Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

Graceland Church takes ‘unusual’ approach to leadership change

  • January 12, 2022
  • Indiana Baptist Magazine
  • Church Life, Indiana, Latest News
Worship at Graceland Church in New Albany, Indiana.
(Facebook photo)

Graceland Church takes ‘unusual’ approach to leadership change

Nate Millican

Lead pastor changes can be stressful for a church, with drawn-out candidate searches and difficulty maintaining continuity of leadership and vision. But Graceland Church, New Albany, Indiana, handled things a bit differently.

Over the last eight months Pastor Larry Riley has prepared to step into a new role as executive pastor of care and mission, while Nathan Millican, pastor of church plant partnerships, planned to step into the lead pastor position.

The change took effect Jan. 1 as Millican began his new role as the lead pastor.

“It’s unusual in many regards, especially the fact that he’s staying on in another role,” Millican said. “I want to really thank Pastor Larry and the elders for thinking ahead to the next driver of ministry at Graceland Church.”

Continuity, familiarity

Church elder Reuben NesSmith said that a big benefit of handling the transition this way is continuity of leadership. “It has kept the church body from experiencing ‘leadership whiplash’ when someone new comes in and wants to alter course, as can be the case,” he said. “There might be some alterations, but those tend to be less dramatic with this model.”

“It’s about continuity, familiarity,” Millican said. “They know me. They’ve observed my life, and they know my family. There are no surprises.”

Millican originally joined the staff of the 70-year-old New Albany church Jan. 1, 2019, in a part-time capacity as the pastor of church plant partnerships while still serving full-time with the North American Mission Board overseeing church planting for Indiana. While informal conversations about him becoming lead pastor were had shortly after, he was not hired with that intent.

Navigating leadership ‘landmines’

Official conversations started in the summer of 2020, and that fall the church hired Will Heath as a succession consultant. “He helped us navigate leadership and succession landmines,” Millican said. The transition officially started in May 2021 after a 99% vote of affirmation by the Graceland congregation.

Riley noted, “Through the whole process we have tried to maintain transparent communication and keep the church informed and aware of what was going on. This allowed them to develop trust in leadership and to pray specifically for the process.”

NesSmith credits the smooth process to “the goodness of God to Graceland. This is all His doing. I am thankful for men and women that were obedient to pray through this, be patient and wait on God’s timing.”


EDITOR’S NOTE — This article was written by Emily Norton and was originally published by the Indiana Baptist Magazine, newsjournal of the State Convention of Baptists in Indiana.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Disaster Relief leaders across U.S. meet, prepare for 2023
    Disaster Relief leaders across U.S. meet, prepare for 2023
    February 1, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • First Person: God was faithful to missions trailblazer George Liele; I believe He’ll be faithful to me
    First Person: God was faithful to missions trailblazer George Liele; I believe He’ll be faithful to me
    February 1, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • 2023 SBC Annual Meeting: Pre-registration now open
    2023 SBC Annual Meeting: Pre-registration now open
    February 1, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Disaster Relief leaders across U.S. meet, prepare for 2023

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer Jason Yarbrough kicked off his first year as state disaster relief director for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma by

First Person: God was faithful to missions trailblazer George Liele; I believe He’ll be faithful to me

A missions trailblazer — that’s who George Liele was.  He was born into slavery. His owner freed him so he could pursue God’s call on

2023 SBC Annual Meeting: Pre-registration now open

Pre-registration is now open for churches to pre-register messengers for the 2023 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, set for June 11–14 in New Orleans. Pre-registration

What can a church learn from Krispy Kreme about advertising?

Whether doughnuts are healthy or not is another subject, but I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who doesn’t like Krispy Kreme. Churches buy them by

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel