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Next: Pastoral Succession That Works
Packed with new research, new interviews, and practical solutions, this updated and expanded edition of Next will equip pastors, ministry teams, and Christian organizations to navigate leadership changes with wisdom and grace.
While there is no simple, one-size-fits-all solution to the puzzle of planning for a seamless pastoral succession, Next offers church leaders and pastors a guide to asking the right questions in order to plan for the future. Vanderbloemen, founder of a leading pastoral search firm, and Bird, an award-winning writer and researcher, share insider stories of succession failures and successes in dozens of churches, including some of the nation's most influential. The authors demystify successful pastoral succession and help you prepare for an even brighter future for your ministry. Includes a foreword by John Ortberg and an introduction by Eric Geiger and Kenton Beshore.
While there is no simple, one-size-fits-all solution to the puzzle of planning for a seamless pastoral succession, Next offers church leaders and pastors a guide to asking the right questions in order to plan for the future. Vanderbloemen, founder of a leading pastoral search firm, and Bird, an award-winning writer and researcher, share insider stories of succession failures and successes in dozens of churches, including some of the nation's most influential. The authors demystify successful pastoral succession and help you prepare for an even brighter future for your ministry. Includes a foreword by John Ortberg and an introduction by Eric Geiger and Kenton Beshore.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published August 26, 2014
103 people are currently reading
796 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
June 17, 2023
Helpful. Practical. Depends a lot on the business world. Not much biblical reference or support.
February 23, 2022
Pros: pretty well researched, chock full of stories about pastoral succession going well (and not so well), and easy to listen to (I do own the paperback but listened to the audiobook since that's what seems to be working for me these days...)
Cons: I'm figuring the "the Vanderbloemen group was used to consult with this transition" notes might turn off someone who is coming to this book from the perspective of someone who is just wanting information and not a sales pitch (I can't think of them saying that when things went...wrong). This book is a broad brush "things to do that we've found work" guide that is useful to everyone, but if you're looking for something substantive for your particular denomination and/or polity, this doesn't really do that since...again, it's for everyone (denominationally speaking), not anyone in particular.
It's generally directed to people on transition/call committees or pastors themselves contemplating how the future will look, and to that end it does well enough. References scripture which is good, since the connection to church organizational operation and business without scripture would give me pause in that "hey, isn't the church different from big business?" kind of vibe. Along those lines though, the best practices of "big business" have some intelligence to learn from (the necessity of planning, etc) and this book covers that. Additionally, as someone who grew up in a pretty "insulated from the rest of the American church" church context, the stories of various churches I'm now learning more about was interesting even aside from the church transition discussion. Those too are part of church history - the good and the bad.
It'd probably have been a 4 before but I'm trying to be more conservative with my ratings so...3 it is.
Cons: I'm figuring the "the Vanderbloemen group was used to consult with this transition" notes might turn off someone who is coming to this book from the perspective of someone who is just wanting information and not a sales pitch (I can't think of them saying that when things went...wrong). This book is a broad brush "things to do that we've found work" guide that is useful to everyone, but if you're looking for something substantive for your particular denomination and/or polity, this doesn't really do that since...again, it's for everyone (denominationally speaking), not anyone in particular.
It's generally directed to people on transition/call committees or pastors themselves contemplating how the future will look, and to that end it does well enough. References scripture which is good, since the connection to church organizational operation and business without scripture would give me pause in that "hey, isn't the church different from big business?" kind of vibe. Along those lines though, the best practices of "big business" have some intelligence to learn from (the necessity of planning, etc) and this book covers that. Additionally, as someone who grew up in a pretty "insulated from the rest of the American church" church context, the stories of various churches I'm now learning more about was interesting even aside from the church transition discussion. Those too are part of church history - the good and the bad.
It'd probably have been a 4 before but I'm trying to be more conservative with my ratings so...3 it is.
March 5, 2025
Lots of insights and case studies having to do with pastoral succession. This book is full of practical wisdom.
June 5, 2015
"Every pastor is an interim pastor" are the first words to the preface of this well-written, thoroughly documented book. It followed up with the words, "Few ministers consider that truth. Few are eager to admit that their time with their current church will one day end. But ultimately, all pastors are "interim" because the day when a successor takes over will come for everyone in ministry."
Those words really grabbed my attention. I knew I needed to read the book not only to learn many of these things myself, but also for our current church and its future. Why? Our pastor announced earlier this year that he would retire at his 40th anniversary this fall.
I don't even know how to adequately describe this book other than every pastor, leader, and member who loves their church ought to read this book. Infused throughout the book is the idea that it is never too early too start planning for the next pastor/leader of one's church. In matter of fact, the admonition is given that as soon as a new pastor begins, he ought to start thinking ahead and preparing the church for the day that he will no longer be the pastor.
