I Shall Diminish...

How do leaders plan for their ministry ending? How does a mentally healthy leader do it well? How do we not fall into the trap of messing up much that we have done well? 

Diminish

The context for the quote above is when she is being tempted to take hold of the Ring of Power (the one ring to rule them all, etc…). She already wears an Elven Ring and has led mighty battles. But to do more is not her destiny. She knows that “the time of Elves is over” and it is time to make way for the next chapter.
 

There are many cheesy quotes about handing over the leadership mantle and one of my favourites is “There is no success without succession” (often attributed to John C Maxwell), meaning that even the most successful ministry is a flash in the pan unless it lasts more than one generation. This is intuitively true, but even more so when we remember the timescales over which God works and the slow speed at which the human heart changes. 

I would go one step further and say that a key sign of healthy leadership is that you can and do have proactive discussions about succession. All too often this is ignored, met with defensive anger or (at worst) potential successors (threats) are killed off like in the days of old. 
 

We have a good model for this in Jesus who did not hang around, but left in a very clear way and sent his ‘Counsellor’ to guide us instead. Just before this, John the Baptist did the same, saying “He must increase, I must decrease” (John 3v30). 

If you are aged over 50, consider asking yourself these three questions:
 

1. How easily do I miss a meeting, and trust it will go okay? Or do I schedule key meetings only when I'm around?

2. Who am I actively supporting and building up as someone who might one day take over from me? Or do I surround myself with people who could never replace me?

3. What activity am I nurturing (a hobby, different ministry, volunteering) that could one day receive my energy? Or am I 100% committed to the current cause and so will struggle to let it go?
    

Go into the West

There will come a time of ending for most of us, a clear ‘succession’ date or period of handover. But once this is over, a key question is ‘should I stay or should I go?’ (apologies to The Clash). Should I stay within the fellowship and friends I have been part of for many years, or so I need to clearly exit the building and move well away to give space. Believe me, the person taking over from you will be saying ‘so you’ve got to let me know’ (apologies again) - or to put it another way, ‘Am I in charge now or not?’

These are three principles/models worth considering:
 

1. Some church traditions deliberately have an ‘interregnum’ (an ‘in between kings’ period) to allow some space between one person finishing and another coming in. There will be a locum/moderator of some kind. This could be seen as allowing the foot to be taken off the accelerator / allow momentum to be lost - or could actually be a very wise idea, especially after a long ministry.

2. Make a distinction between fellowship and friends, or between structured meetings and personal fellowship. You definitely need to remain close friends with your close friends. But it is probably wise to absent yourself from sunday services / key ministry events for a period until your successor has found their feet. And definitely avoid coming to key decision-making meetings.

3. There is no right or wrong answer - some people stay on as ‘Pastor Emeritus’, others relocate to the far end of the country. A far more pertinent question is ‘could you do either of these things?’. Would your ego allow you to remain but not meddle, would your ego allow you to go and never come back?
    

Remain Galadriel

Galadriel remains Galadriel. She does not lose the true essence of herself. She remains available for those who would wish to come and seek her out. Our identity can be so bound up in our work / ministry that when one ends we feel like part of our soul has been lost. Again, three principles to contemplate:
 

1. It's often said that the order of priority in our lives should be God then Spouse then Family and only then Work/Ministry. Given that this is what will be thrown upon us when we allow succession, ask yourself how much of this is true now. If it is not, take rigorous action to make it so, such as a sabbatical or pilgrimage. 

2. Ask God to reveal to you the things that are your true essence rather than the things you currently do. A good way to do this is a ‘blessed history’ or ‘graced history’ in the Ignatian tradition. This is a spiritual autobiography where you reflect on the key times you felt God close, the key lessons you learnt, people who spoke into our lives, times when we were humbled… If you cannot do this alone, seek out a spiritual director.

3. Know that what you will discover of who you are in His eyes is unchanging and true. The Lord of the Rings films end with Annie Lennox’s song ‘Into the west’, which I will definitely ask to be played at my funeral. Listen to it - with the volume turned up loud! Verse 2 is laid out below. They ask why we see this passing (succession in the ultimate sense of the word) as a sad time and why there are tears. Succession and bereavement are of course say times and the tears are appropriate, but it is also appropriate to know that we remain ‘Galadriel’ and that He has us in his arms.

Why do you weep?

What are these tears upon your face?

Soon you will see

All of your fears will pass away

Safe in my arms

You're only sleeping

 

Let’s not hang round or cling to what is passing - let's go into the west for the next adventure awaits.