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PASTOR'S REPORT, May 14, 1979
Page 6
of doing to others as you would want done to you. A transfer is a
mutual responsibility. Both pastors have a heavy responsibility to each
other as well as to the people they serve.
What follows is a list of general guidelines we feel will help in the
process of the "changing of the guard" in God's Church.
(1) One of the most frequent gripes voiced by new pastors is, nThe
files were a shambles!" If a new man, with problems enough to cope with,
has the added burden of figuring out Who's Who?, Who's Where?, Who's
Alive or Dead? in the local church, he's off to a limping start. Church
files stating addresses, phone numbers, organization charts, and perhaps
some well-marked maps, ought to be left behind in good order. He might
even appreciate a list of those he can expect to be perpetually after
him
for his attention--the perpetual "time-wasters."
(2) Leave behind an up-to-date listing of PMs and new contacts that
the new man can run with.
(3) The new pastor might appreciate a file on local recreational,
educational, and various professional services {from especially competent
or helpful mechanics to real estate agents to MDs) available
in
the
area.
(4) It would be nice if there were no marital, family, or doctrinal
problems left in the wake of the departing pastor, but we know that's
impossible. However, some effort ought to be made to finalize long-term
counselings and to leave a "brief" on the (hopefully) few major problems
that will need attention immediately.
(5) Any out-of-date "garbage files," problem letters, or prejudiced
information on any members ought to be taken away or destroyed by the
outgoing man.
(6) The new pastor ought to be adequately introduced to the lay
leadership cf the Church and to meet with them soon after the "other guy"
departs to learn firsthand how things have been organized and operated in
the local church. It might be good to leave some of the chores of the
transition period on the shoulders of the
Local
Church Elders and deacons,
giving them a chance to be used in passing on to the new man some of the
vital information.
(7) The exiting pastor ought to leave, preferably in writing, a list
of suggestions, directions, future ideas for growth for the new man to
ponder and use for his initial planning in his new responsibility.
(8)
The two pastors ought to spend at least 3-5 days together sharing
ideas and engineering the changeover. And on at least one occasion they
ought to be seen together by the congregation on the Sabbath. Some prefer
to take over or leave cold-turkey; some want to introduce the new man for
his first sermon in the area. Try to work out what is best together.
(9) The congregation needs to be made aware that: a. there is a
need for transferring b. that there will be changes on "how" and "what
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things are done {we hope gradually) and c. that there
is
a mutual respect
between the two pastors. This is supported by the care on both parts
not to run the other down or criticize the other's policies or preferences
publicly or privately.