These thoughts intrigued me as I have always been involved with churches/leaders whose mantra was always "I'll never retire!" or "I'd rather burn out than rust out!" or "Retirement is not in the Bible!" However, this book succinctly puts at least two things in perspective. 1) Pastors will not live forever and 2) the health of the church should be more important than the length of service of the pastor.
The book really attempts to be part of a small, but growing movement of getting church's to take a longer look at where their church is going and prepare not just for the immediate, but for many years after the current members have come and gone.
It really started me to evaluate my own thoughts on the process. One of the quotes that stood out to me was the following:
"Good pastors focus their life on producing good fruit. But the greatest and most visionary pastors and church leaders share a common wisdom: they plan not just for their current "tree" but also for the time beyond their own tenure.
What would happen if that wisdom and vision were talked about among church leaders from day one of their tenure?...What could happen?
If the culture changed, the exception of good succession planning might become the rule. The change would lead to a healthier church overall."
If you love those in the ministry, love your church, or love that God called you to serve him as a minister in His church, it would do you well to read this book!
Those words really grabbed my attention. I knew I needed to read the book not only to learn many of these things myself, but also for our current church and its future. Why? Our pastor announced earlier this year that he would retire at his 40th anniversary this fall.
I don't even know how to adequately describe this book other than every pastor, leader, and member who loves their church ought to read this book. Infused throughout the book is the idea that it is never too early too start planning for the next pastor/leader of one's church. In matter of fact, the admonition is given that as soon as a new pastor begins, he ought to start thinking ahead and preparing the church for the day that he will no longer be the pastor.
These thoughts intrigued me as I have always been involved with churches/leaders whose mantra was always "I'll never retire!" or "I'd rather burn out than rust out!" or "Retirement is not in the Bible!" However, this book succinctly puts at least two things in perspective. 1) Pastors will not live forever and 2) the health of the church should be more important than the length of service of the pastor.
The book really attempts to be part of a small, but growing movement of getting church's to take a longer look at where their church is going and prepare not just for the immediate, but for many years after the current members have come and gone.
It really started me to evaluate my own thoughts on the process. One of the quotes that stood out to me was the following:
"Good pastors focus their life on producing good fruit. But the greatest and most visionary pastors and church leaders share a common wisdom: they plan not just for their current "tree" but also for the time beyond their own tenure.
What would happen if that wisdom and vision were talked about among church leaders from day one of their tenure?...What could happen?
If the culture changed, the exception of good succession planning might become the rule. The change would lead to a healthier church overall."
If you love those in the ministry, love your church, or love that God called you to serve him as a minister in His church, it would do you well to read this book!
October 16, 2014
Full disclosure: I was chosen a First Reads winner, and received a hardback copy of Next: Pastoral Succession That Works in the mail. That in no way influenced this review.
I found this to be a very useful resource for pastors or churches that are planning ahead. In this era of often declining mainline churches, it includes some especially interesting information.
The authors, William Vanderbloemen who holds a MDiv from Princeton and William Bird who holds a PhD from Fordham, have pertinent experience as pastors, teachers, authors, etc. They have brought that, along with countless examples from well-known and not-so-well-known churches, to this book.
One section (in chapter ten) that I found particularly interesting discussed the natural stages in the life of a church(birth, growth, maturity, aging, and death or redevelopment) and then concluded that those stages recur countless times over the life of a particular congregation. Well-researched and footnoted, this volume includes additional resources for further study and an appendix with additional succession information.
I found this to be a very useful resource for pastors or churches that are planning ahead. In this era of often declining mainline churches, it includes some especially interesting information.
The authors, William Vanderbloemen who holds a MDiv from Princeton and William Bird who holds a PhD from Fordham, have pertinent experience as pastors, teachers, authors, etc. They have brought that, along with countless examples from well-known and not-so-well-known churches, to this book.
One section (in chapter ten) that I found particularly interesting discussed the natural stages in the life of a church(birth, growth, maturity, aging, and death or redevelopment) and then concluded that those stages recur countless times over the life of a particular congregation. Well-researched and footnoted, this volume includes additional resources for further study and an appendix with additional succession information.
December 29, 2020
This book is filled with tons of insight as well as many real life stories and examples of different types of transitions ranging from poorly executed to extremely successful. I give it five stars not necessarily because it’s exciting to read, but because it does an excellent job of covering the pertinent topics so well.
March 20, 2015
Any leader that is thinking succession planning should read this book. Any leader who isn't thinking about succession planning, should be, and should read this book. Very important book.
