Staff transitions are inevitable in any organization, and the church is no different. Whether or not you saw it coming or had time to plan, periods of transition can be unnerving. As a church leader, you are called to navigate these transitions in a way that honors the staff member, the church, and God. The Center for Healthy Churches can help you navigate uncertain times and even turn them into blessings with our staff transition consultation services.
What Is a Staff Transition Consultation?
CHC’s staff transition consultation is a service designed to assist churches in easing the pain brought on by times of transition. We can help you with:
How to Communicate Staff Transition to Your Team and the Congregation
Need to Know Basis
We always encourage transparency and honesty in every aspect of your church dealings. However, to discourage unnecessary unrest and anxiety within the congregation, you should try to focus on what needs to be known, and who needs to know it.
For instance, if you are leading a small church and the staff member leaving is well-known, you should address it with the congregation and plan some sort of goodbye acknowledgment after services. But if you’re part of a much larger church, you may just want to print something in the service flyer and have a private staff party to say goodbye.
If the departure is unexpected or for unfortunate reasons, you should communicate with the staff as transparently as possible to avoid the appearance of covering anything up. If it’s not over an issue that should be publicly denounced, a simple “for personal reasons” should suffice.
Create a Transition Timeline
As soon as you know about the staff transition, you should create a plan that covers:
- Key dates
- Key people in each step
- Next steps
- Facts that should be communicated
- Messaging about the transition
- A point person for fielding questions post announcement
- A script for FAQ responses
Consider Hiring CHC for a Staff Transition Consultation
There are so many pieces that are often overlooked during a transition that can affect the effectiveness and productivity of your entire team. Ensuring that you handle staff transitions gracefully protects your team, your church functions, and your employee processes.
If you have questions about what a staff transition consultation would look like for your church or organization, contact The Center for Healthy Churches. We’ll pair you with the right consultant for your church and your situation.
