Should pastors change anything in the first year?

The answer to that question depends on the kind of church a pastor is stepping into.

1. New and Growing. If you step into a church that is young and growing, be careful not to change things too radically or quickly. People are excited, they’re confident in what they’re doing, and they may not be quick to understand why you want to change things.
2. Old and Declining. If you step into a church that is old and declining, it’s probably a good idea to make some serious changes in the first year. Otherwise, the inertia may kill the church altogether. So if you are candidating at a church that is old and declining, make your intentions clear to the church from the beginning.
3. Static. If you step into a church that is basically maintaining the status quo, it may be wise to change minor things early on. See if you can change things that everybody wants to change anyway. This will demonstrate your leadership and build credibility for making bigger changes later on. But be careful: even a popular change may be a mistake!

(This material has been adapted from Phillip Jensen’s article, “Should Pastors Change Anything in the First Year?”)