DC Leadership Training & Consulting

Many churches and ministries do not do well when it comes to taking care of their employees. This results in alarming rates both in which ministers quit and are fired. How do I know? Here's my story:

 

We had just had our first child, a miracle baby in fact. To be honest we did not know if we would ever be able to have kids. Imagine our excitement when we found out that we were going to have a baby boy! Unfortunately, there were some pretty major post-pregnancy complications. However, I was working for a ministry and I was sure that they would be supportive, they knew our struggle in desiring to have a family. For the next month, we would spend every day in the emergency waiting room to be attended to by a doctor and seen by a surgeon every couple of days. I made sure to use holiday time to cover my time away. 

 

On one of those days, we had just received some especially disappointing news. I sent my boss a message letting him know that I would be in later that afternoon to make sure to put in some quality time. After being in the office for half an hour two Board members came to my office with an envelope. "Yes! We are getting a raise this year," I thought. Imagine my surprise when it was not a notice of a raise, but rather a notice of termination - I had until the end of the week to clean out my office.

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Since then I have served on my church board and have been the board Chair for the last 4 years. 

 

Pastoral transitions happen at a high rate of occurrence. If we are honest pastoral transitions do not always reflect the beauty of God, the pastor leaving, the congregation, or the church, or the ministry.

 

Here are some indicators why pastoral transitions occur so frequently"

• 80% of pastors believe that pastoral ministry has negatively affected their family.

• 70% of pastors say they have a lower self-image now than when they first started.

• 50% of pastors have considered leaving the ministry in the last number of months.

 

Furthermore, a 2016 study conducted from 2015-2016 and comprising of 8,150 randomly selected ministers suggests that 46% of ministers surveyed have seriously considered or are actively looking to leave the ministry.

 

If any of these statistics are remotely accurate then it can be presumed that pastoral transitions will continue at high rates and churches can expect these changes every of 5-7 years, a number which Barna’s own research also points towards.

 

              

Occasionally pastoral transitions are in fact necessary and can be healthy and productive for everyone involved. 

 

My background in this area can be of great benefit to your church. The topic for my final Masters in Leadership and Management research paper was pastoral transitions and I recently guided my own church's leadership team through a very healthy pastoral transition. As a result, our church is healthier and growing.

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Our denomination now offers my research paper for churches going through a pastoral transition.

 

A successful pastoral transition can be a reality for your church as well! 

 

We will also include access to our 135-page research paper on the subject of successful pastoral transitions.

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$100/hour or Longer Contract Pricing Available 

*We only charge for the time our sessions together take. 

*We do not charge for the desk time that we put in getting ready for our sessions.

 

 

Don Cruickshank, MALM (Masters in Leadership & Management)

*Certified in Team Leadership

*Leading From Your Strengths Certified Trainer, Coach, Consultant

 

- Empowering individuals and organizations towards creating successful futures