When a church finds herself in that transitional time between pastors, a natural void emerges in the church’s structure. This void creates what we commonly call a power vacuum. It is nothing more than an empty spot where the former pastor once stood. Since the spot is unoccupied, it should not surprise us when others try to fill the vacancy. This can be as simple and innocent as parking in the boss’s spot while he’s on vacation, or as sinister and intentional as a military coup during an election.
Peter clearly states the pastor’s responsibility as overseer and preacher within the local church in I Peter 5:1-4. Paul declares the pastor to be a gift from the Lord to His church for the purpose of equipping the saints for ministerial work (Eph. 4:11-12). Paul went on to spell out the qualifications for these men in his letters to Timothy and Titus. The writer of Hebrews closes his letter with a couple of exhortations for believers to submit to and follow their God-given leaders.
During the period when a church is without a pastor, it is vulnerable to the wrong person or people capitalizing on this vacancy. An unqualified man might be able to swoop in and install himself as pastor if the conditions are right. Others see this as an open door to jump into the driver’s seat and steer the church for a while, perhaps to install their pet program before the next pastor arrives. Dare I say, a group of deacons might decide to put policies in place to “right every wrong” of the last decade. Who knows, the church might even adopt a new constitution and bylaws in the absence of any Heaven-sent leadership.
Good Christians have sought many ways to guard against this dangerous season and prevent the wrong people from rising to power. Let us now consider a few of the most commonly recommended safeguards.
The most vocal group during a transition is often the one advocating for a plurality of elders. “If y’all had an elder team like us, there would be no danger when one man leaves!” This seems logical at first — “We would already have his replacement on staff.” Advocates of this position highlight Bible verses that mention “elders” (plural) but overlook that multiple “churches” (plural) are also referenced in the same city or letter. They also ignore passages in which one pastor/preacher is clearly addressed as the church’s leader. The Bible never mandates a plurality of elders. There are times when a plurality is beneficial and even ideal for some churches. But we must remember it is easier for two or three elders to go wrong together than for an entire congregation to be led astray. Paul himself warned the elders at Ephesus of this very danger in Acts 20. I am personally not opposed to a church having multiple elders, but I am certain they are not the ironclad solution to a smooth pastoral transition.
The most common practice among Baptists is to form a committee of some kind, whether it’s deacons, a pastor search committee, an advisory team, a transitional team, the personnel committee or (my personal favorite) the “Son, we brought you into this church, and we’ll be the ones to take you out” committee. (Okay, I made that last name up, but it would fit some churches.) These groups are given temporary authority to find a qualified candidate. The committee can weed out candidates by discussing sensitive matters privately, such as personal qualifications, finances, doctrinal convictions and expectations. Their goal is to ensure that only suitable pastoral candidates are presented to the church for consideration. Yes, they can also make mistakes. A committee of good people is still just people.
A church may also call a gifted interim pastor to help during the transition. He can fill the pulpit with timely messages and offer experienced counsel to the committee and congregation. If the church is not in the best shape, she may benefit from a transitional (or “intentional”) interim who stays for a year or two, addressing serious issues and shoring up the foundation so the next pastor has something solid to build upon. As one engaged in this kind of ministry, I can tell you that no amount of advice or experience can guarantee a smooth pastor search. We can be fooled too.
So, who does the church look to in times of transition? She looks to her Head — Jesus Christ. We must ever trust in His sovereign hand. Elders, committees, bylaws, interims and experts are no substitute for bended knees and humble hearts. The church without a pastor can claim the promise that Christ glories in His church and cares for her as a husband cares for his wife. Often, the church “has not because she asks not.” We simply trust the committee to do the work. Sometimes a church asks amiss, giving only lip service to the pastor search, tacking it onto the bottom of an already bloated prayer list.
I do not want to minimize God’s use of means to accomplish His purposes. By all means, seek advice from gifted men, appoint the best committee you can, utilize elders if you have them, but pray as you’ve never prayed before. Pray privately, pray corporately, pray in small groups and fast as you do it.
Prayer will empower your transitional leaders. The men who preach and the team reviewing résumés will be uplifted by your prayers. The opportunists seeking to take advantage for personal gain will be thwarted by your prayers. The exact pastor God has for your church will be revealed through your prayers. You will grow closer to the Lord during this season of prayer. And most importantly, the God of Heaven will be glorified by your reliance on Him.
