Why I Believe How A Pastor Transitions May Be a Microcosm of One’s Ministry Tenure

I’ve often heard the quote, “It’s not how you start, but how you finish.” 

But I wonder if what happens in the middle serves as indicators for how one starts and finishes. 

In other words, I think the manner and way in which a pastor transitions, serves as a microcosm of how one operated during one’s very ministry tenure. 

This is not about ministry results per se but the methodologies and manners of the minister. It’s how one operates.

Here are a couple of examples to make this more concrete:

Example 1: If a pastor operates in a way where one relationally and emotionally shepherds the leadership team at one’s entrance or exit, that may be an indicator of how the pastor led (or will lead) the leadership team throughout one’s tenure with that team. 

Example 2: If a pastor enters a ministry by bashing the predecessor and leaving by bashing the church, that may be an indicator that one operated out of self-preservation and insecurity during one’s tenure. 

Example 3: If a pastor enters a church by honoring the past and its past leaders and leaves with gratitude by celebrating the faithfulness of God’s people, that may be an indicator of the pastor’s tenure being marked with humility, wisdom, and tactfulness. 

Example 4: If a pastor randomly hits the eject button and leaves with little closure, that may be an indicator of a tenure marked with the same haphazardness in decision-making, conflict resolution, and problem-solving.

In these four examples, we see that a pastor’s mode of operation at transitions (at the start or the end) were amplifications of a pastor’s general mode of operation.

Do I believe this is a hard and fast rule? Of course not. Many things drive behavior. Things such as context and organizational culture must be taken into account.

But having witnessed a few pastoral transitions in my lifetime, I wonder if there’s a bigger connection than meets the eye.

I’m inclined to think this way because of the following principle: 

“How we do one thing is how we do everything.” 

At least, this is according to the author Simon Sinek (who attributes the saying to Zen Buddhism) in his book Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t.

I agree with this principle because I believe the very character qualities and values that undergird our actions follow us in everything that we do. We are who we are, and wherever we are, there we are! If I operate out of a character quality of haphazardness, this will follow me in how I do “big things” and “small things.” If I function out of the value of care and concern for others, that will bleed into the mundane and milestone moments.

Can we compartmentalize and function completely differently in various contexts? Yes, I think we can for a period of time, but we eventually catch up to ourselves. 

Conclusion

As I reflect on the many pastoral transitions I’ve witnessed, I am grateful for the many great examples I’ve inherited. I’ve also noted the other ones as cautionary tales. And as I reflect on my own transitions, I am moved to humility, reflection, and a longing to know the Lord was honored.

Pastors, let’s pay close attention to how we minister because how we do one thing is how we do everything. Our character, which undergirds how do we everything, will eventually show itself. This will happen whether we’re in the ministry grind, starting a new ministry, or ending one. Let’s practice the art of self-reflection and make the bold prayer:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

(Psalm 139:23-24)

If you’ve experienced a bad pastoral transition, I want to say I’m sorry for the pain you’ve experienced. We can’t help but feel confused and conflicted when a pastor mishandles something as important as a transition. At the same time, please know there are many factors a pastor has to consider. This is true for a pastor under the best of circumstances! But many pastoral transitions are under challenging and painful circumstances experienced by pastors and their families. It’s sometimes a gift and the grit of a pastor to not share the entire story. Perhaps, greater understanding may arrive one day.

Here’s why I’m hopeful: I know pastors (and their churches) can end well even if we don’t start well because of Jesus. We can end well, even if our tenures were bumpy, because of his grace. Our beginnings, middle, and endings can and will be authored by “the Beginning and the End.”

And that is and will be a microcosm of his grace and ministry towards us.