If you had a choice between helping your current pastor stay on and continue to grow in her or his capabilities as a leader or for your church to go through a lengthy search process, which would you choose? I think most of us would choose the former. The departure of a pastor usually entails a period of grief, seeking an interim, going through some congregational self-assessment, putting together a search committee, vetting candidates, selecting a person and then getting that person on the field. It is a trying process and an expensive one. I have never seen a church grow during an interim period. One way to keep your pastor and help him or her become more effective is to employ a professional coach to work with your leader. This is an investment that will benefit both the pastor and the congregation. Coaches can help a pastor in a number of ways. First, the coach can be a safe sounding board as the pastor exercises leadership ...
Comments from a Christ-follower on things that matter to him