New Position? Bring Your Own Shoes
Summer is just around the corner, and in our profession, summer is
the time when changes in position happen. As an administrator, you may be
accepting a promotion. You may be making a lateral move to your ideal location.
You will certainly be hiring others.
In many cases, the shoes being filled will be large ones. How will
you approach your new position if the shoes being vacated are large? How will
you coach the teacher you hire who is replacing a “legend”?
I am reminded of how a particular pastor handled this sort of situation.
He is someone I had known some 15 years ago when he was first starting his
ministry. Over the years, his career blossomed, and he found himself appointed
to lead the largest church of that denomination in the United States. His
parishioners included George and Barbara Bush. Furthermore, he was following a
very popular predecessor. How would he fill such gigantic shoes?
This church's website included links to past sermons, and so I listened with great interest to the first sermon the new pastor delivered to his new congregation. What would he say? How would he begin to follow someone as respected and beloved as his predecessor? How would he, an outsider, begin to lead this large congregation? That sermon would answer my questions.
Bringing Your Own Shoes
This church's website included links to past sermons, and so I listened with great interest to the first sermon the new pastor delivered to his new congregation. What would he say? How would he begin to follow someone as respected and beloved as his predecessor? How would he, an outsider, begin to lead this large congregation? That sermon would answer my questions.
Bringing Your Own Shoes
The sermon began with the new minister acknowledging the
congregation’s attachment to the former pastor. He went on to point out the
importance of that person's ministry in his own life. Then, he began to relay
advice offered in a phone call, a call from an older and very wise minister.
“Let me give you the most helpful advice I received... Someone
said to me, ‘Don’t worry about trying to fill anyone’s shoes, because you
need to bring your own.’" The new minister followed by asking his
congregation, "If I can, let me ask you to let me bring my own."
Seven years have passed since that first sermon. In short, the church has flourished under the leadership which began that day.
This summer sees new leadership in schools, school systems, bands, athletic teams, and classrooms all across our country. Many of us have been in those positions. We were perhaps uneasy about how we would handle the transition and how well those we lead would accept us. Others who are in the process of making transitions will come to us for advice. The transition is made more difficult when the shoes to fill are big ones. The advice given to this minister may be good advice for us as well.
About to fill some big shoes? Don't try. Instead, bring your own.
Seven years have passed since that first sermon. In short, the church has flourished under the leadership which began that day.
This summer sees new leadership in schools, school systems, bands, athletic teams, and classrooms all across our country. Many of us have been in those positions. We were perhaps uneasy about how we would handle the transition and how well those we lead would accept us. Others who are in the process of making transitions will come to us for advice. The transition is made more difficult when the shoes to fill are big ones. The advice given to this minister may be good advice for us as well.
About to fill some big shoes? Don't try. Instead, bring your own.
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