June 29, 2018
The short version of how I came to be reading this book: I thoroughly disliked hearing the statement: "All pastors are interim pastors." Wait! Don't stop reading because I used the word "pastor." I promise that this post will apply to all, not just pastors.
I still don't like the statement as used by authors Vanderbloemen and Bird. While I have dear friends who are wonderful interim pastors, I think the use of it in the book carries with it a negative feeling even if the authors do not intend to write in that way.
In this case, why do I give the book three stars which means I like the book? I would go so far as to say, for pastors and churches the rating is 4-5 stars and a necessary book to read. As someone not on an elder board and not a pastor, I appreciated the ideas in the book to know how to help a community of faith and a workplace community. I appreciated being challenged to think about how we all need to build bridges for others.
For the first two communities mentioned above, I like to think of leaders moving on in the best of circumstances as a time of commencement. They are about to begin a new part of their journey in life and how can the leaders bless their community and how can the community bless them. In the worst case situations, dealing with grief within a community is needful. For good or for ill, being prepared from the moment a leader takes up his or her position is the great idea conveyed by this book. The authors do go into every nitty gritty detail (money, loss of momentum, etc.) As one reviewer put it, for a book about pastoring, it seems like the the authors deem a good succession as one with continued tithing and continued growth. I have to wonder about some of the examples in the book: what happened to love God and love others.
The takeaway for me in this book is how does anyone: a parent, a woman or man, a employer, a leader, and, yes, a pastor, leave a legacy, not of wealth but of that which she or he has contributed to the world just being who they are and what they have been doing on this journey? Our unique identity can not be passed on, nor should we want it to be, but people are going to continue on without us. How can we make those transitions as smooth as possible for them?
Vanderbloemen and Bird's last chapters are some of the best. On page 171-172 of the next-to-the-last chapter, they bring in the work of William Bridges, an authority on change and transition "[who] helps us understand the emotional side of those transitions. He argues that the single biggest reason organizational changes fail is that no one has thought about endings or planned to manage their impact on people. His argument is that changes don't do you in. Rather transitions do you in.
"He explains the way the concepts differ. Change is situational....new location...retirement...reorganization...a shift...Transition is psychological. It is a process people go through as they internalize and come to terms with the details of the new situation the change brings about."
I have just participated in seeing a community carry out V&B's suggestions well: The pastor and his family verbalized a personal goodbye, the community had opportunities to say goodbye and to honor the pastor and his family. The grief of the community was and is being recognized. The pastor and family was gifted and blessed.
I still don't like the statement as used by authors Vanderbloemen and Bird. While I have dear friends who are wonderful interim pastors, I think the use of it in the book carries with it a negative feeling even if the authors do not intend to write in that way.
In this case, why do I give the book three stars which means I like the book? I would go so far as to say, for pastors and churches the rating is 4-5 stars and a necessary book to read. As someone not on an elder board and not a pastor, I appreciated the ideas in the book to know how to help a community of faith and a workplace community. I appreciated being challenged to think about how we all need to build bridges for others.
For the first two communities mentioned above, I like to think of leaders moving on in the best of circumstances as a time of commencement. They are about to begin a new part of their journey in life and how can the leaders bless their community and how can the community bless them. In the worst case situations, dealing with grief within a community is needful. For good or for ill, being prepared from the moment a leader takes up his or her position is the great idea conveyed by this book. The authors do go into every nitty gritty detail (money, loss of momentum, etc.) As one reviewer put it, for a book about pastoring, it seems like the the authors deem a good succession as one with continued tithing and continued growth. I have to wonder about some of the examples in the book: what happened to love God and love others.
The takeaway for me in this book is how does anyone: a parent, a woman or man, a employer, a leader, and, yes, a pastor, leave a legacy, not of wealth but of that which she or he has contributed to the world just being who they are and what they have been doing on this journey? Our unique identity can not be passed on, nor should we want it to be, but people are going to continue on without us. How can we make those transitions as smooth as possible for them?
Vanderbloemen and Bird's last chapters are some of the best. On page 171-172 of the next-to-the-last chapter, they bring in the work of William Bridges, an authority on change and transition "[who] helps us understand the emotional side of those transitions. He argues that the single biggest reason organizational changes fail is that no one has thought about endings or planned to manage their impact on people. His argument is that changes don't do you in. Rather transitions do you in.
"He explains the way the concepts differ. Change is situational....new location...retirement...reorganization...a shift...Transition is psychological. It is a process people go through as they internalize and come to terms with the details of the new situation the change brings about."
