“Pastoral Succession Planning: Why Pastors Struggle to Let Go” w/ Karl Vaders – Episode 323

In this episode of the 95 Podcast, Dale Sellers welcomes back his friend Karl Vaters for their fifth or sixth conversation together. Recording in early 2026, they dive deep into the critical topics of pastoral succession, retirement transitions, and the future of small church ministry. Karl shares insights from his recent seven-week world tour, including stops in Malaysia, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and West Virginia, where he ministered to small church pastors facing diverse cultural challenges. The conversation explores why so many pastoral transitions fail, how to avoid the "narrative void" of retirement, and why discipleship is the answer to nearly every church challenge. With tens of thousands of pastors approaching retirement in the next decade and a shrinking pipeline of new leaders, this timely discussion offers practical wisdom for navigating one of the church's most pressing issues.Show Notes: https://95network.org/pastoral-succession-planning-why-pastors-struggle-to-let-go-w-karl-vaders-episode-323/Support the show