Michelle Bodle
One potential sign of growth is change, and for clergy women, that may mean a change in ministry location. The first time I moved from one church to another, I had only been in ministry for a few years and had about one month to pack up my house, say goodbye, and start well. While that has not been reflective of my experiences with moving afterwards, it still gave me pause. Moving from one congregation to another can happen in many ways and under many circumstances. Yet, how can preparing for a move be grounded in growth?
What follows is by no means an exhaustive list of things clergy may need to do before moving, but it is, hopefully, the beginning of approaching the experience with intentionality.
I wish that someone had told me during my first move that the announcement to the congregation matters. For the clergywoman, there may come a variety of emotions – nervousness, excitement, sadness – but the reality is that we have been thinking both about what the move will mean and what we want to communicate longer than our congregations. Many of them will be shocked and may not understand what is happening. Therefore, the Sunday announcement isn’t the place to go into all of the details. It simply needs to communicate when you will be leaving, where you will be going (if appropriate to your context), and ask the congregation to join together in prayer for you and for the transition. There will be more time for deeper reflection and words later, but in this moment, clear communication is a gift.
As we live in a digital age, there are a few other considerations to give to the announcement as well. First, when will it be during the service? At the end of the service, it allows the live stream to be turned off if it is not appropriate to broadcast beyond the space. Second, when will there be additional announcements made? For some churches, this may be a Facebook announcement or an email sent to the congregation. What are you going to communicate beyond the Sunday morning worship experience so no one feels left out or not told?
When I left my first parish, I made a transition notebook for the next pastor. My denomination was clear about what should be included – directories, leadership lists, and notes necessary for the next pastor to start well. I took time to make this document clear, while adding items that I wish I had known when I entered. What I did not expect was that the notebook would become something each pastor passed on to the next, to the point that the third pastor, after I left, spoke about what a gift this was for her ministry.
By taking time to put together files and notes for the next pastor, even if we do not know who that may be, we bless them with critical information for forming relationships in a particular congregation and community. One of the biggest compliments I ever received in ministry was from an older pastor whose son was following me in a parish. He said that his son may never know the full scope of what I did to make this a successful transition, but he could see it, and it was a blessing.
The final item that I want to highlight about leaving graciously is to truly leave. In final meetings, remarks, and newsletter articles, it is important to emphasize that you will no longer be the congregation’s pastor and that you release them from that relationship so they can fully form a relationship with the next person. But that also means that we don’t check out early. We finish well – and have a list of “lasts”. Last worship service. Last fellowship meal. Last community event. These allow us to make space to let go of the congregation as well.
I recently spoke with someone outside a ministry context about his upcoming retirement. He was saying that he didn’t want a fuss, so he was going to skip the celebration meal. I asked him a question that I think is incredibly important -will that make it easier or more difficult for the person who comes next? We may not want the celebration meal, but if it allows the congregation to say goodbye and open their hearts to the next pastor, what allowances can we make?
For me, the final act I take as a pastor is to send a card, created with pictures from our season of ministry together, with a personal note of farewell to each family. This allows me to celebrate our mission and ministry while asking them to pray for their next pastor. I see this as a gift of closure and release.
Well-executed transitions are a sign of growth. Both that we are not the same person we were when we entered this space as a pastor, and that we are also being prepared for whatever may lie ahead. So may we move with intention and say goodbye in a way that creates space, within ourselves and the congregation, for what is next.
