Very helpful in expressing areas that should be reviewed so your church can remain healthy and experience a successful transition. Our Pastor is the central leader and when he is called or leaves for any other reason, transitions are difficult. This book provides insight on how to more effectively help the church move through these times of change.

SUMMARY:

Eventually every church has to experience change, specifically the changing of the Pastor. William Vanderbloemen and Warren Bird suggest being proactive in the succession rather than reactive. Through conversations, acceptance, reality acknowledgements, and generational difference admissions, Next leads the way to a church being truly prepared for change

A PENNY FOR MY THOUGHTS:

It is going to happenthere is going to be a pastoral change in every church. Being ready, or at least cooperative, can help and/ or save a church great distress. Next is a very timely book sharing the differences in generations (half-time Pastors, career changes, Baby Boomer retirements), future options, and the necessity of honest and direct conversations. The three sections of the book clearly define important issues from planning, to being the exception and to transitioning. I appreciated the fact that the goal of this publication is to formulate an idea for the church and make sure most everyone is comfortable with the facts, allowing the church to hold its direction and experience a smooth procession. Interesting enough, these concepts could also be applied to life situations as well.

RATING:

5 (out of 5) pennies

*I received a complimentary copy of Next from BakerBooks for my honest review*

The books back includes reviews from Rick Warren, John Ortberg, and Mark Batterson, that in itself tells me a bit about the book. My biggest criticism here is that it seems to be a bit pragmatic. Heres some strategies that work. No real foundation is laid down Biblically, or historically for what Pastoral succession should look like. It feels like a practical/pragmatic management handbook. This book is for pastoral succession what John Maxwells books are for leadership. I received a free copy from Baker in exchange for my review