Transition Reflection

I've had the privilege over the past 3-4 years to watch and participate in our church's leadership transition. Now that the transition phase is fading, I wanted to take an opportunity to share my perspective.

My observations will focus on Pastor Young and Pastor Distler. Please understand, that while I respect both men and want to acknowledge the great way in which they have lead us, in no way do I want to supersede the God's work. I cannot express or completely identify, how much praise is due to God. I've never seen Him lead in such clear, and special ways as He has led our church through these last 3-4 years. Praise God! In addition to a tangible sign of His sovereignty, it is also an affirmation of the power of prayer. Soon after Pastor Young announced his retirement plan, we began praying off and on in the office for our future leader and his family. I know many others were praying too. The credit God deserves cannot be expressed adequately.

I admire and respect Pastor Young's leadership through the transition. When I interviewed for this job, I directly asked him if he had a retirement plan. In 1998, he didn't, but when he finally did have a plan, he shared it with the congregation two years in advance. The foresight to give the church two years to prepare for his departure laid a firm foundation. As the search process was organized, Pastor Young backed away and allowed the Elders to operate. On several occasions when Elder meeting discussions would turn to transition issues, Pastor Young would excuse himself quietly. Being the first time we had ever faced replacing a Senior Pastor, Pastor Young found the right balance of giving appropriate advice about how to create the process and then backing away and letting the process be carried out without his influence. I'm not sure any of us will ever know how difficult it was for him to leave those meetings and to let go. At his insistence, Dr. Young also made sure that he wasn't in town when any of the candidate(s) were visiting our church. I also respect Dr. Young for continuing to lead to his last days as our Senior Pastor. During his last few months he tackled reorganizing the board that oversees the daycare and school ministries, not a small initiative. He used his remaining influence to prepare a large part of our ministry for future growth. By declaring his retirement early and the work he led us through during the ensuing two years, Dr. Young prepared us to accept a new Senior Pastor. We were as prepared as we could be. As in a relay, he ran his leg to the best of his ability, left all he had on the track and gave a perfect handoff.

I had an instant connection with Pastor Scott. I had the opportunity to meet with him one-on-one for 30 minutes several weeks before he was introduced to the congregation. I've never had a meeting like it. We both knew that we would work well together, we just knew it. It was clear our philosophies are closely aligned and obvious that our strengths and weaknesses would compliment each other. Had it been feasible, I think we would've started working right then. The excitement in the office was hard to contain. With a three month gap between Pastor Young's last day and Pastor Scott's first day, Scott sent us multiple email messages orienting us to his style of leadership, setting some of his philosophy of ministry in place and preparing us for his arrival.

I've been impressed with Pastor Scott's desire to get to know Dr. Young, to honor him and his concern for the Young family that remained in Lititz. The congregation never go to see it due to technical difficulties, but on the Sunday when the Youngs officially returned to Grace after their year-long hiatus, Pastor Scott had taped a video message (he was out of town), In addition to welcoming them back, Pastor Scott shared about the relationship the two of them now had, that Dr. Young and his wife had asked Scott to be their pastor and that Scott was thrilled that they wanted to retain their membership. I've also been impressed with the Young's desire to retain their connections with Grace. The love for the church is obvious. It was neat to sit under the teaching of Dr. Young again on Thanksgiving weekend. To me, that was the culmination of the transition.

The exchange of the baton is a critical moment in the race, often determining the success or failure of the team. At Grace, the exchange was superb. The exchange occurred in stride, the handoff was firm and the momentum of the first leg carried through to the second.

I praise God for the way He used both of these men to affect a transition process that has not only maintained the ministry of Grace, but has it ready to join God wherever He chooses to work next.