The Changeover Zone: Successful Pastoral Transitions

How clergy and congregations can navigate the tricky transition from one pastor to the next.The Changeover Zoneaddresses a critical and perennial need in the church: the process ofhanding the baton of pastoral leadership from one person to the next.Authors Jim Ozier and Jim Griffith offer practical clear instructionsand guidance for both clergy and congregations. They provide detailedsections especially for clergy who are taking over from a foundingpastor and for those replacing long-tenured pastors. The book is packedwith real-church examples helpful tips and tactics that have beenproven successful. This resource will expertly guide pastorssupervisors and congregations in nearly any church setting ordenomination. I just love this quote from the book: How fastyou run will keep you in the race; how well you hand off will win it.Over the next 10 years we will see one of the largest pastoralleadership transitions in our history. How well we handle this hand-offto the next generation may well determine our future. The Changeover Zoneis timely helpful and insightful as we approach these transitions inleadership. Every personnel committee pastor judicatory leaderdistrict superintendent and bishop should read this book beforeapproaching any major leadership changes. --Bob Farr Director ofCongregational Excellence MO Conference UMC; author The NecessaryNineThe Changeover Zone provides a roadmap for how tomake healthy pastoral transitions especially in churches making theirfirst transition or first transition in a long time. This book willhelp you learn how to not only survive a church pastoral transition buthow to thrive and gain momentum through the transition. We haveutilized this roadmap in East Ohio and it works. I recommend this bookto anyone involved with pastoral transitions at any level. --Kelly P.Brown Director of Congregational Vitality East Ohio Conference UMC Agreat resource for pastors and churches who are going throughtransitions. I love how the change in a church pastor is seen not as anevent but as more of a process and from various key perspectives.This will be a valuable tool for my coaching with pastors and churcheswho are entering a season of transition. --Ken Willard leadershipcoach certified church consultant and author Time Management for theChristian LeaderWhen our church learned that both long tenuredpastors were leaving at the same we knew we needed expert help. JimOzier led our leaders in a workshop based on The Changeover Zone toprepare us for this scary change. In this book the authors use soundbiblical footing to show you what to do and how to do it as you gothrough a pastoral change. --Cheryl Lee SPPR Chairman Ebenezer UnitedMethodist Church Suffolk VA The action plan for the 100days before and after a change of pastors (the Changeover Zone) isbrimming with time-tested wisdom. Pastors churches and supervisorswill be prepared to not only minimize the pain and confusion that comeswith pastoral transitions but actually maximize the potential forgrowth and new life in congregations. --Ken Irby Shreveport DistrictSuperintendent Louisiana Annual Conference UMCThis book isfilled with insight and excellent counsel. I have been using theauthors’ advice on making a great handoff for several years. You willnod your head as you read and say Of Course. Keep nodding. It willmake a difference in raising up stronger leaders and buildingreproducible systems. And that’s what we all want. --Cathy TownleyTownley Coaching FINALLY! A simple straightforward way to think about an essential part of ministry - transitions. Transitions can make or break a ministry and too often they happen without the purposeful thought that can make them successful. Whether your context is a new start pastor moving on or a long tenured pastor receiving a new appointment this book will be your comprehensive guide in the process of ending well and starting strong.- Rev. Nicole Reilley Director of New Ministries Cal-Pac Conference