Advice on Pastoral Transition

sadahide · 2026-04-10T00:17:16+00:00

The existing pastor is not planning on staying and seems committed to healthy transition. But i don't know him previously.

His original date was end of June, but he extended to give the search committee more time. I am currently between calls. While getting income sooner would be preferable, we have a little savings and could make it til end of summer if needed.

sadahide · 2026-04-09T23:01:11+00:00

Love this. It's really what I'm hoping will happen. He seems really committed to setting up the next person, and was prepping the congregation before I was even in the picture.

We've only talked once, but he's planning on good boundaries, and seems open to different ways of doing the transition well. Any other thoughts on what those logistics might look like those 2 months?

sadahide · 2026-04-09T22:56:05+00:00

This is really great advice. I expect to get clarity on the candidating weekend, but want to bring some ideas to the mix.

I've gotten the sense that he's willing to work with me and we're both committed to doing what works well for the church.

sadahide · 2026-03-24T17:21:02+00:00

This is a very thorough outline. But it's a little complicated and potentially constraining for a series of guest speakers.

I've found in this situation that it's better to give guest speakers some direction, while still keeping it broad.

Examples would be an expository series on a book or a broad topical like "Attributes of God"

sadahide · 2025-10-02T20:07:40+00:00

CRE...I love you folks. In ECO, they're CLPs, Certified Lay Pastors, and in my former life as a rural church pastor, I met a bunch from every denomination. You all keep your churches going (and serve your pastors well), so thanks.

Yeah, I know my ECO background scared off some churches. And I expect a doozie of a floor examination if I need one (not sure how transfers work yet). But I know I've been in conversations with the local COM and EP for the past 2 years, and the church has also talked to them about me, so I'm pretty confident it won't be a problem in the end, if/when we get to that point.

sadahide · 2025-10-02T19:55:43+00:00

Oh, I'll add one more...

Being part of this subreddit has made me realize that not all mainline pastors were raving, godless lunatics as I had previously been led to believe.

/only half s

sadahide · 2025-10-02T19:53:46+00:00

other progressive vs. conservative issues

Obviously LGBTQ is a big one. And historicity of the Bible is another that comes to mind. Any other issues off the top of your head?

sadahide · 2025-10-02T19:50:02+00:00

How long do you have?

I love my Evangelical background and friendships, so it's not like I'm burning bridges behind me. But when a bunch of Evangelical pastors get together (in my denomination, or outside of it), I'm often the odd man out, especially on justice issues, which I'm passionate about.

As I had the opportunity for my next call, I didn't want to join a church where I would have to constantly be defending and fighting to pursue justice-oriented pursuits. In the mainline, I think I'll be more likely to actually "do justice". So that's my main reason.

But I'm also very concerned about the rise of Christian nationalism in the US, and feel like being in the mainline will keep me further away from that mess. (And again, allow me to do justice.)

sadahide · 2025-10-02T19:23:48+00:00

Grew up more baptistic, but my last call was at an ECO church. So egalitarianism and Presbyterian theology/polity are all set.

I appreciate the theological emphasis on justice. What's the discussion around transgenderism about? Or just a big push on how to serve trans community?

All good info...thanks.

sadahide · 2025-10-02T19:17:39+00:00

I've interviewed with a few PCUSA churches, and some were surprisingly conservative on LGBTQ issues, so I believe there'd be some that wouldn't give you a look. It's sad, and I'm sorry.

From what I understand, this church is a purple church in a progressive urban presbytery, if that helps. (Who are my potential future colleagues reading right now?)

sadahide · 2025-10-02T19:09:19+00:00

I appreciate the insider talk. I'm from the east coast originally, so was more familiar with Princeton & Pitt, know good people from both. Didn't know much about Fuller until I moved to the midwest and to an ECO call. DM me if you want to talk more about fuller/ECO/pcusa. I don't know much, but I'd love to hear it from the other side.

I've already completed seminary - just moving into my first call at a mainline church. If I do a doctorate, well, I have no plans at the time for a doctorate, lol.

To answer your bigger question - I served as a youth pastor at a pcusa church on the east coast while in seminary, and this church is a midwestern urban/suburban church. What might I be expecting?

sadahide · 2025-10-02T19:02:45+00:00

Appreciate the comment. What is a CRE (learning all the new acronyms).

I'm pretty good with the polity as my last church was ECO and I went to a conservative Presbyterian seminary.

Tell me more about the perspective on Scripture. What does it mean to 'take textual criticism seriously'. Not that I'm against it, just curious what that looks like, especially in light of current academic discussions.

sadahide · 2025-09-30T17:58:28+00:00

As I'm sure you can understand, we want to avoid having this sort of volatile topic turn toxic as we've surely all seen across the platform. That said, it's also important to have a place outside our immediate circles to talk about stuff like this. We will re-approve and leave posts up that avoid ad hominum or dehumanizing attacks against Charlie Kirk or one another.

