Church Succession Planning

Succession planning is a given in the for-profit world. So, when Steve Jobs died, there was no question that Apple would continue to sell its highly sought-after products.  On the other hand, in the church world, succession planning is seldom discussed. As a result, churches that preach getting ready for the after- life to its members often are thrown into chaos when the pastor dies because of the lack of planning and preparation. 

Succession planning is not an issue that many churches address in any systematic way. Because many churches are small and because they may be facing other organizational challenges, thinking about whom the next pastor might be or what would happen if the church administrator suddenly left is not high on their priority list. 

Effective succession planning supports church stability and sustainability by ensuring there is an established process to meet staffing requirements. Boards and executive directors can demonstrate leadership by having the strategies and processes in place to ensure that these transitions occur smoothly, with little disruption to the church.