A Time to Transition: How Xennial and Millennial Clergy Adjust to Leading Large Congregations
Open AccessThis qualitative, basic interpretive study addresses the research question: How do younger clergy adjust to the role of lead pastor of a large congregation? Pairs of interviews were conducted with ten Xenniel or Millenniel clergypersons who had transitioned into the role of lead pastor for a large United Methodist congregation. The transition experience was found to be hard, stressful, and difficult. Many clergy felt unprepared, inadequate, and stretched beyond their prior experience. Further, clergy described feeling the need to transform into someone new as they transitioned into their new roles. Metaphors and images shared by each participant portrayed the perceived need for preparation, support, communication, and ongoing leader development and reinforced descriptions of feeling inadequate and needing to change. Nine themes characterizing how clergy adjusted to the role of lead pastor of a large congregation were identified. Clergy adjusted by (1) Preparing themselves and their future congregations, (2) Engaging and developing support structures, (3) Modifying organizational structures and personal supervisory techniques, (4) Adapting use and perspective on time, (5) Adjusting time spent in varied relationships, (6) Establishing boundaries and setting aside time for family, (7) Changing prioritization of core functions, (8) Increasing focus on communication, and (9) Utilizing leader development resources to aid their adjustments. The nine themes indicate clergy adapted to the new context by making changes to themselves, their families, and their organizations. The concepts of time and support were paramount across the themes. The study offers recommendations related to theory, practice, and future research.
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