The LeadingSmart Podcast

Who Should Be On Your Transition Team and What Do They Actually Do?

In this episode of LeadingSmart, hosts Tim and Holly discuss one of the most critical components of pastoral succession - the transition team. If you're a church leader wondering how to navigate this important process, this episode is packed with practical insights you won't want to miss!

What You'll Learn:

- Why "transition team" is better than "search committee" 

- The ideal size and makeup of your transition team (spoiler: it's not your entire board!) 

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Welcome back to LeadingSmart Podcast! This season, hosts Tim and Holly are diving deep into pastoral succession, and in Episode 7, they tackle one of the most critical aspects: communicating the transition effectively.

What You'll Learn:
✅ When to announce - the pastoral transition to your congregation  
✅ Cone of silence vs. going public - pros and cons of each approach  
✅ The four key audiences you need to consider in your communication plan  
✅ Common communication mistakes that erode trust and how to avoid them  
✅ How to frame succession as a WIN, not a loss
✅ Real-world examp...

Welcome back to The LeadingSmart Podcast! Your hosts Tim and Holly tackle the topic that most people tend to avoid. Nobody wants to talk about church finances, but ignoring them during succession is a recipe for disaster.

🔑 What Tim and Holly cover:

The three critical financial areas that can make or break your successionWhy pastors stay too long (hint: it's often about money, not ministry)How to close the financial gap when your founding pastor isn't retirement-readyThe sticker shock of paying market rate for your new pastorCreative ways to fund that overlap season without breaking the ban...

Welcome back to The LeadingSmart Podcast!

In this episode of LeadingSmart, hosts Tim Stevens and Holly Tate tackle one of the most critical questions in pastoral succession: Should you promote from within or look externally? When that promising teaching pastor or student ministry leader seems like the perfect fit, is it really an opportunity—or are you walking into a landmine?

Tim and Holly break down the real challenges churches face when considering internal candidates for senior pastor roles. From the emotional complexity of the "American Idol" approach to succession, to the harsh re...

Tim and Holly get real about one of the messiest parts of church leadership: navigating succession with your board. They share stories from the trenches about what makes succession healthy (and what doesn't) and how to actually have those tough conversations.

🔑 What Tim and Holly cover:

Why trust has to come first (and what to do when it doesn't exist)Who really gets to make the succession call - and how to get on the same pageThe "goalpost problem" - why pastors keep changing their minds about timingHaving honest conversations without the whole board knowing (the "con...

In this deeply personal episode, Tim and Holly talk about the emotional and vulnerable side of pastoral succession that often goes unspoken. We get real about what senior pastors—especially founding pastors—actually face when they start thinking about stepping down.

Here's what we cover:

The Identity Crisis: Why pastors who've led for 20-30+ years struggle with questions like "Is this my last Easter?" after leading 37 consecutive holiday services.

The Two Biggest Fears: How identity confusion and financial uncertainty keep pastors holding on longer than they should, and practical step...

Welcome to Episode 2 of the LeadingSmart podcast! If you've ever wondered about the right time to talk about pastoral succession, this episode is for you. We unpack key talking points and share insights to help you identify when it's time to take your next steps. This season is all about pastoral succession, and in this episode, we break down the right time to start those crucial conversations using seven key indicators to help assess your church’s current situation. Whether it's a plateauing congregation, aging members, or staff turnover, we explore the signs that it might be time for a...

Honest conversations. Practical insights. Smarter leadership.

It's official! The LeadingSmart Podcast is finally here! Hosted by Tim Stevens and Holly Tate, The LeadingSmart Podcast exists to equip church leaders who care deeply about leading with integrity, clarity, and wisdom—even when it’s hard.

In Season One, we’re diving into a topic most churches avoid until it’s too late: pastoral succession. Over 10 episodes, we’ll pull back the curtain on one of the most critical and complex leadership conversations in the Church today.

Whether you’re a senior pas...

In the inaugural episode of the LeadingSmart podcast, co-hosts Holly Tate and Tim Stevens delve into the crucial topic of pastoral succession. They discuss the importance of being prepared for both planned and emergency successions, especially as many baby boomer pastors approach retirement. The episode touches on common misconceptions about succession planning, the emotional and identity challenges pastors face during transitions, and offers insights into the best timing for these conversations. Tune in for a thoughtful exploration of how churches can navigate leadership transitions smoothly and effectively. Plus, enjoy a fun segment of 'Rants vs. Raves,' where Holly...