Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

Drawing on the story of Moses and the Israelites, Sandra Clark Kolb explores three principles for the early stages of a transition: ensuring a smooth exit for the current rector, honoring parish history during the interim, and engaging in open, forthright communication throughout the search. Learn what each entails, then plan how this might work in your setting.

Van Sheets, an experienced consultant in leadership transitions and the author of Rector Transitions: A Handbook for Episcopal Lay Leaders, writes that “the leading factor in a successful rector transition is the invitation of the Holy Spirit into all . . . stages of the process.” Let this article spark your thinking about what this means for your own church community.

Many churches see a financial opportunity in the departure of a clergyperson, hoping to reduce costs by narrowing the job description for their next rector. If you are considering this step, don’t skip this article by Ken Howard, founder and director of The FaithX Project, which presents important questions to consider and offers tips on the eventual job description.

This article, also by Ken Howard, outlines questions you want to ask at the profile stage about your church and the wider community. Use them to gather data that exposes existing biases and present an accurate picture of your church’s present reality, its challenges and potential, so that you get not just “a” leader, but the right leader for your situation.

While not specifically about clergy transition, this brief article is a gem. Annette Buchanan addresses considerations for those about to hand off responsibilities and those newly taking them on, with implications for leaders at all levels of ministry.

Written from a priest’s perspective, this narrative shares “five amazing insights” about a new call. Greg Syler’s observations are as valuable for clergy as for members of the search committee. Let them guide you to deeper questioning during the search and beyond.

Take a breath. It will be okay. That’s the message of this article by Ken Mosesian, who draws on wisdom gained from an extended transition that began just as the pandemic shut down the world. Although the circumstances are unique to a particular search at a particular moment in time, the conclusions it draws are timeless. If you are deep in the weeds or worried about your search, read this article and take comfort that all shall indeed be well.

So, your rector has announced a resignation, and your congregation is in the midst of a transition process. What now? Whether you serve as a vestry or search committee member, this one-hour webinar provides practical tips and concepts to consider during a search for new clergy leadership.

The end of any successful search process is, of course, a new call. But that’s not where the work of transition ends. As you plan for the arrival of a new rector, both clergy and congregation must prepare for ongoing integration. This article by the Rev. Sandy Webb talks about setting a new culture with existing staff—an early and necessary part of that process. What other aspects of the transition can you anticipate? How can you set the stage for a smooth and thoughtful integration?

Read through blog posts, Vestry Papers essays, and online tools related to clergy transition.

We offer five resources on transitions and how to tackle them.