The Beginning of Succession / Compassion LPC pt4b (140/365)

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.Acts 20:28

The body of Christ comes together through Christ, who is the Shepherd of the flock. And in the flock, it is the Holy Spirit who appoints its pastors. Christ bought us, and God owns us – or, if you find that irksome, we belong to God. And on the other hand, we appreciate how we were ALWAYS God’s to begin with; It’s something we never realized ‘while we were yet sinners’, and because we were lost because of sin, again, it’s Christ who bought us – but from this point of view, we appreciate how Christ bought us BACK. 

It is therefore within the Holy Spirit’s guidance for leaders to, first, be led to prioritize the next generations more than the preservation of their own legacies, and, second, to be led to appoint the proper successors. Succession Planning is identifying people for key leadership, and it is something we could not do without the help of the Holy Spirit.

And with that said, we believe the Holy Spirit has some constants for us, some general points of consideration when it comes to succession planning:

1. The young leaders have to be affirmed by the older ones. Take note that it’s ‘older ones’ with a plural tense, indicating that the elders should more or less be in agreement as to who they affirm from the younger generations.
2. In assessing, we can use what’s called a ‘Plane Crash’ Test – If the leaders die in a plane crash (knock on wood God forbid), who will take over in Day 1?
3. Don’t forget the example of Estuaries – who among those in succession understand the need for union and harmony between old traditions and new innovations?
   1. Side note for myself: I need to know my Joshuas. My Timothies.

Again, let us remember that it is God who ultimately does the appointing. We take part in it, but it’s God who moves to appoint AND affirm. And until such a time that we are to set the wheels of succession in motion, we are also reminded that it’s more ideal for us to prioritize teaching faithfulness to our youth and congregation.

That’s right, not just to those whom we see have the potential to succeed, but to EVERYONE within our sphere of influence. I think of loyalty as obligatory, in baseline recognition of a leader’s existence and authority… compare this to faithfulness, which has its roots more in appreciation (take note, appreciation and not adoration primarily) – and with that said, faithfulness is not taught more than it is evoked – it is lived out, just as love, discipleship and leadership are lived out; First, in us, then through us.

Indeed, many things can be shared and even tested in an environment crafted to teach such things… but it’s only in the application, evocation and living of love, discipleship, leadership, and faithfulness that our characters are truly tested and improved.

So it is ultimately God who appoints, but He also does the assignation – Just as He defines everything in our lives, so He also defines our vision… by imparting His vision for us, upon us.

In fact, consider that everything else in our lives has no meaning, much like it would if we had a vision. Now before we even try to discuss and eventually argue on what a vision is, I’d rather we keep calling on our Father, who made us, and made our eyes for that matter, to give us the vision in the first place. He who has made us see, shall give us the vision.

Finally, God appoints, God assigns… and God approves. Observe how God supported Moses, and then look at how God supported his successor, Joshua. Don’t be surprised if you don’t see any difference – God approves successors by way of supporting them.

Remember that the leaders may change, but God doesn’t change. And with this I say, that as God was with my own Dad while he lived and walked this reality, so He is with me. As God is with my mentors, and as God is with those who have authority over me, so He is with me.

In a previous article I pointed out that the will of God for our lives is always being done, just as the Holy Spirit causes us to thank Him in all circumstances; We thank the Lord, and the will of God is done, whether we are rejoicing or not, or whether we are praying or not.

However, it seems as if in succession, just as we are living it out, don’t be surprised if a good chunk of our living it out is on our knees in prayer. I acknowledged last Mothers’ Day that we came to Christ and His salvation, most likely because someone prayed for us… But let’s not forget that it was Christ who loved ALL of us FIRST, and as such, He was the One who PRAYED for all of us first.

Indeed, Jesus prayed for all of us, and Jesus chose the disciples and prayed for them (among other things, I assume, in His communion with the Father) all night.

I suppose that if we are at wit’s end as to how to start the process, or on how to live out succession, we would do well to pray… with grateful hearts. Sure, it all calls for a lot of humility, but a lot of that just bursts out when we start off with gratitude.

Succession begins with thanksgiving.

This concludes my compilation of all I’ve taken down during the Compassion Luzon Leaders’ Conference, held last April 12.

Until the next post, God bless us all.

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