Succession - Leadership Prayers
Succession
I will not last forever, God. Where are my replacements?
Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority. Matthew 10:1
As soon as the vision is announced, the leader must begin succession planning and selection, just as Jesus did.
HELP me remember, God, that I can be reassigned, neutralized, or eliminated for a thousand different reasons at any moment. My leadership is precarious, hanging by the silver thread of people’s trust in me. Countless things over which I have no control can break that thread, including your call elsewhere, and I will be gone.
But they need a leader, and when I am gone they must have others to turn to, others whom they trust, who can tell them the truth. Show me those who can lead after me and better than me. Ruffle my spirit when they are near, quicken my heart when I feel their power, and open my eyes to see the special effect they have on people.
Protect me from preserving my own position or power or perspectives at the expense of future leaders. When they point out where I have not led well, shut my mouth and open my heart. Help me make it safe for them to try new things. Let me touch the spirit of those who possess the heart of a servant. I want to know them and love them and watch their energy flow into others around them. I want to claim them for this work and pray them into my place.
I will not have the privilege of choosing who will lead after me. Others will decide that. But I can help prepare leaders, and I can help the organization be ready for them.
Show me the ones who challenge me, the ones with more freedom and stronger faith than I have. Point out the ones who love people better than I do, who lead because they really care about people. Make the spiritual giants visible to me. Let me notice the ones who attract loyal, high-quality friends.
I can help prepare leaders, and I can help the organization be ready for them.
Help me distinguish between the confident and the arrogant, between the humble and the hesitant. Bring out the strong ones who can carry their own burdens and also the burdens of others. Allow tough times that will yield success to those who refuse to give up. Help me advance the leaders for the future.
Oh, God of mercy, don’t let me stay in this job one day too long. And don’t let this all fall apart after I leave.
I will not last forever, God. Where are my replacements?
Reflections
In June after my twelfth year at Fresno Pacific University, my wife, Elona, and I drove to the coast for our annual day of considering whether the fiscal year just starting should be my last in the role of president. That day, as always, I spent time on each element of the succession prayer. I asked myself whether what yet needed to be done still sent eager fire through my belly. I envisioned other leaders in my place. I relived my successes and faced the things I had gotten wrong or left undone. The institution was maturing beautifully, and I felt that my evolving leadership could meet the emerging needs. I pondered where we were, Elona and I, on the path of our own pilgrimage as individuals and as a couple.
By midday I had to admit that I had no peace about continuing. The years ahead looked wonderful, but I could no longer see myself as the president. We were both stunned to silence. In the weeks that followed, we began to see that God had completed what he had called us there to do, and in October I resigned. It was the single most difficult—and most important—decision of my tenure. Subsequent years confirmed that I had gotten it right. It was good for the university and good for me. Leadership succession plays out in the departure of the incumbent, and departing well depends on intentional prayer.
