One of the most difficult aspects of adjusting to an abrupt pastoral transition in a church is the immediate climate change which occurs. Everyone senses, almost overnight, a chill in the air.

It’s as if a cold front has blown through in the form of an unexpected blizzard which dropped the temperature, froze the ground, and left a thick blanket of snow over everything.

It’s puzzling and disturbing to have the former warm climate of joy, enthusiasm, and expectancy be so quickly replaced by the icy conditions of suspicion, doubt, and sadness.

The question everyone is asking, “We know what happened to our pastor, but what in the world has happened among us?”

Responding to a Church’s Climate Change

Some assume a bad storm has hit, but things will soon clear up. Others fear an ice age has started and nothing will ever be the same. The reality is between the two.

When the senior or lead pastor of a church abruptly leaves, the church enters a new season that is as real as the literal change of seasons –only more sudden. The new season is going to act and feel much like a literal winter.

So how should the church respond to this kind of abrupt climate change?

In the northern hemisphere when we shift to winter, typically the temperature drops, trees and foliage lose their leaves, and the ground gets covered in a blanket of snow. It appears that nature has shut down and nothing is going on. Yet despite appearances, God is at work below the surface where we can’t see!

Our God is accomplishing 4 major things:

• The soil’s pH factor (the balance between acidic and alkaline) is restored.  For if the soil is too acidic a plant can’t absorb essential nutrients, and 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.

If God, who cares for His creation, has this in mind for the ground and plants, how much more does He have good in mind when a church goes through a winter season.

Pray for winter to do its work. -Rick Foster

So back to my question, how do we respond? Pray that winter would do its work!

Specifically, pray that the Lord would do in His church what He intends winter to do for creation.

1. Pray that the Lord would restore the church.

Restore any balance we need in our corporate and our personal lives. Bring us back from any extremes towards which we have drifted.

2. Pray that the Lord would revitalize the church.

We want a joy, passion and enthusiasm for what Christ has done for us, and what He wants to do in our community. May in unity we pursuit Your agenda with all we have.

3. Pray that the Lord would protect the church.

We recognize we are in a spiritual battle and the lives of people are at stake. Guard your flock against temptation, deceptions, lies, and accusations of the evil one.

4. Pray that the Lord would ready the church.

The day will come when a new pastor becomes part of our church family. Prepare us by helping us release the past so we can embrace the new thing You have in mind.

Don’t ignore or resist the climate change that’s occurring in your church because of an abrupt pastoral transition. Instead, embrace it and pray for winter to do its work!

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If your church is experiencing the winter season because your lead or senior pastor has abruptly left, TRM has a number of resources that will benefit the leadership team. These materials will not only provide a common vocabulary for discussing the needs of your church, but they will also help you discern the issues to be addressed in a timely manner.

“Aftermath” is a practical workbook for the leadership team to read which will help them shepherd the church during a season few were prepared for.

“The First 90 Days” outlines how the leadership team approaches the first months in order to position the church to recover from their pastor’s quick exit.

Both resources are immensely practical and give solid biblical guidance on shepherding the church well. Go to the TRM Store to purchase a copy for each leadership team member.

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