Our Paston retired today :cry:

[cougtpt1]

Our pastor gave his last sermon today. We had many special songs and a huge banquet after church. It was a great celebration. He and his wife have been at our church for 18yrs. Many people in the church are very sad. So my question is, has anyone ever gone through a pastoral change after this many years and found a way to make the next pastor successful. I really think we are a welcomming church and will love the pastor that we call but I am afraid of when he first does something different then the way we have done it. I am on our board and would like to try to put some simple fliers together to give to the congregation talking about new pastors. Any help or advice would be great.

[5stringJeff]

I've never been through a major pastoral change, but I joined my current church about a year after our current pastor started here. Your church is in for some turbulent times, but not necessarily bad times. I would recommend that as you search for a new pastor, that you do a few things:

1. Pray!!! God already has a plan for your church.

2. Let your congregation know that, no matter how hard you search, you'll never find a pastor exactly like your old pastor. They should expect at least a little bit of change.

3. Try to discern what your church enjoyed about your pastor the most. Was it his preaching style? His focus on a particular program? The musical style he liked? His ways of dealing with problems in the church? Once you know that, you should attempt to find a replacement who would fit the mold of your church best.

I pray that God blesses your search for a new pastor!

Jeff

[cougtpt1]

Thanks

I like the idea about brainstorming what we liked about our old pastor. We have had several months to prepare for him to leave so we have been praying for us to find the person God wants in our church. We found out yesterday that a really great pastor form a neighboring community has agreed to be our interim pastor!

[herev]

typically in these cases:
1. a pastor who has been at the church for a very long time (18 years counts)
2. a pastor who was very UNLIKED by most of the churh
3. a pastor who was VERY loved by most of the church...

the best thing is for an interim pastor to follow. It may not be CALLED that, but it's a good thing. I was such an interim in my last appointment. The pastor I followed managed to irritate most of the congregation and they had NO trust for pastors sent by the conference. Much of my job was to let them find me different from the previous pastor and to let them love me. I left after two years. In a quirk of the Methodist System, my wife is the pastor that followed me. The church is thriving now, just 6 months after I left. While I was there, we LOST no more members and we added a few, the church adopted a relaxed atmosphere that was missing and the bond between church and pastor was healed. Now, they love their new pastor in the way that they would not have been able to do without my interim (or someone else's--I'm not tooting my own horn) leadership.
I would recommend a short term appointment for an interim pastor who is laid back, but strong in people skills----THEN look at the next pastor.
God bless

[ClementofRome]

typically in these cases:
1. a pastor who has been at the church for a very long time (18 years counts)
2. a pastor who was very UNLIKED by most of the churh
3. a pastor who was VERY loved by most of the church...

the best thing is for an interim pastor to follow. It may not be CALLED that, but it's a good thing. I was such an interim in my last appointment. The pastor I followed managed to irritate most of the congregation and they had NO trust for pastors sent by the conference. Much of my job was to let them find me different from the previous pastor and to let them love me. I left after two years. In a quirk of the Methodist System, my wife is the pastor that followed me. The church is thriving now, just 6 months after I left. While I was there, we LOST no more members and we added a few, the church adopted a relaxed atmosphere that was missing and the bond between church and pastor was healed. Now, they love their new pastor in the way that they would not have been able to do without my interim (or someone else's--I'm not tooting my own horn) leadership.
I would recommend a short term appointment for an interim pastor who is laid back, but strong in people skills----THEN look at the next pastor.
God bless

I do hope you wore the cape during that interim! :D

[cougtpt1]

Our district superintendant appointed a interim this week. Everyone says he is an amazing pastor and will be a good buffer for a new pastor. thanks

[herev]

I do hope you wore the cape during that interim! :Dbleh, it wasn't bad. Once they realized I wasn't the bad guy, they started coming around fairly well. I am ecstatic that my wife is now seeing the fruit of that labor.

[charvel]

Positive thoughts here. Change can be exciting. I have been through this in our church.

[ClementofRome]

Positive thoughts here. Change can be exciting. I have been through this in our church.

There is no question that change can be and is exciting... I am a fan of change, but when you have been soooooo blessed by an individual for many years, the change is tough. Doesn't make it any less exciting though! :)

Thanks for the reminder.
Clem

[CFpetRESCUER20]

This pastor at my methodist church have been with us for about 10 years. The other last one was disliked by church members. I don't even know why.

As for the new pastor, they like him.

[charvel]

I rely on my own church in my head I guess. Rarely feel bonded to one certain minister-preacher,what have you.
How's the new one doing for ya anyways?

[cougtpt1]

Yesterday was his first service and it went pretty well. He had a great message about being a bridge from God to non believers. We still are not sure of a timeline for the full time pastor. thanks for your input and prayers