Five Considerations When You Follow a Long-Term Pastor

Are you following a long-term pastor? Did a long-tenured pastor return to your church as a member? Thom and Sam discuss five considerations when following a long-tenured pastor. This is a great episode about leading well and honoring those who have come before you. Honor your predecessor. No disparaging comments. For a season, let your predecessor know about major changes. Consider taking your predecessor up on any offer to stay away for a while. If appropriate, ask your predecessor to preach on occasion. Be respectful of any family members of your predecessor in the church.Other highlights: Starting with negativity is a self-fulfilling prophecy, especially in the church. The longer the tenure of a pastor the more ingrained in the community they become.  The best way to get support from a predecessor is to keep in regular communication.  The good leaders will step away from a ministry if only for a season, to allow the new leader to establish themselves.Resources: * SEBTS MA Church Revitalization * Effective Rural Church CoachingEpisode SponsorsThe mission at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. The school offers more than 40 different degree programs, including the new Master of Arts in Church Revitalization in partnership with Church Answers and the Revitalization Network. This 37-hour degree is designed to help students move established churches from flatlining to flourishing.Learn about this program and more by visiting sebts.edu. Where are you going? Southeastern will help you get there.Vanderbloemen has 12 Vanderbloemen Differences that allow them to serve their clients better than anyone else. One of those is Theology Matters. Vanderbloemen's staff has more seminary and theological experience than any other search firm with 250+ collective years of church leadership experience.To learn more about all 12 of Vanderbloemen's Differences, visit VanderDifference.com.FeedbackIf you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here on Church Answers.