I have just participated in seeing a community carry out V&B's suggestions well: The pastor and his family verbalized a personal goodbye, the community had opportunities to say goodbye and to honor the pastor and his family. The grief of the community was and is being recognized. The pastor and family was gifted and blessed.
June 6, 2019
Most major corporations think about CEO succession plans years in advance, and actively work to make transitions between CEOs to go smoothly. This book argues that approach ought to be applied to churches; and that churches need to be actively planning the succession of their senior pastors. The book provides a number of examples of pastoral transitions that have gone smoothly, and examples of some that did not. The book also walks through all of the things that are required for pastoral succession to go well (support of outgoing pastor, early and thoughtful planning, managing communication, etc), as well as things to avoid (nepotism, incomplete transfer of power, not involving departing pastor). Overall, the book makes a compelling case for churches to be taking succession planning seriously. But I also felt that the case could have been made in a lengthy article rather than a full-blown book. In addition, because the author runs a firm that works with churches on succession planning, every time the author noted a case study where the Vanderbloemen Group was hired to make the process successful, I rolled my eyes. I didn’t need the (not) subtle advertising.
October 18, 2020
“Next” is The Next Best Thing
After 33 years serving as a senior pastor, 20 years at the current assignment, of which I planted; I knew 5 years ago my time was nearing. I started having conversations with folk inside and out about not leaving the church the way former leadership left it in our city, Fort Wayne In. I found who I believe will be my successor, he and I have read this book and it has not only encouraged me to make that move but given me much insight on how to make it. After reading “Next” I am convinced that Joshua’s Temple MBC can become all I’ve ever envisioned that it could be with proper succession and I can help my successor to become all I never was and the kind of pastor the city hasn’t seen in a long time, if ever they have seen one of such. I can also help he and JT to become the church the community has never seen by becoming the example of how a church member can help their church to do so.... Thank you William and Warren
After 33 years serving as a senior pastor, 20 years at the current assignment, of which I planted; I knew 5 years ago my time was nearing. I started having conversations with folk inside and out about not leaving the church the way former leadership left it in our city, Fort Wayne In. I found who I believe will be my successor, he and I have read this book and it has not only encouraged me to make that move but given me much insight on how to make it. After reading “Next” I am convinced that Joshua’s Temple MBC can become all I’ve ever envisioned that it could be with proper succession and I can help my successor to become all I never was and the kind of pastor the city hasn’t seen in a long time, if ever they have seen one of such. I can also help he and JT to become the church the community has never seen by becoming the example of how a church member can help their church to do so.... Thank you William and Warren
June 23, 2019
As I near 25 years in ministry at my current church, I am glad to find practical information concerning transitioning to a new field of service. I have told the congregation I serve, that there will come a time I will no longer be their pastor. The Lord could come back (wouldn’t that be the ultimate transition!), I might die, my health might fail, or I would move on to another call. I don’t think about retirement but redeployment. This book helped reinforce and refine my thinking. Every pastor should face the fact—he is an interim pastor! So, from day one we need to be thinking about the last day in order to have a ministry that flourishes without us. After all—it’s not about us, but Jesus! I commend this book to every church and pastor.
April 18, 2020
Next succeeds because the authors integrate compelling experiences of actual preachers and churches with authenticating statistics and comparisons. They tell the success stories. They describe the failures. They examine the reasons for each. The book primarily is written for preachers will the assumption that elders, deacons, and search committees will also read it. However, a chapter on Money, dealing with costs of transition, reverses that perspective as the real financial costs that churches will or should bear during transitions are discussed. This is a book that should be taken seriously and discussed by preachers and other leaders in their congregations long before a change in ministry staff takes place
August 30, 2021
Overall I would say this was a helpful primer on the topic of pastoral succession. It introduces some helpful "-isms" that could be reminders for staff and leadership teams in a church. In the end it was a bit dry. I had to get myself to pick it back up again -- granted I wasn't reading from a pressing need for myself but as a resource for the consulting work that I do.
There were a few insightful statistics and lots of stories which could be helpful in conversation.
If you're looking for books on succession it may be worth a read, but probably won't be the most exciting read along your journey.
There were a few insightful statistics and lots of stories which could be helpful in conversation.
If you're looking for books on succession it may be worth a read, but probably won't be the most exciting read along your journey.
December 17, 2021
Excellent, excellent book! Vanderbloemen gives phenomenal counsel based on a wide array of experiences when it comes to pastoral succession. Although Lead Pastors are primarily in view, what I learned can be applied to succession in most church leadership roles, as well as marketplace succession. It's wise to view ourselves as what we all truly are; interim pastors who would do well to ensure ministry can & will function in our absence, however that may come about. It's a must-read for any Pastor and/or Board Member.
