Books – Transitions
Leading Things You Didn’t Start: Winning Big When You Inherit People, Places, and Possibilities by Tyler Regan, the former president of Catalyst, and the founder and CEO of the Life-Giving Company and the author of The Life-Giving Leader. Reagin helps you maximize your newfound influx of influence and master the intentions of an inheriting leader – leading something you created versus something you didn’t start. Waterbrook (March 2021, 208 pages).
The Pastoral Search Journey: A Guide to Finding Your Next Pastor by John Vonhof offers a comprehensive look at the entire search process. The content can easily be applied to church across demoninational lines and non-denomonational churches. A key feature is the flow charts at the end of each chapter, that shows if you do this, then here’s what to consider next. There are eight appendices with sample forms and letters. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers (2nd edition, 2010, 180 pages).
Next: Pastoral Succession That Works by William Vanderbloemen and Warren Bird tackles the issue of pastoral succession in churches. It builds a case for when to start succession planning, gives examples of succession stories, and how to manage a successful transisition. There are three appendicies. Baker Books (Expanded and updated, 2020, 320 pages).
Search: The Pastoral Search Committee Handbook by William Vanderbloemen gives a overarching view of the search process. There are 15 appendices about interviews, forms, assessments, meeting agendas, and more. B&H Books (2016, 192 pages).