We’re in a fascinating time of transition for the church. Many of the pastors who planted or assumed leadership of churches a few decades ago are nearing retirement. We’ve already seen some successful transitions and several instances where the church will never return to its healthiest days because the leadership transition failed.
As The Unstuck Group works with churches, we are frequently providing counsel on structure and strategy. We encourage churches not only to look at their current circumstances but also to make intentional decisions today that will influence their future.
One key principle we hope churches will embrace has to do with legacy. We want the leaders of today to be interested in establishing a legacy for tomorrow. We don’t want a one-and-done generation of church. We desire to help churches build ministry that will impact future generations as well.
With that in mind, here are some differences we see in churches who build for legacy instead of short-term impact:
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Long-Term Focus: “Legacy” Churches |
Short-Term Focus: “One-and-Done” Churches |
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Succession plan established for transitioning the lead pastor when needed |
Wait until the current lead pastor is gone before thinking about next leader |
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Embrace team teaching to raise up other gifted communicators and vision casters |
One gifted teacher communicates just about every week of the year |
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Intentional leadership development strategy implemented throughout the staff and volunteer structure |
Assume new leaders will show up when needed to replace existing leaders |
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Build a healthy lay leadership board or elder team for local accountability and protection of the mission, vision and values |
Establish outside board of overseers with limited accountability for lead pastor and no protection for ongoing health of the church |
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Practice team-based leadership beginning with the senior staff leadership team |
Leadership is structured so that just the lead pastor makes all the decisions |
| Understands the value of establishing action plans and appropriate systems to empower other ministry leaders |
Little planning for the future or empowerment through systems so that the lead pastor may maintain control |
What’s interesting about these two different approaches to building a church is that both can look healthy in the short-term. They both can experience growth. They both can have many people accepting Christ. They both can have high involvement in volunteer teams or small groups. On the surface, both churches can look very healthy.
To measure the true health, though, I think we need to take a longer-term view. The church needs to be positioned well for the next season of ministry when the current lead pastor is no longer around.
Here’s the reality: Every one of us will one day leave our current leadership position. We will either retire, be forced to resign, move on to another opportunity or die. There will be a next generation that will follow. With that in mind…
Will you lead a “legacy” church or a “one-and-done” church?