November 14, 2017
"Every pastor is an interim pastor" (9)
I would like to thank Baker Publishing group for providing me with a copy of this book!
This book was very well written and easy to follow. It was chalked packed with examples which were easily relatable. It also has activities at the end of each chapters and questions to think about.
This book was a quick read as I read it in about 2 days!
I would recommend it to any pastor or church board!
I would like to thank Baker Publishing group for providing me with a copy of this book!
This book was very well written and easy to follow. It was chalked packed with examples which were easily relatable. It also has activities at the end of each chapters and questions to think about.
This book was a quick read as I read it in about 2 days!
I would recommend it to any pastor or church board!
May 19, 2025
This is a great book the sets up a standard of best practices and understanding leadership succession. In short, it comes down to being committed to leadership multiplication. However, lead our senior pastor succession has some unique nuances and the authors do a great job teaching and using many examples from churches and leaders they m have worked with. The time to talk about, plan for and develop a succession strategy is now.
June 13, 2019
This book was very helpful in provoking me to think more carefully about how to plan my own succession in 3 years’ time. It is very much geared to a North American context, so parts of it were not relevant to my own environment. It was, however, very good as a planning aid and I will be asking my elders to read it as well.
June 29, 2019
A helpful read filled with case studies. If this is an area of interest or a place you find yourself, highly recommend. The book is certainly topic specific... if you are not working in pastoral transition you’ll probably find little of this book relevant or helpful.
January 3, 2020
This book is like a buffet. Walk around and see what looks good and enjoy, you can always go back for more. Great insight into the process of transitional church leadership. Lots of facts and numbers mixed with stories of good and bad transitions. If you a church leader, read the book.
October 19, 2021
Helpful categories to consider. A good book to know about but not every chapter is equally helpful to a given situation. Also, the edition I read is a few years old. I’d be interested to see how newer edition has updated portions that referred to Bill Hybels or Mark Driscoll, etc.
October 3, 2023
A helpful, thorough, treatment of church succession. Not every aspect addressed in the book can be applied in every context, but the book's treatment of succession is so comprehensive that there is value to be gleaned for every church situation.
August 7, 2025
Every Pastor Needs This book
The stat remains the same. One out of one people die. One out of one pastors leave their church. There is no success without a successor. Start today to plan.
The stat remains the same. One out of one people die. One out of one pastors leave their church. There is no success without a successor. Start today to plan.
January 7, 2019
I thought this book was very helpful in regard to pastoral transition.
May 23, 2019
Probably the best book out there on Pastoral Succession. All pastors are interim pastors and should be thinking about how they can help their church transition leadership.
April 29, 2020
Good examples & helpful information in the short term as our church hires it's first EDO, as well as longer term succession planning for the next senior pastor.
March 10, 2022
Really awesome book!
October 27, 2014
I am at the beginning of a pastoral succession process. The church I start leading on Sunday, has had a pastor for the past twelve-and-a-half years who is loved by the church and the wider community. This is a woman who has networked, started ministries which reach out to the community and has prayerfully led the church through difficult circumstances. She has a heart for racial justice, community outreach and mission. She leaves this position to focus more in these areas and she will still be part of the church family.
I am the 'noob.' I care about many of the same things as the previous pastor and want to see the church impact the wider community but am still at the beginning of learning how to lead a church. I want to do that well. So I read Next: Pastoral Succession That Works with interest hoping to garner whatever kind of wisdom it had for me at this moment in my pastoral career. Authors William Vanderbloemen and Warren Bird have years of experience in helping church leaders lead effectively. In this book, they research successions that work, successions that fail and how church boards and pastoral leaders can plan for a good succession process.
This book wasn't written directly to me, but for out-going pastors, search committees and elder boards to help them think ahead. Vanderbloemen and Bird noticed that many successful pastors stay in their role past their prime, with no real plan of succession. As a result, the church looses momentum and when the inevitable switch happens it falls off mission and loses membership. They suggest intentionality about the succession process. After all, every pastoral position (or really any position) is temporary. All pastors are interim pastors who steward the church for a term, and they should be thoughtful about how to prepare the way for their successor.
Because Vanderbloemen and Bird base their findings on qualitative research, this book is full of stories of the succession process at various different kinds of churches (both glorious successes and epic failures). They observe that some of the best succession stories happen when churches groom someone from their staff or membership to take the place of the out-going pastor. This makes sense to me, though I think large mega-churches are more likely to have the pool to draw on for this sort of succession (and I am kind of glad the church I was hired at didn't follow that route). Also, they speak highly of father-son successions without any worry about nepotism (i.e. Joel Osteen is one of their 'success' stories).
