“…though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials…”
-1 Peter 1:6

Photo by Jamison Riley on Unsplash

One of the most unsettling grief experiences for church leaders is when their senior pastor abruptly leaves. Sorting through the debris of his choices and living with the repercussions that reverberate in the church, are part of the painful aftermath.

It’s not unusual for the leadership team to lack confidence in how to move forward. After all, who was prepared or trained for this trial?

Over the last 7 years I have been the intentional interim pastor at four different churches scattered literally from coast to coast. Three of these churches lost their senior pastor due to an affair. And in one of those churches the pastor also took his own life. So, I have had a front-row seat to watch boards and leadership teams struggle to lead with confidence during painful aftermath. (more…)