The LeadingSmart Podcast
Honest conversations. Practical insights. Smarter leadership.
Hosted by Tim Stevens and Holly Tate, The LeadingSmart Podcast exists to equip church leaders who care deeply about leading with integrity, clarity, and wisdom—even when it’s hard.
In Season One, we’re diving into a topic most churches avoid until it’s too late: pastoral succession. Over 10 episodes, we’ll pull back the curtain on one of the most critical and complex leadership conversations in the Church today.
Whether you’re a senior pastor beginning to ask “what’s next?”, a board member trying to plan for the future, or a staff leader walking through change, this season will give you the tools, language, and courage to navigate succession well.
Here’s what you can expect each week:
Insight from decades of experience helping churches through transition
Honest stories from the frontlines
Tangible takeaways you can apply with your team, board, or congregation
And of course…our weekly Rants & Raves on everything from leadership to soft pants 😄
Because the truth is: Succession isn’t a moment. It’s a mindset. And it starts long before you think you’re ready.
#LeadingSmartPodcast, #ChurchLeadership, #SuccessionPlanning, #LeadershipDevelopment, #ExecutivePastor, #LeadershipTools, #MinistryCoaching, #LeadershipPodcast
The LeadingSmart Podcast
Ep. 6 — Money and Succession: Paying Two Leaders
Welcome back to The LeadingSmart Podcast! Your hosts Tim and Holly tackle the topic that most people tend to avoid. Nobody wants to talk about church finances, but ignoring them during succession is a recipe for disaster.
🔑 What Tim and Holly cover:
- The three critical financial areas that can make or break your succession
- Why pastors stay too long (hint: it's often about money, not ministry)
- How to close the financial gap when your founding pastor isn't retirement-ready
- The sticker shock of paying market rate for your new pastor
- Creative ways to fund that overlap season without breaking the bank
- Getting real data on what pastors actually make in your area
💡 You'll want to listen if you're:
- A board member wondering how to help your pastor retire without going broke
- A senior pastor worried you can't afford to leave
- Anyone planning a succession and realizing you need two pastor salaries
- A church that hasn't done a compensation study in... ever
🎉 Fun Segments: Tim and Holly's Southwest Airlines debate - they could NOT disagree more about cattle-run boarding vs. assigned seats!
🤝 Special thanks to our partners at Generosity OS (helping churches with capital campaigns and donor development) and Thrivent (church lending that actually makes sense for churches).
🎧 Next Episode: How to communicate your transition plan - because all this prep work means nothing if you can't get the message right!
Subscribe for more episodes on healthy church leadership and succession planning!
#pastoralsuccession #churchfinances #churchleadership #pastors #churchboards #succession #churchmoney #leadership #generosity #churchlending #thrivent #leadingsmartpodcast #generosityos
🎧 Listen to the full Pastoral Succession series
https://www.leadingsmart.com/podcast
📘 Download our free Succession Planning Guide
https://www.leadingsmart.com/pastoral-succession-ebook
📩 Have questions or want to connect?
https://www.leadingsmart.com/lets-talk
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