However, they do not have a formula 'one-right-way' approach. They assert that if God is in it, successions will work. Three pieces of salient advice I found helpful were: (1) intentionality about the succession process-especially in the first 100 days, (2) help from the out-going senior pastor, (3) new pastor honoring their successor and the church's past.
I think churches will benefit from reading this book, especially when they are in the midst of a search process. Vanderbloemen and Bird talk about the intentional, good sort of succession, but they also address succession problems when a leader unexpectedly dies, has a moral failure or resigns early. A board with proper foresight can plan for every contingency. Vanderbloemen and Bird suggest creating a succession plan and revisiting annually.
At times I disagreed with their pragmatic bent. They seemed to measure the success of a succession in terms of congregational attendance. Organizations go through ebbs and flows and I think a church that shrinks from thousands to hundred when the new pastor comes but is more faithful to the gospel, has had a successful succession even if their metrics do not bear this out. God can be in apparent failures too. This doesn't mean that new pastors should not strive to bring in new sheep and to bear fruit in their ministry. It means that the picture of what it means to be a good, and faithful pastoral servant is more complicated than the picture that Vanderbloemen and Bird suggest.
But practical advice is important and I think that this book will be read with benefit. My own case is not the typical succession and I am blessed to have the input of the previous pastor, a good and faithful servant, mentor and friend. I give it four stars: ★★★★
Thank you to Baker Books for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I am the 'noob.' I care about many of the same things as the previous pastor and want to see the church impact the wider community but am still at the beginning of learning how to lead a church. I want to do that well. So I read Next: Pastoral Succession That Works with interest hoping to garner whatever kind of wisdom it had for me at this moment in my pastoral career. Authors William Vanderbloemen and Warren Bird have years of experience in helping church leaders lead effectively. In this book, they research successions that work, successions that fail and how church boards and pastoral leaders can plan for a good succession process.
This book wasn't written directly to me, but for out-going pastors, search committees and elder boards to help them think ahead. Vanderbloemen and Bird noticed that many successful pastors stay in their role past their prime, with no real plan of succession. As a result, the church looses momentum and when the inevitable switch happens it falls off mission and loses membership. They suggest intentionality about the succession process. After all, every pastoral position (or really any position) is temporary. All pastors are interim pastors who steward the church for a term, and they should be thoughtful about how to prepare the way for their successor.
Because Vanderbloemen and Bird base their findings on qualitative research, this book is full of stories of the succession process at various different kinds of churches (both glorious successes and epic failures). They observe that some of the best succession stories happen when churches groom someone from their staff or membership to take the place of the out-going pastor. This makes sense to me, though I think large mega-churches are more likely to have the pool to draw on for this sort of succession (and I am kind of glad the church I was hired at didn't follow that route). Also, they speak highly of father-son successions without any worry about nepotism (i.e. Joel Osteen is one of their 'success' stories).
However, they do not have a formula 'one-right-way' approach. They assert that if God is in it, successions will work. Three pieces of salient advice I found helpful were: (1) intentionality about the succession process-especially in the first 100 days, (2) help from the out-going senior pastor, (3) new pastor honoring their successor and the church's past.
I think churches will benefit from reading this book, especially when they are in the midst of a search process. Vanderbloemen and Bird talk about the intentional, good sort of succession, but they also address succession problems when a leader unexpectedly dies, has a moral failure or resigns early. A board with proper foresight can plan for every contingency. Vanderbloemen and Bird suggest creating a succession plan and revisiting annually.
At times I disagreed with their pragmatic bent. They seemed to measure the success of a succession in terms of congregational attendance. Organizations go through ebbs and flows and I think a church that shrinks from thousands to hundred when the new pastor comes but is more faithful to the gospel, has had a successful succession even if their metrics do not bear this out. God can be in apparent failures too. This doesn't mean that new pastors should not strive to bring in new sheep and to bear fruit in their ministry. It means that the picture of what it means to be a good, and faithful pastoral servant is more complicated than the picture that Vanderbloemen and Bird suggest.
But practical advice is important and I think that this book will be read with benefit. My own case is not the typical succession and I am blessed to have the input of the previous pastor, a good and faithful servant, mentor and friend. I give it four stars: ★★★★
Thank you to Baker Books for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 2, 2015
This book was highly practical, includes 200 case studies, and has a very important and pertinent point to be made for every pastor and leader of every church of any size or demographic: no matter how long your tenure, you are an interim pastor. As such, you should be planning now for the success of your successor and their succession.
As a practical study into succession methods and results, this book is very helpful. Practical issues of bylaws, contracts, and budgeting were this book's emphasis and strength. In this area, I thought it had much to contribute.
