the organization on its main thing • They often will sacrifice their own gain for the sake of the organization • Committed to long-term results
  • 41. Notperfectyet.com Practical thoughts for Pastors: • Seek to participate in and understand the existing worship form before making changes • Do an assessment (NCD) early • Listen to history - discover land mines • Create shared ownership of missional vision (strategy vs. tactics) • Don’t criticize your predecessor • Look for a easy “win”
  • 42. Notperfectyet.com Practical thoughts for congregations: • Do a good goodbye • Have a worship service in which the exiting pastor is released from pastoral duties • Let the laity handle the first service after the pastor arrives • Do cottage meetings • Do a church photo directory • Do an assessment (NCD) early • Listen for boundary issues - respect the parsonage family’s privacy • Share your history • Share your expectations but be prepared to negotiate
  • 43. Here and now, we are children of God. What we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be made like him... (I John 3:2 )
  • 44. The Spiral Rule The spiral rule applies to every church It applies to small and large churches It’s not a Methodist thing
  • 45. The Spiral Rule Congregations that focus outward, Travel Upward Congregations that focus inward, Travel Downward
  • 46. Changing Religious Climate Loss of trust for institutions and/or hierarchyLoss of trust for institutions and/or hierarchy Lack of willingness to become a member or joinLack of willingness to become a member or join anythinganything Give by texting / serve by showing upGive by texting / serve by showing up Whatever...Whatever... (relativistic attitude about beliefs)(relativistic attitude about beliefs) Relational approaches to problem solvingRelational approaches to problem solving

Editor's Notes

  1. Vision-ing is a particular form of decision making. It involves decisions made for the long haul. It requires discernment. If a family moves into a new home, how do they decide where to put the new clothes line? They could just trust the husband to make a decision based on his control of the tools (Authority). Or they could take a vote (Majority). Or they could discuss each of their long term hopes for using the backyard and come to an intuitive decision based upon how their various concerns and hopes interacted. This last way to make a decision is similar to discernment.