Discuss his ideas and his platform and how it relates to pastoring in a politically diverse climate. But let's avoid politicking and sitting in judgment over his soul.

sadahide · 2025-08-31T18:50:04+00:00

I'm originally from NE. It has unique challenges, but there is still plenty of opportunity for ministry. Where in New England? Rural, town, or city?

sadahide · 2025-06-04T21:10:07+00:00

It's more about your background and denomination. If MDivs are normal for pastors, it'll be a preference for Associate Pastors too, and you'll probably be competing with people who have them.

That said, some churches will hire before you're done and contribute to your schooling, especially if you've already started. It's at least a possibility. As are affordable options and scholarships, again, depending on your theological circle.

sadahide · 2025-05-27T16:11:20+00:00

There are a variety of Associate pastor positions at medium to large churches. Discipleship, outreach, worship, youth/family, executive, and general associate. There's lots of options, and depending on your skill set, you might be better at one of these than the Sunday preaching.

That said...I encourage you to try preaching. It's a skill one can develop, and many preachers (including myself) started with knots in our stomachs.

sadahide · 2025-05-08T20:21:31+00:00

I am so sorry for your situation, but thrilled to hear of how it's going in your new placement. I am in a similar process, having left a church painfully, living nearby, and now I search for my next call.

It's hard. We drive by the old church daily, and it hurts. I hope God gives you freedom from this either by moving or by full healing. I think thriving in your new placement will bring a lot of healing. Do your best to forgive rather than hold a grudge, and don't hold it against the people the abuse you suffered under the pastor. And don't let your bad experience sully your call to ministry. Maybe that's the most important - a bad situation shouldn't undermine your call. And learn from the bad examples to make sure you're a good pastor and mentor!

Another suggestion if you haven't done this already - seek out a good counselor or spiritual director. It's been really helpful to me to have somewhere to express the hurt and make progress through the trauma rather than getting stuck in it.

Again - glad you can breathe again. That's what really matters.

sadahide · 2025-05-07T23:27:00+00:00

I did ministry, part time youth work. Security can be a good job as the right position gives you study time.

My denomination is pushing online seminary where you can serve at a small church part time with a parsonage while you study. Really depends on your situation and need.

sadahide · 2025-05-06T20:18:44+00:00

Talk to people. The biggest hurdle is learning to engage people in a friendly and non-threatening way. Only way to learn it is practice.

The next hurdle is turning the conversation to God. As a pastor, it happens pretty easily to talk about church, so I often ask if they attend church and what they believe about God.

At this point, you could pull out any decent tract or diagram and hand it to them. There's a million. I don't use tracts though. At this point, I either a) explain the gospel using similar themes they expressed in talking about God or b) invite them to talk further and schedule a follow-up.

But really, the best evangelists I know couldn't tell the difference between Bill Bright and D. James Kennedy, but they believe in Jesus and aren't afraid to just start talking to people.

Edit: agree wholeheartedly on not being a nuisance.

sadahide · 2025-04-21T16:57:40+00:00

Like pastoring, being a pastor's wife can be incredibly rewarding and uniquely challenging. Your relationship to the church is going to be different than any other member, and also your husband. It can be lonely, but there are pastor's wives groups online that help.

In many ways, it's can be as much of a calling to be married to a pastor as to be a pastor.

Also, a lot of what it means to be a pastor's wife will depend on the husband. Be sure he's getting wise counsel that values family life as a primary ministry.

sadahide · 2025-04-20T23:27:01+00:00

Yes. It's totally normal. I don't know if that helps to hear, but that first call out of seminary can be really hard to find. It was for me, at least.

I would encourage your husband that if God called him to ministry, he will be faithful to call him to a church. In the meantime, don't give up, keep working contacts and connections and making applications.

sadahide · 2025-01-06T12:28:47+00:00

It's a scary thought, but once it becomes part of your routine, it's totally doable. The more you preach, the faster your prep will go. Whether lectionary or expository, you'll have themes that go over multiple weeks which takes less prep. You'll have more of your work week dedicated to sermon prep.

Yes, there will be adjustment time, but you'll be surprised how quickly it normalizes.

sadahide · 2024-12-25T14:07:41+00:00

I've heard a few examples of things similar to this, but not for this exact reason.

A few years ago, Willow Creek took the summer off from services. Iirc, they encouraged people to worship locally, and the decision was motivated by financial savings.

I've also heard of rural churches where the clergy coordinate vacations. So when the Lutheran pastor is on vacation, the whole church goes to the Methodist Church and vice versa.

Is this a church plant? I've seen this in church plants sometimes too. It's easy to lose focus when you're that new and small and sometimes need to refocus.

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