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
The Baptist Paper
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

What is the association’s role when a pastor leaves?

How many times do you see this: A pastor announces a call to another place of ministry, a pastor is under pressure to resign or is fired or a pastor dies from a disease or a tragic accident.
  • April 21, 2024
  • George Bullard
  • Church Life, Latest News
person walking on narrow pathway with shadow on gray floor
(Unsplash photo)

What is the association’s role when a pastor leaves?

How many times do you see this: A pastor announces a call to another place of ministry, a pastor is under pressure to resign or is fired or a pastor dies from a disease or a tragic accident.

Perhaps the pastor experiences significant health difficulties, legal problems or financial challenges. Or maybe the pastor’s spouse accepts a significant job offer in another city or state.

Then, before the pastor can clear out his office, a few laypeople start talking with urgency about making their move and remolding the church in their image, whether that is God’s image for the church or not.

Other laypeople, perhaps even ones with official authority in the church according to the bylaws, have no idea what to do next. They see their role as more ceremonial than requiring decisive leadership.

Factions in the congregation have differing biblical perspectives and views on how the church should function. A pastor with strong relational skills held the church together during his tenure but now is gone.

The silent majority speaks up with deep anxiety, saying the church needs to quickly find its next pastor. If the pastor leaving had served the church for many years, it may have been a long time since there was a pastor search team.

The role of the associational mission strategist 

In what ways is the associational mission strategist prepared to help in this situation? That depends. Consider these possible ways:

First, how many times has the AMS been in this church for more than worship services when he had an opportunity to build relationships with lay leaders?

Second, what type of events or experiences allowed lay leaders to know the AMS beyond his core expected roles?

Third, has the AMS preached in this church, conducted a training event, met with committees or in other ways become a trusted advisor?

Fourth, laypeople from various churches know one another. How many laypeople can testify to exceptional service by the AMS in their churches when they were between pastors?

Fifth, has the association conducted training for laypeople on what happens when a church is without a pastor? Was it training that shared proactive, healthy ways to deal with issues that could lead to conflict, or a process that could bless the church during the interim?

It’s about relationships

The key is relationships. To acquire the credibility to speak into chaordic situations — those with a simultaneous existence of chaos and order — the AMS must have deep relationships with lay leaders.

This does not happen overnight. It is built through longer tenures by associational directors and with intentional interaction and mentoring of lay leaders. To do this the AMS must develop intentional relationships.

He must be seen as someone who has credibility and the appropriate authority to speak into church situations.

When deep relationships already exist, the AMS can speak into this crucial period of transition. If these relationships do not exist, the AMS may be ignored or considered irrelevant.

Two approaches

There is one approach in which the AMS is seen as the best person to help churches form and orient a pastor search team. Since the typical church wants to move forward immediately to secure the next pastor, if the AMS has credibility, this is a good approach.

Many directors do this well. They mold their process over many years and churches. They talk about how many pastor search teams they have oriented. 

The second approach happens when the AMS has enough relationships and credibility with lay leaders to suggest to them a more extended interim. It begins with a process that is spiritual and strategic in nature. It provides a framework for the next seven years in the life and ministry of the church. It projects what the church could look like with God’s empowering leadership.

Likely only one out of three churches will do this. Churches are too often in a hurry to get the next pastor. Lay leaders who want to control the church are afraid this longer process will derail their efforts. Such a process takes deep trust in the association.

Yet when this process is used, churches often make more informed and inspiring decisions about both their Kingdom direction and their choice of pastor.


EDITOR’S NOTE — George Bullard spent 45 years in denominational ministry. He served on the staff of three associations, was a key staff person working with associations in two state conventions and served on the association missions division staff of the former Home Mission Board of the SBC. He retired in June 2022 as director of Columbia Metro Baptist Association in South Carolina. He has led strategic planning processes in more than 100 associations and has written extensively in this area. Bullard now serves as a strategic thinking mentor for Christian leaders through his ForthTelling Innovation ministry and a correspondent for The Baptist Paper.

To request permission to republish this article, email news@thebaptistpaper.org.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Pastor spends night on pond in latest VBS fundraising challenge
    Pastor spends night on pond in latest VBS fundraising challenge
    July 17, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Persecution, violence and religious freedom addressed at BWA Congress
    Persecution, violence and religious freedom addressed at BWA Congress
    July 16, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • First person: Why no one’s listening to your church and how to fix it
    First person: Why no one’s listening to your church and how to fix it
    July 16, 2025/
    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

Pastor spends night on pond in latest VBS fundraising challenge

For 14 years, Deep Creek has set a giving goal to be met during VBS. In turn, pastor Mark Perko sets a challenge that he will complete upon the goal being met.

Persecution, violence and religious freedom addressed at BWA Congress

Bruce Webb, pastor of The Woodlands First Baptist Church of Woodlands, Texas, recounted the history of Baptist advocacy for freedom of religion during a breakout

First person: Why no one’s listening to your church and how to fix it

You’re leading. You’re preaching. You’re promoting. But still… it feels like no one’s really listening. That’s not just frustrating; it’s exhausting.

Lifeway names interim CEO, begins search for new president

Trustees have asked Lifeway’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Joe Walker to serve as interim president and CEO until a new president is named, in accordance with Lifeway’s bylaws.

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 © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

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