"Kingdom Stuff"

Part II

Generational Leadership Transition

This week I will deal with that challenging and hot topic of bringing the next generation into our sphere in order to have a seamless transition of ministry. The truth be told, very few have ever done it "seamlessly". There are so many fears involved on both sides that obstacles are at every turn. Let's bite off a little today and we will do so each week for the next couple of weeks.

"Passing the Baton"

Gold medals have been lost, not because teams didn't have the fastest runners, but because the baton was passed unsuccessfully. Historically, churches and ministries have made the same mistake. The generation with the baton is doing a great job. For years they are faithful and producing good fruit. Now things are changing. We see them moving from a creative, aggressive visionary mode to more of a maintaining mode. We all know that a maintaining mode is a dying mode but yet when it happens to you, you may not see it.

If that older generation could only look around them in an objective way, they would probably see those serving in the wings that are capable of taking mission to the next generation. This is such a critical point! Those in power have two options: either keep the power or "empower" those in the wings. Of course we don't have time to cover all the details of "how do you know they are the ones" in this blog, but basically we need to know that it will happen to all of us. Yes, you 20 somethings that are standing in the wings and chomping at the bit, it will happen to you and very quickly too! That is why everyone should make this a part of our training and planning. Absolutely every leader above 50 should be working on a transition plan. That doesn't mean quitting, it means moving to a different mode.

I haven't seen a generation in my lifetime pass the baton without dropping it. In truth, most never pass it. They die and let the chips fall where they may. The next generation gropes around in sunshine and shadows making the same mistakes and learning the same lessons through the school of hard knocks. Much could have been avoided and more progress made if only the baton was passed successfully.

Here's the really hard part: in a relay race the one running passes the baton to the next runner and the first runner stops running. In the generational transfer, the older runner doesn't stop, he passes the baton and allows (empowers) the younger runner to run faster than he and yet there remains this heart connection of continuing to pass on the wisdom of the past to the zeal of the future. It takes supernatural humility to do either. The older will see the new runner taking his race to a new level. He will see him do it with a new style that the older runner never saw and hopefully, at a new record. The younger runner must make the decision to look back to the old for wisdom and direction that only experience can bring. He must seek it out!

Join me in being a new generation who is committed to passing the baton correctly! However, you won't without a plan!