Helping Churches and Clergy Thrive Through Transitions

The church is in a liminal place; an in-betweenness or threshold of where we have been and where we are going. This pandemic experience has rocked our notion of what is certain and attainable. Therefore, ministerial transitions, especially into what can feel like an unknown future, bring anxiety, excitement, fear, formation, worry, discovery, creativity and hope. And yet, we are people of faith, drawn to the leadership of God to face an unknown future to a known God. Moments of transition are extraordinary opportunities for thriving; none more so than clergy discerning a shift in calling and congregations seeking the right minister to serve alongside By Andy Hale them. CBFNC Associate Executive Coordinator As our world has changed so dramatically, now is the right moment for congregations to clarify their hopes and dreams, core values and identity regarding searching for their next ministerial role. CBFNC is here to help churches through this process by offering a suite of resources, whether it be best practices for a minister search committee, creative church-wide conversations on dreams for the present and future or how to welcome a minister with excellence well beyond a call Sunday.

In turn, for clergy seeking new opportunities, the present has brought a fascinating shift as ministers not only clarify their sense of calling but reconsider healthy vocational practices. CBFNC offers resources for broadening your network, building a more robust candidate profile, navigating interviews and negotiating compensation.

CBFNC seeks to journey alongside churches and clergy throughout the ministerial transition, providing insight, coaching, resources and networking. Our goal is to help you feel prepared, equipped and empowered to find the best ministerial-congregational matches for the thriving of God’s church. May we journey together in faithfulness into the unknown. Visit www.cbfnc.org/transitions for more information, to connect with a member of the Ministerial Transitions team or to interact with the latest resources for churches and ministers.

Traditioned Innovation, continued from page 3

Maybe the time has come for us to re-equip lay leaders to conduct faith formation with young people, rather than “hiring it out” to paid staff. Such an approach might be more feasible, more economical and more effective.

Table Fellowship

For most of my life, a staple of Baptist church life has been Wednesday night supper. The mid-week meal served as a point of contact for church members and offered convenience for families to attend mid-week programming. In many churches today, the mid-week meal has been phased out, or is on life support.

I recently participated in a multi-day charity bike ride with a group of Methodists. Each of our two nights on the road we stayed overnight in Methodist churches. In both cases they were serving meals in their fellowship halls. These meals were not for the benefit of church members, but their communities. The meals were prepared by church members as a ministry of hospitality for community members in need – whether that need was hunger or loneliness.

In one of the churches, First United Methodist of Rutherfordton, the meal that night was served by members of First Baptist of Rutherfordton, a CBF partner congregation! My Methodist cycling colleagues explained that serving community meals is becoming more common in their congregations. In some cases, new worshipping congregations are being birthed out of the community that gathers for these meals, a recovery of the ancient New Testament practice of the agape meal.

Most of our Baptist churches have fellowship halls that go unused most nights of the week. Our members may no longer see the need to dine there on a weekly basis, but we believe strongly in offering the hospitality of Jesus to our neighbors. Perhaps a new approach, based on old practice, might be a catalyst for renewal for both church and community.

As Bob Dylan sang, “the times, they are a-changin’.” Maybe the best clues for how to innovate and adapt to changing times are found in our tradition.