Blessing the Next Generation

As I sat at my desk reflecting on two of the most difficult but rewarding years of my life as an interim dean at a well-known university, I pondered on how best to end my “tour of duty” in a God-honoring fashion and promote the unity of the school and the success of the next dean. In my heart I was torn, given that I wanted to stay in my position, but I knew that I must “crucify” the emotions of hurt pride and rejection and resist the temptation to pout and “take my toys and go home.”

As a Christian servant leader, John the Baptist set the example of how to respond to leadership changes as his ministry was eclipsed by Jesus by stating that “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less (John 3:30 NLT).” Thankfully this helped to replace my momentary pouting and temper tantrums with the realization that I must practice what I preach by placing the good of the team and the mission first. The eternal truth of this principle is clearly reinforced by Jesus as He prepared His disciples and the church for their Great Commission role in John 14:12 by stating, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” What humility!

This realization filled me with a renewed sense of purpose, meaning, and joy as I grasped that my most important contribution during the transition time was to prepare the way for the success of the incoming dean. I began to develop a strategic succession plan to address key aspects of school operations and ensure the timely completion of the financial, accounting, budgetary and human resource duties, and that the new dean would inherit a “clean ship” with as few problems as possible. Even more importantly, I began to pray for the success of the new dean and the administration. I had worked very hard to promote the unity of our faculty, students and staff, and I wanted to ensure that this level of peace and agreement would endure and be taken to new heights.

I consistently communicated in all my official and unofficial actions my unequivocal support and confidence that the incoming dean will open new frontiers of excellence. Again, Jesus set the model for transitions in His eternally beautiful prayer for the unity of all believers in John 17:21, “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” Thank the Lord that I took these steps, and so entered one of the richest and most satisfying stages of my career under the new dean’s excellent leadership, with fewer headaches! All of us will face a leadership transition of some sort in our lives, whether it be on our jobs, our families, or in our houses of worship. As such, Scripture reinforces that we must honor three biblical principles: first to confess and repent of our sins of resentment and jealousy; second, to ask the Lord for the strength to humble ourselves and take every action possible to facilitate a successful transition. And finally, to pray fervently for unity and peace for our successor. When we decrease, God increases us!

Heavenly Father, may we all have the humility to decrease so our brothers and sisters can increase and promote God’s greater glory and the well-being and growth of the body of Christ. When we esteem others greater than ourselves (Philippians 2:3), bear each other’s burdens in love (Galatians 6:2), and consider the interests of others as well as our own (Philippians 2:4), we place a big smile on the face of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and become better kingdom servants. Help us to keep up our well-doing!

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Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.