Navigating Leadership Changes: Effective Communication for Ministry Succession Planning
How does a Christian ministry maintain stability and continuity during a leadership change?
They collaborate with a communications agency to ensure a seamless and well-communicated succession plan that upholds organizational integrity.
The Challenge
After nearly two decades leading one of the world’s largest Christian ministries, a ministry president decided it was time to step away from his role and move into a new chapter. When the ministry’s board of directors initiated the search for his successor, they enlisted our help to spearhead communication efforts around the current leader’s departure, as well as the announcement and introduction of the new president. When sharing this crucial information with key stakeholders, including donors, staff and news media, we aimed to develop a succession plan that would honor the contributions of the departing president, emphasize the ongoing work and mission of the ministry, and demonstrate faith and confidence in the incoming leader.
The PROCESS
Our top priority was to help ensure we addressed any questions that might arise around the transition, so we collaborated closely with the ministry to identify all possible questions that might be asked. By creating clear and transparent responses, we helped alleviate staff concerns and encouraged confidence in the organization’s decision-making process and outcome.
To keep the messaging surrounding the outgoing president’s departure consistent, we prepared announcements and supporting materials for traditional media and the public via social media. We also coordinated with international offices to align the entire organization on the timeline of the announcement, equipping them with talking points to explain the transition process and address questions they might receive.
After announcing the new leader, key media placements helped build trust among donors and the public in the president-elect. However, some staff members still expressed disappointment with the choice. Although the ministry was confident in their decision, they deeply desired to engage staff and address their genuine concerns. We helped craft honest and thoughtful responses, providing detailed answers about the candidate criteria and hiring process to convey the integrity of the selection and promote unity within the ministry.
The results
Despite concerns about the impact a leadership change could cause, the global ministry was able to seamlessly transition between presidents. Overall, staff and donors voiced strong confidence in the organization’s new leadership, reaffirming their commitment and support of the ministry’s ongoing mission and bright future.