A Personal Report from Dawson Creek Alliance Church
by Howard A. Mayer (Church Elder)
Recently, our church family had to face the loss of our Senior Pastor. Through the period of assessing the change that would occur, preparing to search for a new pastor and dealing with the mixed emotions of our church family, we had the distinct pleasure of having a "transition" pastor. Now this is a relatively new concept for the Alliance denomination, but one that I personally believe to be essential for the churches of today that face pastoral change.
The primary benefits provided by the role of the transitional pastor are varied but have a common theme. Each of the constituent groups within the church need an element of continuity when pastoral change occurs. The church family generally, the leadership groups, the elders board and church staff need to know that all is not going to change, but that the church will continue to grow and develop through the changes that do occur.
Here is where the Transitional Pastor is able to provide the level of comfort required. He is able to talk through the changes with all of the groups, re-focus attention on relationships and service to God and his people, encourage the church family to look outward to their community, and keep the people moving forward as a spiritual team.
In a nutshell, that what Pastor Ed Drewlo did for the Dawson Creek Alliance Church. He was the glue that held us together through pastoral change. He was the independent pair of eyes that focused us on God and each other while we wrestled with all the mixed feelings that needed attention. He lovingly told us what we needed to pay attention to as we searched for a new pastor and affirmed us in our faith. In essence, he left us much stronger and able to face the changes together as a united team.
I would highly recommend the "Transitional Pastor" as a way to move through the changes that occur when your church is facing a leadership change.
