New Preacher As Soon As the Old Preacher Leaves

May 19, 2025 Jerrie Barber

Communication, Interim, Leadership, Preaching, Transition

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A few years ago, I received a call from an elder in my area. He said, “Our preacher is resigning. We’d like you to lead a search workshop in our congregation with the search team and the elders. Our preacher has agreed to stay three more months after he resigns. We hope to have a new preacher ready to begin the Sunday after he finishes.” Their preacher had been with them for more than two decades.

My reply, “I’ll be glad to lead your workshop. The timing will work out well. The new preacher you select will stay until I complete my current work. I can then help you as an interim preacher to prepare for your next preacher.”

Elder: “What do you think we should be doing?”

Me: “Let me share a parable with you. Your wife hasn’t been feeling well. She visits the doctor and undergoes several tests. The doctor calls you and her into his office and shares this painful information: ‘You have stage four cancer throughout your body. No treatment can extend that. You have about three months to live.’ What would you do during those three months?”

Elder: “I’d take care of her in every way, and make her end as peaceful as possible.”

Me: “Good. That’s what you should do. Question. After your wife dies, do you have a scriptural right to remarry?”

Elder: “Yes.”

Me: “Suggestion. Every week or two during those three months, you might explain to your wife, ‘Honey. I have an appointment with a good-looking widow. We’re going to dinner and enjoy a movie. I’m going to try to pick out a wife to marry as soon as you die. I’ll be back around 10:30 tonight. I don’t think I can live alone without you.’ You probably wouldn’t want to get married on the afternoon of the funeral. However, you could get married the next day and only spend one night by yourself.”

“The long relationship you’ve had with your present preacher is a compliment to both him and you. The three months you have left, spend your time ending your relationship well. During that time, both you and your preacher should work through these five acts of ending a relationship.”

Forgive me.
I Forgive you.
Thank you.
I love you.
Good-bye.

Observations

Conducting a thorough search and evaluation for a new preacher during the last months for your old preacher, who’s been there a long time, takes the emphasis and energy away from your previous preacher’s departure and “funeral.” People get excited about these perfect preachers they’re considering. They’re looking forward to welcoming the new preacher, rather than going through the emotional pain of the previous one’s departure. He’s left to die alone and underappreciated.
Can we speed up the process? Someone can select a dozen of the healthiest women that can be found. It’ll take each of them about nine months to have a baby. You can’t speed up a process that takes longer than a few days.
People tend to ignore and delete painful feelings.
The best way to have a good beginning is to have a complete and thorough ending. The best way to begin a new relationship is to end an old relationship well and put some space between them.