The Empty Chair in the Pastor's Study: An Exploration of Repentance and Faith During the Season of Pastoral Transition

摘要

When a senior pastor resigns from leadership in the local church, the departure can be deeply traumatic for both pastor and people. There are generally three methods that congregations engage when attempting to secure a new senior pastor. Some are given a technical set of instructions to follow, usually assigned by their denomination. Others recognize the emotional brokenness of the congregation is such that a therapeutic period of dialog and restoration is recommended before consensus regarding new leadership can be reached. And some congregations choose to have the incumbent pastor select his or her replacement and the two leaders work together for a season in the hopes of a successful transition.;The burden of this study is to consider an additional component, which I propose as the centrality of repentance and faith in the season of pastoral transition. I explore the added need of an intentional focus upon the transformative power of repentance and faith in God as the source of wisdom, courage, and joy, especially during the difficult trials of clergy change. I particularly explore patterns of misaligned faith which can emerge and become attached to various good procedures, processes, and people during these challenging times of change.