"But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do." (v.6)
— Acts 9:1-19
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The RevWriter Resource (ISSN 1545-939X) A publication of RevWriter Resources, LLC May 2010 Volume 9, Number 5 Susan M. Lang, Editor and Publisher <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< Dear Friends: On my journey to becoming a coach and consultant, I served for several years as a trained intentional interim pastor working with congregations in pastoral transition. During that time, I learned the importance of making good transitions. It's important to pay attention to how individuals and the corporate body are dealing with the emotions surrounding the changes that are occurring as the result of the departure of a pastor. How does the past inform the future? It's also critical to ask questions that help leaders more clearly define the future into which they feel the Holy Spirit is calling the congregation. However, pastoral transitions, although significant, aren't the only kind of transitions that affect a congregation's ministry. Changes occur on an annual basis when new council or board members are elected. Committee members come and go. People join and leave the congregation for a wide variety of reasons. So, it's important for leadership to learn how to facilitate and deal with healthy transitioning on a regular basis. Peg Garvey-Mitchell's article provides the questions you need to begin talking about the way you and your leadership engage in transition. I've also added a few resources on typical transitions that occur within congregational life, along with some questions to encourage you to engage in a conversation with the Bible to look at changes and how God was present through them. Although congregations frequently rebel at having to deal with change, it happens all the time. We might as well learn how to handle it in a healthy manner. Blessings for your journey, RevWriter Sue Lang sue@revwriter.com If you need a leadership or other retreat facilitator, contact Pastor Sue Lang at sue@revwriter.com or call 215-453-8128. While Sue does have a list of previous workshop topics, she can create a retreat or workshop to meet the needs of your congregational leadership. Sue can also develop group leadership/learning events for a cluster of congregations that would like to increase their learning capacity by interacting with others and discovering what they are doing in their ministries. Contact her to learn more about congregational cluster workshops! Additional information on Sue's consulting work is also located at: http://www.revwriter.com/congregational/churchconsultant/index.shtml <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17) <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< Theme: Healthy Transitions in the Congregation Who would benefit from this issue? Pastors, church staff, congregational boards, and all disciples of Christ. Table of Contents 1 - Devotion: Acts 9:1-19 by Susan M. Lang 2 - Healthy Transitions in Church Life by Peg Garvey-Mitchell 3 - Biblical Reflections on Transitions by Susan M. Lang 4 - Transition Resources 5 - RevWriter News 6 - Announcements 7 - Publications Still Available 8 - Subscribe/Unsubscribe Info <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< 1 - Devotion by Susan M. Lang Read: Acts 9:1-19 "But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do." (v.6) Nothing as dramatic as Paul's conversion ever happened to me during the course of my life. Yet when I reflect upon my own faith journey, I realize that it is actually made up of many "mini-conversions"--times when God suddenly opens my eyes to the reality of the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life resulting in the strengthening of my faith. My first recollection of this happening occurred on May 30, 1971, when I was confirmed. I knelt at the altar rail and as my pastor placed his hands on my head to bless me, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. It was a powerful feeling that actually surprised me. I've never forgotten it. Over the years there have been other times when I have struggled through difficult ministry situations and doubt threatened to overpower me. Yet once again, I was, in some way, made aware of God's sure and steady presence in my life and the awareness transformed me. These mini-conversions have deepened my faith and empowered me to more fully embrace my own call to ministry. They are gifts that continue to surprise me because they are not of my doing. How has God spoken to you in your life in ways that transformed you and your ministry as a congregational leader? Think back on those defining moments in your faith journey--these mini-conversions--that have amplified God's call to you. Paul's experience on the road to Damascus transformed him in a way he could have never foreseen. Through the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we, too, are transformed and called to serve God, often in ways we would never have imagined. Copyright © 2010 Susan M. Lang <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< 2 - Healthy Transitions in Church Life by Peg Garvey-Mitchell How familiar are those of us in ministry with the comings and goings of pastors, staff, council, commission or committee leadership? Quite familiar, I imagine. Even though changes in church life are a regular and, in some cases, a cyclical part of our experience, we haven't quite gotten the hang of effective transitional work. We may like the status quo, the comfort of a particular style of leadership or personality and may even want to hold onto gifted, talented congregants. Still, deep down we know we are a people called to live lives of growth and change. Typical transition scenarios include the end of a term for a volunteer leader; the resignation, removal, or retirement of a pastor; the completion of one phase and the beginning of the next phase of a large project. All mark contributions by members of the Body of Christ that are worthy of remembrance and honor. Transitions also call forth new roles, new gifts, and new possibilities. And transitions provide churches an opportunity to create a culture of appreciation. The person leaving can be assured of having played an important role in the life of the community. The person coming into community can get to learn first-hand what preceded his or her arrival and what can be done to build on existing strengths. This, of course, requires a willingness to listen and openness to learning by all involved. How might such experiences be created? First, discussing how endings and beginnings are handled throughout the congregation should take place at the highest levels of leadership. It's critical for leadership to understand transitions as opportunities for processing feelings around loss, grief, departures, arrivals, and hospitality. When leaders are comfortable speaking