by Steven Carrizal
Transitions have a way of disrupting what church leaders tend to value most—continuity, constancy, and predictability or perhaps in another word, peace. With transitions come a sense of uncertainty and reactivity that is often soothed by seeing a problem to solve and looking for a quick fix that has long term results. In the void of a true sense of purpose, various ideas will compete as the easiest to implement—the fastest path back to continuity, constancy, and predictability.
While there will certainly be some immediate logistics to manage, leading with purpose in times of transition starts with prayer, reflection, conversation, and imagination. Starting in this manner will set you up to address the three most important responsibilities in the early stages of the transition: managing leadership reactivity, pastoring people, and discerning the moment.
Managing Leadership Reactivity
Managing leadership reactivity individually and as a group stabilizes feelings of anxiety and uncertainty. Two important questions can help a group bring these feeling to the surface and begin to discuss them:
- What are we anxious about in this transition?
- How can we best manage our reactivity as a leadership group?
Naming and owning anxiety is not about weakness, but about awareness. Sharing this conversation in the group presents the opportunity to diffuse the reactive nature that anxiousness builds in us.
Pastoring People
Rather than seeing transition as a problem to fix, it can present church leaders with an opportunity to pastor their people. Leaders aren’t the only ones who feel unsettled and nervous in transitions. Oftentimes transitions leave church members with lots of questions that aren’t easily answered. Two questions to ask in in the leadership group can stir the pastoral opportunity:
- What might our church family be anxious about in this transition?
- How can we be most helpful to our church family at this time?
Order matters. Leaders must first address their own reactivity before pastoring others through their questions.
Discerning the Moment
Transitions, however they come, are often seen as disruptions to our plans, hopes, and dreams for the church family, perhaps even to how we believed God was working among us. This is a natural gut reaction to change and loss. As a leadership team gathers in the midst of the time of transition, discerning the moment becomes a critical step. While discernment has its own process that will not be laid out here, it can start with two important questions:
- What might God be up to in the disruption of this transition?
- How might we call our church family into ministry at this time?
God has not forgotten us and will not stop working among us. Times of transitions, as difficult and disruptive as they can be, are openings to a new season of God’s activity and the catalyst of participation of our church family in that activity.
Managing leadership reactivity, pastoring people, and discerning the moment are three core practices for leading with purpose as they empower clear vision and strategy in times of transition.
About the Author
Steven serves as Associate Minister at Altamesa Church of Christ in Fort Worth (since 2010). He has been in full-time congregational ministry since 1991 also serving as youth minister in churches in Houston and Denton (TX). He is a graduate of Abilene Christian University with an undergraduate degree in Youth & Family Ministry and a graduate degree in Christian Ministry. Steven is a certified Grip-Birkman Coach and Catalyze Coach. He has a passion for helping young ministers who are just getting started or making a transition.
Steven is an avid reader of theology, spiritual formation, leadership, business, personal growth as well as a little history and fiction. He loves great food and great conversation. Most of all he finds great joy spending time with his family.
Steven and Debbi have been married since 1992. They have three grown children and one grandchild.
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