“The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.” -Proverbs 17:3 

“If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” -Harry S. Truman 

One of the challenges in giving godly leadership to a body of believers when the church goes through abrupt pastoral transition is the rising temperature.

It’s not just that people can get ‘hot’ over their frustration or disappointment, but the heat of the moment is intended to do a work of grace in the heart of each person on the leadership team.

Consider how you’re reacting to the abrupt departure of your pastor….

• How this took you by surprise.
• How it’s the last thing you wanted to have to deal with during your tenure on the board.
• How you’re puzzled over what really happened.
• How you’re dismayed by the moral failure.
• How mystified you are by the diverse opinions over how much to tell the church and what are the appropriate next steps in moving forward.

When the Lord turns up the heat

Believe it or not, the Lord is smack dab in the middle of all this! And He is using the furnace-like conditions not only for His good purposes in the life of the church, but also in the life and heart of each leader (eg. Genesis 50:20).

Yet in the middle of the chaos it’s so easy to overlook what the Lord wants to do in us as leaders. After all, for the sake of the church we’re focused on….

• Responding to the threat of instability because of the leadership vacuum.
• Achieving helpful results quickly because things can’t stay as they are.
• Caring for those who were hurt and wounded by the abrupt departure.
• Examining the problem and getting to the root truth of what happened.

What is being tested?

Wise is the church leadership team who uses the transition season as an opportunity to link arms and support each other by honestly admitting how each one is doing. Are our hearts dismayed or shaken? Are we having difficulty forgiving the pastor who left? Are we feeling threatened by accusations from others, or their demands that this mess is “fixed” quickly? How is our faith being challenged that our God is for us and will provide for us?

Feeling the heat?

When there is an abrupt pastoral transition it tests a leader’s heart. It makes us face serious questions: are my decisions being driven by a desire to avoid pain? Is there a deep expression of faith or fear (fear by the way will be seen in trying to overly control)? Do I want to be seen as being right? Is there reluctance to be open about any sin on my part?

Take some time today to get alone and write down how this crucible is impacting your heart. Take careful note of your emotions. Where are you puzzled…afraid…unnerved…sad…angry…judgmental. If you’re serious about this, ask some trusted friends to tell you how they perceive you’re doing!

Even under the best of circumstances, pastoral transition is unnerving to everyone in the church. Godly leaders are not only mindful of how the change is impacting the church body, but also the leadership team and themselves.

The crucible or furnace is not an easy environment for leaders, but the end result is worth it! Even during pastoral transition the Lord, by the power of His Spirit, can achieve a greater sense of unity…deeper spiritual maturity…a refined and clearer sense of mission and purpose…and ultimately a broader awe of the goodness of God.

A Powerful Resource

If your church is experiencing pastoral transition, especially an abrupt one, then the leadership team definitely needs coaching on how to shepherd well during this unique season. 

Click here to get a copy of my workbook “Aftermath: Leading the Church after Abrupt Pastoral Transition”.

It gives practical guidance on how to navigate those first 90-days after your lead pastor has quickly made an exit.