Transitioning a Church (Part 2)

Continuing from yesterday's post:
We hurt transition in the church when:

7. When we fail to see beyond transition!  Just say that you imagine you have led your church to and through the transition.  Now what?  Are you done?  Is that it? Do you move on?  If God's leadership is an unfolding adventure, then so is the process of transition.  You will continue to evolve!  Which leads to the next one!

8. When we fail to see what transition is!!!!  We do not change or transition a church just to do it.  The best transition is the shaping of the hearts of people.  This is, in fact, the spiritual transformation of becoming more like Him - being shaped in His image.  We don't change just to change.  We change to look like Christ.  If we are obedient, that process will continue until our heart stops beating!!!!  When the people you lead say, "Why do we have to transition (change)?"  The answer is rather simple - to be more like Christ. As we all know - we can't go with Christ and stay the same!

9. When we fail to be personally transitioned.  It is always easier to tell other folks what they ought to be doing than to do it ourselves.  A leader's personal transitioning process should be a step ahead of the people being led.

10.  FINALLY...When we fail to recognize that some churches just don't want to be transitioned, to anything!
We don't like to admit it - but some churches are in the shape they are in because they choose to STAY THAT WAY!!!!!  If you were told everything you wanted to hear when you went to your ministry, but now find that it is the exact opposite, you better pray, study, and evaluate carefully just what the church is really willing to do.  Obviously leadership is involved in moving people to action - but if the action is ALWAYS strongly resisted and there are 15 former pastors who litter the playing field - perhaps you should just move on or start a church.  Obviously, the Holy Spirit has to lead you on that one!!!!!