“The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality…” -Max Depree

When the lead or senior pastor abruptly exits, amid the resulting confusion, pain and grief, the church needs to be given a loving dose of reality.

They don’t need leaders to live in denial. They don’t need leaders paralyzed in rigidity. Nor do they need leaders who distance themselves from the mess.

The compelling need for the leadership team is to boldly declare what is true about the past, the present and the future. The church needs shepherds to remind them of reality.

Why is it critical to define reality? It will combat the infectious viruses that tend to crop-up in the church at this time that blind eyes, harden hearts, deafen ears, and weaken hands.

Virus #1. Some easily go to extremes. When the lead pastor abruptly leaves, on the one hand some will believe everything has changed (nothing is ever going to be the same again). Or some will go to the other end of the spectrum and believe nothing has changed (they will deny that his leaving has any impact on the church). Neither position is healthy.

Virus #2. Some will struggle with a loss of hope. Their evaluation of the current state of the church is that it’s going downhill, everything is falling apart, the whole thing is about to collapse (so I’m going to bail). And instead of keeping their opinion to themselves, or appropriately engaging with a member of the leadership team, they spread their fear in conversations and on social media.

Virus #3. Some will have unrealistic expectations. Then there are those with a very narrow focus who assert that it’ time to just move on and get back to the way it was. Their insistent suggestion is to form a search team as soon as possible. In their minds, bringing in a new pastor is the answer to most of the problems. Click here for a review of why this is an all too often tragic mistake.

When the senior pastor abruptly leaves, leaving the remaining leadership team with a major mess on their hands, the apostle Paul mentions something that deserves their thoughtful attention.

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” -Ephesians 5:15-16

When Paul wrote about making the best use of the “time”, he didn’t use the Greek word for a point of time but for a period of time. He wants leaders to understand how to best know and engage in the season they are in. Notice that he says there are wise and unwise ways of doing this.

Just like the literal change of seasons in North America, when the lead pastor abruptly leaves, it shifts the whole church into a new season. The climate and conditions in the body have quickly changed (almost overnight), and there is going to be a new reality, for a season.

There are 3 key elements of the new reality which the leadership team needs to explain.

First element of reality…it is true, some things will never be the same.

The former pastor had unique gifts, personality, and ministry approach. As the “face” of the church, who he was and what he did set the tone. Now that he is gone, the ministry expression of the church will be different, and it will feel different.

Second element of reality…but it is also true some things have not changed.

The biblical vision and purpose of the church is still the same. The character of our God and His work in and for us through Christ and the Holy Spirit have not been altered. We are still His loved children and we still have His Great Commandment and Great Commission mandates to pursue.

Third element of reality, the church is entering a season much like a literal winter.

In some locales winter is uncomfortable and inconvenient as cold temperatures dominate and frequent blizzards hit. The transition season between permanent lead pastors can likewise be uncomfortable and inconvenient for the flock. Yet as in a literal winter, something powerful and necessary is happening below the surface that we don’t often see!

• The soil’s pH factor (the balance between acidic and alkaline) is restored.  If the soil is too acidic a plant can’t absorb essential nutrients. If the soil is too alkaline then certain nutrients in the soil become toxic to the plant.
• The soil is revitalized and rejuvenated by rain and cold weather, for the soil needs a break (rest).
• Cold weather and dormancy help guard both soil and plants against insects, nematodes and diseases.
• For permanent plants, their root system is being strengthened and readied for a new season of growth.

These are the critical characteristics of reality which the church needs from its leaders as they enter a new season. They need to hear what has changed and what has not. They also need to hear how in the midst of the winter season the Lord will be at work, below the surface, restoring, revitalizing, guarding, and preparing the church for a new season of Christ-honoring ministry that is yet to come.

This is the loving dose of reality the leadership team needs to give to the body. As they do, they are fulfilling their role as shepherds in being purveyors of hope!

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For more specific help on leading the church go to the TRM Store to purchase the workbook “Aftermath” which explains the critical issues a leadership team needs to address after their pastor has abruptly left.

Or the newest resource from TRM is the concise booklet “The First 90 Days” which gives a game plan for leading in those first critical weeks when the pain and confusion of the pastor’s departure threatens the life of the church. For churches wanting personal consultation due to their unique situation, select that option in the TRM Store or contact me directly: rick@interimpastor.org.