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PASTOR'S REPORT, May 14, 1979
Page 7
{10) Although he will undoubtedly want to keep up contacts in the
area, the exiting minister ought to "burn his bridges behind him" in a
sense, so as to not have people going around the new pastor's back.
(11)
The new pastor can make points with his congregation if he
makes sure that they know that he wants to be there. He should praise
the area, study some of the history of the locale as well as local church
history. The attitude of Ruth is a good example, "Your people shall be
my people." We have to earn the respect of a new congregation, so avoid
any putdowns and innuendos. Accepting them will help them accept you.
(12) If the members would wear name tags for the first few weeks
it would help everyone in getting acquainted.
(13) The departing man might prepare a brief listing of the strengths
talents, jobs and hobbies of the local membership (perhaps a kind of
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"Vita-Sheet") or conunents on the member address cards.
(14) Conununicate closely with the outgoing pastor as to what he has
covered recently in sermons, the status of church programs, and the "state
of the Church" in general.
(15) Plan the departing and incoming semrons carefully. Build up
the new man coming in, support the "weary veteran" going out. In additior
to an icebreaker, the early part of a new pastorate is an ideal time to
expound your concept of the ministry, your support of church doctrine and
HQ, and what you expect of the congregation. The departing pastor has a
better opportunity in his sermons to explain why transfers, why changes,
differences in administrations and the concept of building on what each
other has done.
The time of transfer can be a difficult one. Feelings of competition,
inferiority, or insecurity can ea.sily surface. Ideally, these transi
tion periods ought to be times of advancement and growth for everyone
involved. The Church is God's and we are all like runners in a relay
race. We usually have only a short space (of time in this case) to try
to match each other's pace and "pass the baton" without dropping it or
stumbling. It's not a case of "passing the buck,
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but passing a sacred
responsibility. Both share equally in the task. It is all too easy for
the runner at the end of his lap to fizzle out and for the new man to
spurt off too quickly. There is no other way to slice it except to admit
that a transfer is a lot of work for everyone involved, but a harmonious,
coordinated effort
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sweetens
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this necessary activity for everyone!
--1977-78 Sabbatical Ministers
EDITORIAL SERVICES UPDATE
I'd like to take a little space to explain about The United States and
Britain in Prophecy booklet. The abbreviated booklet, which had been
in use for some years, is now out of print. We are completely out of it
in Pasadena. Some of the international offices are still using up
existing stocks.
A number of areas have built local advertising campaigns around thLs
booklet. Apparently others have been considering doing so. I suggest
that all such plans be abandoned for the time being. We have some 60