Book review: Transition Plan

David Bowman June 22, 2019

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I am 57 years old. That means I have 10 years before the Social Security Administration says I can retire, get Medicare and live the high life. How about you?

Even if you are only 37, or even 27, you need to think about retirement. This does not mean you need to purchase that rocking chair and quit your job. However, it does mean that your retirement age is coming faster than you may imagine. To transition into those years requires advance preparation. 

This includes proper financial planning. Frequently, pastors and other ministers say, “God will take care of me.” This is undeniably true. It is just as undeniably true that he tells us to plan ahead. John Wesley aptly summarized the Bible’s teaching regarding finances with his outline which says:

• Earn all you can.
• Give all you can.
• Save all you can.

Beyond the financial realities of retirement, let’s consider who is going to take your place. Succession planning is a growing issue in church life. Several years ago, the Directors of Missions of the five largest associations in Texas met in Austin with Drayton McLane. He made a strong statement and then asked a powerful question.

“If I died today, our board of directors would have a new CEO within the week. If my pastor dies, it will take 18 months to replace him. Something’s wrong with that. How will you fix it?”

Succession planning is much broader than replacing a pastor or staff member. It involves protecting organizational continuity, emergency transition management, proactive exit planning, new leader hiring and leadership pipeline development.

A good book to read regarding how one church managed a senior pastor transition is Transition Plan by Bob Russell and Bryan Bucher. Bob has long been one of American Christianity’s foremost communicators. Max Lucado says, “Every leader should read this book.” 

Check out these quotes from the book:

“Peter Drucker, a management guru, said, ‘The ingredient most missing in churches today is a plan of succession. Ministers are getting older and the church is not thinking about the next generation.’”

“Some ministers feel the choice of their successor should be left up to God and that any effort at a transition plan is a presumption on God’s will. But we don’t take that same approach to other transitions. We make out a will for our children, we train someone to take our place at work, and we mentor assistant coaches in athletics. Why would we give less attention to the Kingdom of God?”

“We’re told, ‘After all, there is no retirement in the Bible.’ But the truth is, retirement is mentioned in the Bible. The Levites were required to quit at age 50 (Numbers 8:25)!

When a proper transition is made, the one stepping aside has another chapter of meaningful life to live and is respected in that role.”

“One resigning Minister told his congregation, ‘There are three ways I can leave. You can carry me out, you can kick me out or I can walk out. I choose to walk out.’ It’s a wise leader who walks out while still on top of his game.”

“The final and most important reason for transitioning is for the good of the organization. Healthy organizations of all kinds are dependent on healthy transitions of leadership.”

“If God has given you the window of opportunity to do so, why not start planning now so that the transition can happen in a way that will honor God and enable your church or business to reach new heights, attain new goals, and fulfill new dreams?”

Good stuff, huh?!

Prepare yourself for your leadership transition and at the same time prepare the next generation. Who needs your personal investment to lead in the days ahead the way you have led in the days up until now?

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David Bowman, (DMin, PCC) is the Executive Director of Tarrant Baptist Association in Fort Worth, Texas. He also serves as a Multiplying Trainer for Future Church Co. Learn More »

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