The Elephant in the Boardroom By Carolyn Weese and J. Russell Crabtree If you are a senior pastor with any sense about you this book is for you. Whether you like it or not, some day you are slated to leave the church you currently serve. It might be next month or maybe a quarter-century from now…but you ARE going to leave. How many times have we seen a pastor of a thriving church leave due to death, retirement, or a move to a new church, and then the church goes belly up or close to it? According to Weese and Crabtree and Hardy this does not need to happen! The Elephant in the Board Room gives straight talk to smart churches and smart pastors. By the way, in these cases they are all secure. So if you are insecure or your board is, this book is probably not for you. If you can’t handle thinking about your church without you, you need help beyond what I can give you. Some of the topics covered include: Principles of Transition, Jesus Style Counting the Cost The Five Key Players in a Healthy Transition One Church, Four Variations Transition Strategies for Leaders In a Family Culture In an Icon Culture In an Archival Culture In a Replication Culture Strategic Planning and the Search Process The Asset-Preserving Ministry A Capability-and-Maturity Model for Churches Pastoral Transitions in Low-Performing Churches A Plan for Responding to the Crisis of Sudden Transitions Getting Started on a Plan for Your Church Church Planning Questionnaire If you are a pastor that wants to guide the church into a right process, it is critical that you pick up this book. The future is bright and will continue to be so long after you are gone. Keep planning and dreaming for today and tomorrow but don’t ignore life for your church without you. Why not help the church put thoughts and plans in place for the eventuality no one talks about. You can take this one to the bank…You’re Leaving! Be secure and buy it today!