The Empty Pulpit

Pastors serving for extended periods of time like leaders of Fortune 500 companies, should identify potential successors. Unfortunately, this does not happen. The leadership does not consider transition until it's too late, without an identified successor being groomed for the job. The congregation is then not prepared for the transition. Pastoral transition, especially in the African-American church, is approached with extreme reservation. Ministries that have the freedom to self-govern too often keep to themselves during times of transition, when resources beyond their walls could assist them in their seasons of change. The author identifies many of the causes of the present-day plague of empty pulpits across America and offers techniques to combat them.