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Succession: Holding Legacy Loosely By Andrea Leigh Capuyan

Succession Planning is the Path to a Strong Finish There comes a moment when every board or leader must plan for succession and consider those who will next lead the ministry, church, or organization. If we are willing, succession planning can become a process of personal transformation because this process can unmask any hidden desires…

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Lessons in Leadership Transition By David Zimmerman

Moving Effectively Through Leadership Transition I asked former boss if I could transition and eventually serve a publishing program in executive leadership. His response was, ” You don’t have the it factor.” A few years later, I found myself in just such a role—with no training and no warning whatsoever. My peers were suddenly my…

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A Season of Passing the Baton By Dr. Zenet MaraMara

Everything is for a season, a time for every activity under heaven… Ecclesiastes 3:1 After 20 years of serving as the founding CEO of the Christian Stewardship Association, I have entered the season when it time to pass the baton. For many leaders, letting go is much more complex than hanging on. We can get…

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The Board and Succession Planning By Dr. David L. McKenna

The Governing Board Must Lead the Way in Succession Planning! The governing board of a Christian organization has the lead role in the drama of succession planning. On center stage at the beginning of transition, the board has primary responsibility for the continuity of mission through the formal authority entrusted to it. Tacit in this…

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What Happens When the Senior Leader is Hit by A Bus? By Alec Hill

Your Senior Leader is Hit by a Bus: How Ministries Can Survive Unexpected Leadership Transitions “What will we do if our senior leader gets hit by a bus?” is a question often asked by boards. In 2015, I had served as InterVarsity’s president for 14 years. Despite assorted bumps, the ministry was experiencing a fruitful…

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Successful Succession Planning Insights By Mark L. Vincent

  Successful Succession: Continuous Organizational Leadership I’ve witnessed many succession plans, leadership transitions and led several during my career. These experiences led me to develop a theology of ending well, studying bible story accounts of when leadership succession worked and when it didn’t. I wanted to know if divine guidance was present in any of…

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Release the Reins By Wayne Pederson

Release the Reins: 8 Tips for Successful Leadership Transitions By Wayne Pederson ~ Each day, approximately 10,000 baby boomers turn 65. Many are in leadership roles, including ministry leadership, and they must transfer that leadership to the next generation. I’ve seen healthy transitions and some badly managed handoffs. So, how can a leader know when…

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Passing the Mantle By Lee Ellis

Passing the Mantle:  Why is Developing Your Next Generation Leaders so Critical? By Lee Ellis ~ With summer in full swing, this is a natural time to reflect on this year’s accomplishments and how we as leaders can continue to grow our teams and organizations into the fall season. So, let’s pause to think how…

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Passing the Baton by Wess Stafford

By Wess Stafford ~ I can’t wait for next year’s Summer Olympic Games in Brazil. I love track and field events, especially the exciting relay races — often won or lost in the split seconds of passing the baton from one runner to the next. Do it with excellence and the whole team prospers. Fumble…

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Developing God-First Leaders by John C. Reynolds and Andrew Barton

By John C. Reynolds and Andrew Barton ~ Frequently, ministry leaders see succession management as the domain of well-funded corporate entities with complex HR departments and elaborate leadership development strategies. However, to do so misses a critical element of a ministry’s future. The goal of an intentional organizational succession management process — whether sophisticated or…

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