The Changeover Zone

How clergy and congregations can navigate the tricky transition from one pastor to the next.

The Changeover Zone
addresses a critical and perennial need in the church: the process of
handing the baton of pastoral leadership from one person to the next.
Authors Jim Ozier and Jim Griffith offer practical, clear instructions
and guidance for both clergy and congregations. They provide detailed
sections especially for clergy who are taking over from a founding
pastor and for those replacing long-tenured pastors. The book is packed
with real-church examples, helpful tips and tactics that have been
proven successful. This resource will expertly guide pastors,
supervisors, and congregations in nearly any church setting or
denomination.

I just love this quote from the book: "How fast
you run will keep you in the race; how well you hand off will win it".
Over the next 10 years we will see one of the largest pastoral
leadership transitions in our history. How well we handle this hand-off
to the next generation may well determine our future. The Changeover Zone
is timely, helpful and insightful as we approach these transitions in
leadership. Every personnel committee, pastor, judicatory leader,
district superintendent and bishop should read this book before
approaching any major leadership changes. --Bob Farr, Director of
Congregational Excellence, MO Conference, UMC; author, The Necessary
Nine

The Changeover Zone provides a roadmap for how to
make healthy pastoral transitions, especially in churches making their
first transition or first transition in a long time. This book will
help you learn how to not only survive a church pastoral transition but
how to thrive and gain momentum through the transition. We have
utilized this roadmap in East Ohio and it works. I recommend this book
to anyone involved with pastoral transitions at any level. --Kelly P.
Brown, Director of Congregational Vitality, East Ohio Conference, UMC

A
great resource for pastors and churches who are going through
transitions. I love how the change in a church pastor is seen not as an
event, but as more of a process and from various key perspectives.
This will be a valuable tool for my coaching with pastors and churches
who are entering a season of transition. --Ken Willard, leadership
coach, certified church consultant, and author, Time Management for the
Christian Leader

When our church learned that both long tenured
pastors were leaving at the same, we knew we needed expert help. Jim
Ozier led our leaders in a workshop based on The Changeover Zone to
prepare us for this scary change. In this book the authors use sound
biblical footing to show you what to do and how to do it, as you go
through a pastoral change. --Cheryl Lee, SPPR Chairman, Ebenezer United
Methodist Church, Suffolk, VA

The action plan for the 100
days before and after a change of pastors (the Changeover Zone) is
brimming with time-tested wisdom. Pastors, churches, and supervisors
will be prepared to not only minimize the pain and confusion that comes
with pastoral transitions, but actually maximize the potential for
growth and new life in congregations. --Ken Irby, Shreveport District
Superintendent, Louisiana Annual Conference, UMC

This book is
filled with insight and excellent counsel. I have been using the
authors’ advice on making a great handoff for several years. You will
nod your head as you read, and say, Of Course. Keep nodding. It will
make a difference in raising up stronger leaders and building
reproducible systems. And that’s what we all want. --Cathy Townley,
Townley Coaching

FINALLY! A simple, straightforward way to think about an essential part of ministry - transitions. Transitions can make or break a ministry and too often they happen without the purposeful thought that can make them successful. Whether your context is a new start pastor moving on or a long tenured pastor receiving a new appointment, this book will be your comprehensive guide in the process of ending well and starting strong.- Rev. Nicole Reilley, Director of New Ministries, Cal-Pac Conference