The pastor resigned after a short term ministry. Unfortunately this has been the history of the church for the past several pastors over about a twenty year history. Pastoral turnover often leaves a church discouraged and without the ability to effectively lead a pastoral transition. Short term pastoral ministry is a primary factor in churches facing closure or continued ineffectiveness.

Pastoral transitions can lead to a smooth transition of leadership or can become a time of division and conflict. They can also lead to a renewal, and even restart, of the church. Transition of leadership is a crucial time in the history of the church.

Mission Church, Lancaster PA, is built on the vision that they “are not a church with small groups but a church of Small Groups.” The new normal coming for churches is that small groups will be even more essential than before COVID-19. The church will need to become “a church of small groups.” Small groups will need to be foundational to the church.

Most churches think they are welcoming but the question is, “What does it mean to be Welcoming?” A deeper understanding of welcoming brings us to the point of understanding the relationship between welcoming and assimilating.