There is a level where this book must not be measured as a theological treatise on the value of one method over the other. The investigation and discussion surrounding the successions within "Christian" churches known for questionable orthodoxy is not to discuss that orthodoxy. It is to glean wisdom from the success and failures of high profile transitions from a variety of theological systems. In fact, one of the points of the book is that your theology won't save you from the fact that at some point your pastor will need to be replaced, nor does your theological system necessarily guarantee the success of that necessary transition. Did I find the fact that Creflo Dollar and Joel Osteen are mentioned in the same sentence with - and without distinction from - Matt Chandler, Craig Groeschel, or others? Yes. But the point of the authors is, without distinction, these pastors will leave their church someday, whether by retirement, eventual death, or hit-by-a-bus catastrophe. Are their churches ready? Is yours?
Where the book was seriously lacking was the standard for measuring the success of pastoral succession. While not specifically defined, I understood it to come down to the continued growth of the church's attendance, giving totals, and the new pastor's popularity. Consideration of biblical standards was alarmingly absent. Case in point was a brief treatment of Revelation 2-3 in order to raise the idea of church's having a life cycle and how that life cycle is influenced by "good" or "bad" pastoral succession (pg. 115). Unfortunately, the clear standard for "success" in Rev. 2-3 deals with the measure of obedience and conformity to the standards of Jesus Christ, not by the increased influence of the Nicolaitans or of "Jezebel" measured through growing attendance and giving. Bringing it into our time period, by the standards of NEXT, the growth, wealth, and continued influence of Joel Osteen after succeeding his father is heralded as being ultimately successful. Compared to scripture's standards of sound doctrine, pure gospel preaching, and fruitful obedience to Christ, Osteen's church is nothing short of devastating to the kingdom of God and the salvation of souls. As his church's influence, membership, and wealth continue to grow, so does the influence of the devil and the membership of hell. This does not preclude gleaning wisdom from the father son transition at Lakewood, but we should certainly not consider it a success for the kingdom of God.
Consequently, this book would have benefited from a consideration of how biblical doctrine can and must influence our methodology and practice of pastoral succession. For example, how can sound doctrinal preaching prepare for, influence, and guide pastoral succession? Are certain methods of succession more or less grounded on solid biblical principals? There was an emphasis on how the behavior of and relationships with outgoing pastors, their spouses, or their family members is closely tied to the success of pastoral succession. Does the pastor retire when he said he would retire? Does the pastor, his wife, speak well of and edify the incoming pastor, or are they divisive in word or practice? These are moral and ethical issues that the bible clearly speaks into, and I thought an exegetical defense, doctrinal development, and moral exhortation would have benefited audience of pastors and boards reading this book.
As a practical study into succession methods and results, this book is very helpful. Practical issues of bylaws, contracts, and budgeting were this book's emphasis and strength. In this area, I thought it had much to contribute.
There is a level where this book must not be measured as a theological treatise on the value of one method over the other. The investigation and discussion surrounding the successions within "Christian" churches known for questionable orthodoxy is not to discuss that orthodoxy. It is to glean wisdom from the success and failures of high profile transitions from a variety of theological systems. In fact, one of the points of the book is that your theology won't save you from the fact that at some point your pastor will need to be replaced, nor does your theological system necessarily guarantee the success of that necessary transition. Did I find the fact that Creflo Dollar and Joel Osteen are mentioned in the same sentence with - and without distinction from - Matt Chandler, Craig Groeschel, or others? Yes. But the point of the authors is, without distinction, these pastors will leave their church someday, whether by retirement, eventual death, or hit-by-a-bus catastrophe. Are their churches ready? Is yours?
Where the book was seriously lacking was the standard for measuring the success of pastoral succession. While not specifically defined, I understood it to come down to the continued growth of the church's attendance, giving totals, and the new pastor's popularity. Consideration of biblical standards was alarmingly absent. Case in point was a brief treatment of Revelation 2-3 in order to raise the idea of church's having a life cycle and how that life cycle is influenced by "good" or "bad" pastoral succession (pg. 115). Unfortunately, the clear standard for "success" in Rev. 2-3 deals with the measure of obedience and conformity to the standards of Jesus Christ, not by the increased influence of the Nicolaitans or of "Jezebel" measured through growing attendance and giving. Bringing it into our time period, by the standards of NEXT, the growth, wealth, and continued influence of Joel Osteen after succeeding his father is heralded as being ultimately successful. Compared to scripture's standards of sound doctrine, pure gospel preaching, and fruitful obedience to Christ, Osteen's church is nothing short of devastating to the kingdom of God and the salvation of souls. As his church's influence, membership, and wealth continue to grow, so does the influence of the devil and the membership of hell. This does not preclude gleaning wisdom from the father son transition at Lakewood, but we should certainly not consider it a success for the kingdom of God.