about change and transition as a natural part of faith and congregational life, it gives the faithful freedom to express their own thoughts and feelings and to become part of initiatives that enhance the congregation's experience of letting go and welcoming in. Having these conversations when transition is not taking place gives people the time and space to consider some possibilities. Congregations can institute practices in small ways to get a feel for the value of transitional conversations. For example, at year's end when volunteer committee leadership may change, some time can be allotted for the leader who is leaving and the leader who is coming into a new role to spend some time speaking about what has been, what is, and what is yet to be. (See: Helpful Questions.) They can learn from those experiences and then make accommodations along the way as to how they might want to celebrate a particular transition. +How, and in what venues, can conversations about transitions occur? +Who needs to understand the importance of the inevitable comings and +What has the congregation learned from its experience of previous +What kind of transition conversation/ritual would fit the personality, +How can the community deepen its experience of faith through Helpful Questions For the person leaving: +What has been most meaningful about your time of service? +How has your faith deepened through your service? +What have your committee members/parishioners contributed to your life +What do you hope will happen here next? For the person arriving: +What can we do to make you feel welcomed? +What is it most important for us to know about you? +How can we count on you? +What do you need from us? Copyright © 2010 Peg Garvey-Mitchell Peg Garvey-Mitchell has served as a consultant for parishes, dioceses, and Catholic not-for-profit organizations for fifteen years. She is married and has two children. <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< 3 - Biblical Reflections on Transitions From infancy to adulthood transitions are part of the very fabric of our lives as we pass through each stage of growth. So change is not something to fear, instead we can acknowledge and even embrace the possibilities that it offers us to deepen our relationship with God. Take time with your leadership team to reflect upon one or more of biblical examples of transition in the passages below. As you do so, consider these questions: +What kind of transition is occurring in the passage? Is there more than +Where do you see God's activity in the transition? +How does the passage speak to you as you reflect upon transitions that +What other examples of biblical transitions come to mind as you read Deuteronomy 34:1-10 Joshua 1:1-9 Joshua 3:1-17 Jonah 3:1-10 Luke 2:1-20 John 4:1-39 John 13:1-20, 31-35 Copyright © 2010 Susan M. Lang <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< 4 - Transition Resources Pastoral Transition Revitalizing Congregations: Refocusing and Healing through Pastoral Transitions by William O. Avery (Alban Institute, 2002) Temporary Shepherds: A Congregational Handbook for Interim Ministry edited by Roger S. Nicholson (Alban Institute, 1998) The Elephant in the Boardroom: Speaking the Unspoken about Pastoral Transitions by Carolyn Weese and J. Russell Crabtree (Jossey-Bass, 2004) The Pastoral Search Journey: A Guide to Finding Your Next Pastor by John Vonhof (Alban Institute, 2010) Beginning Together: The Alban Handbook for Clergy Transitions by Roy M. Oswald, James M. Heath, Ann W. Heath (Alban Institute, 2003) Congregational Size Transitions The In-Between Church: Navigating Size Transitions in Congregations by Alice Mann (Alban Institute, 1998) Raising the Roof: The Pastoral-to-Program Size Transition by Alice Mann (Alban Institute, 2001) Leadership Transitions Called to Lead: A Handbook for Lay Leaders by Mark D. Johns (Augsburg Fortress, 2002) Growing Together: Spiritual Exercises for Church Committees by Rochelle Melander and Harold Eppley (Augsburg Fortress, 1998) The Sky is Falling: Leaders Lost in Transition by Alan Roxburgh (Allelon Publishing, 2006) When God Speaks through Change: Preaching in Times of Congregational Transition by Craig A. Satterlee (Alban Institute, 2005) 5 - RevWriter News Recent RevWriter Sightings: +In May 2010: +During the synod assembly of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod held on May 7 & 8, Sue will serve as a writer for the Communications Team. Check in at www.ministrylink.org. +During May, Sue is serving as a Consecration Sunday Guest Leader for a congregation in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod. +Sue is working on a project titled: Networks and the Book of Faith. Stay tuned! +Sue is serving as a coach in the ELCA Board of Pensions Journey of Renewal wellness pilot program. Her role as coach will expand this year as the program expands. <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< 6 - Announcements Financial Contributions Welcomed Costs to produce and manage The RevWriter Resource will increase for me this year as the subscriber base continues to grow. Writers of devotions and main articles have always been, and will continue to be, paid. In the past, this has come out of my personal writing income, but as this ministry continues to grow, the cost to me will also continue to increase. In the effort to maintain the ministry provided through the publication of The RevWriter Resource without requiring a subscriber's fee, I am now welcoming contributions from subscribers. Contributions may be sent to: RevWriter Resources, LLC Or through Paypal to sue@revwriter.com Most importantly, I appreciate your prayers as this ministry continues to grow during its seventh year in publication. Blessings, Sue <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< 7 - Publications Still Available: +John (Learner Guide and Leader Guide) by Susan M. Lang (Augsburg +Our Community: Dealing with Conflict in Our Congregation by Susan M. +Welcome Forward: A Field Guide for Global Travelers by Susan M. Lang Visit http://www.revwriter.com for a complete list of publications that Sue has authored. 8- Subscribe/Unsubscribe Info I maintain a strict privacy policy and will not sell or share my subscription list. The RevWriter Resource is sent to you at no cost. If you know of someone who might be interested in receiving The RevWriter Resource, you are welcome to forward it. Please do so only in its entirety, including my copyright information. If someone has forwarded The RevWriter Resource to you, I invite you to subscribe. To do so, visit my website at: http://www.revwriter.com/congregational/resource.shtml#signup Copyright 2002-2010 RevWriter Susan M. Lang. All rights reserved. For permission to quote or reprint, please contact me for written consent at sue@revwriter.com or The Rev. Sue Lang www.revwriter.com
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