“Every pastor is an interim pastor.” This assertion in Next: Pastoral Succession That Works, the seminal book on pastoral transitions, confronts pastors with the reality that, unless Jesus returns soon or their churches die, an end will come to their time serving their churches, and someone else will carry on the ministry. Every church will experience a pastoral transition, often several times, the authors point out. Pastors and churches must consider these truths carefully.
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Bill Abernathy is an independent church consultant, having retired from forty-plus years of pastoral ministry.
