A Fond Farewell, Navigating a Healthy Pastoral Transition

This webinar presentation was prepared and hosted by the Evangelical Presbyterian Church

This recorded webinar offering guidance for churches preparing for pastoral leadership change. The session outlines practical guidelines to help minister leaders, sessions, and congregations navigate transition with clarity and maturity.

The framework centers on three core values:

• Intentionality

• Collaboration

• Clear Communication.

The webinar emphasizes early preparation, shared expectations, and thoughtful boundary-setting during and after a pastor’s departure.

Topics addressed include:

• The emotional and spiritual realities of pastoral transition

• The respective roles of the pastor, session, and presbytery

• Developing a clear transition plan

• Communicating change to the congregation and staff

• Establishing post-departure boundaries for the outgoing pastor

• Considering transitional pastor models

• Supporting both retiring and incoming pastors

The webinar also includes reflections from a retiring pastor and his successor, offering perspective from both sides of a leadership transition.