Consequently, this book would have benefited from a consideration of how biblical doctrine can and must influence our methodology and practice of pastoral succession. For example, how can sound doctrinal preaching prepare for, influence, and guide pastoral succession? Are certain methods of succession more or less grounded on solid biblical principals? There was an emphasis on how the behavior of and relationships with outgoing pastors, their spouses, or their family members is closely tied to the success of pastoral succession. Does the pastor retire when he said he would retire? Does the pastor, his wife, speak well of and edify the incoming pastor, or are they divisive in word or practice? These are moral and ethical issues that the bible clearly speaks into, and I thought an exegetical defense, doctrinal development, and moral exhortation would have benefited audience of pastors and boards reading this book.
October 13, 2014
The advice and wisdom shared within the pages of NEXT: Pastoral Succession That Works is nothing but brilliant! Every pastor should consider reading this together with their elder and/or staff leadership because pastoral succession is one of the most overlooked yet one of the most important conversations and decisions a church will ever face.
I agree wholeheartedly with the authors that “every pastor is an interim” and there is “no success without a successor.” I believe that a truly devoted and loving pastor would never want to leave a ministry behind without a plan, a future, and a successor. Preparing for and finding a successor is a “process and not an event” and the best time to start planning is NOW and not when a crisis arises. I believe that some of the greatest wisdom in the book includes:
- Making it a regular practice to develop leaders and share in leading,
- Preparing a succession “emergency envelope,”
- The fact that too many pastors stay too long, and
- “Sometimes even the unlikeliest candidates can become pastoral
successors with amazing results.”
Several case studies and great insights are shared while the book also encourages each pastor and church to find what works best for them because there no “one way” when it comes to succession.
This book can save the church leadership a lot of headaches, provide the pastor with a healthy legacy and rewarding future, enable the church to continue transforming discipleship, and secure a bright outlook for the entire ministry. A must read for all pastors, elders, and churches wanting to make sure their hard work. A special thank you to Baker Books for providing a copy of this book for review through Goodreads!
I agree wholeheartedly with the authors that “every pastor is an interim” and there is “no success without a successor.” I believe that a truly devoted and loving pastor would never want to leave a ministry behind without a plan, a future, and a successor. Preparing for and finding a successor is a “process and not an event” and the best time to start planning is NOW and not when a crisis arises. I believe that some of the greatest wisdom in the book includes:
- Making it a regular practice to develop leaders and share in leading,
- Preparing a succession “emergency envelope,”
- The fact that too many pastors stay too long, and
- “Sometimes even the unlikeliest candidates can become pastoral
successors with amazing results.”
Several case studies and great insights are shared while the book also encourages each pastor and church to find what works best for them because there no “one way” when it comes to succession.
This book can save the church leadership a lot of headaches, provide the pastor with a healthy legacy and rewarding future, enable the church to continue transforming discipleship, and secure a bright outlook for the entire ministry. A must read for all pastors, elders, and churches wanting to make sure their hard work. A special thank you to Baker Books for providing a copy of this book for review through Goodreads!
October 12, 2014
Next, by William Vanderbloemen is about Pastoral succession that works. Vanderbloemen served for fifteen years as a pastor and thus has a great amount of background experience to write about.
Every pastor is an interim pastor. It is not a subject to be taken lightly; however, is usually a subject that isn’t discussed in the open. Church leaders should be looking at the onset of a new pastor for their next pastor. This book will guide you step-by-step on ways to accomplish this task. Next should be a book that all pastors should read as well as the laypeople that hire them. What if something catastrophic happens to your pastor, are you ready? This book and Vanderbloemen’s Search Group can help you. Don’t be left unprepared.
I suggest this book for all pastors, church laypeople and any in the church that looks for their new pastor. I may give this copy to my church.
I received this book from Baker Books a division of Baker Publishing Group.
Every pastor is an interim pastor. It is not a subject to be taken lightly; however, is usually a subject that isn’t discussed in the open. Church leaders should be looking at the onset of a new pastor for their next pastor. This book will guide you step-by-step on ways to accomplish this task. Next should be a book that all pastors should read as well as the laypeople that hire them. What if something catastrophic happens to your pastor, are you ready? This book and Vanderbloemen’s Search Group can help you. Don’t be left unprepared.
I suggest this book for all pastors, church laypeople and any in the church that looks for their new pastor. I may give this copy to my church.
I received this book from Baker Books a division of Baker Publishing Group.
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