In late 2015, Carey Nieuwhof stepped out of the Lead Pastor role at Connexus Church (the only role he’d ever had) and assumed a new role as Founding and Teaching Pastor, while Jeff Brodie became the new Lead Pastor. A year into the transition, by all accounts, the move has been a success.
Jeff Henderson—Lead Pastor of Gwinnett Church near Atlanta— interviews Carey and Jeff about why they made the change, how they did it, what worked and where the tension has been.
Welcome to Episode 110 of the Podcast.
Guest Links: Jeff Brodie, Carey Nieuwhof and Jeff Henderson
The Launch Youniversity Podcast
Links Mentioned
Getting Your Organization on the Growth Track – and Keeping It There by Les Mckeown
3 Things from This Episode
What are you doing as a leader now to preserve the future of the mission? Leaders do not do well when the future is dimmer than the past. It’s one thing to have a church that grows with you, but it’s another to have a church that grows without you. Carey and Jeff Brodie talk about what’s happened over the past year since Jeff took over as lead pastor at Connexus.
- Keep the focus on the mission. The forefront of a leadership transition is preserving the mission. Changes were being made so that the talents of Carey and Jeff Brodie were being leveraged to reach as many people as possible. You are not the mission. Jesus is the mission.
- Find alignment with your staff and your elders. As responsibilities change within a transition, you have to maintain boundaries and help others understand the new protocols for your operations. Re-direct your team when they want to revert to an old process. It will take patience, but show grace and remain consistent.
- Don’t hang on to a title. Look for a role and look at what you can give to a team. When a new position becomes available to you, think about the mission first and see if it matches your passion. Pray about it. As God opens the doors, you’ll see positions differently.
