Rise Up

Welcome to the RISE UP pastoral transition and succession resource site. Rise Up has become the most researched, comprehensive, and practical reference work on pastoral transitions available. It has become a game-changer for many churches in Colorado and Utah and is now being used in other states as well.

I am passionate about healthy, intentional, and life-giving pastoral transitions. To help you achieve this, I have created the following resources to assist you and your church in this journey. You can access them by scrolling down this page or by selecting the green topic buttons above. To return to the top of the page, just click the yellow paper plane icon and it will fly you back to the top.

The Rise Up family of resources consists of the following ...

Rise Up Pastoral Transition & Succession Reference Manual. The most researched, comprehensive, and practical reference work on pastoral transitions and succession available. This resource is updated annually and containing the latest thinking and best practices in pastoral transitions.
Sustainability initiative. A church-wide sustainability campaign to prepare your church for the journey ahead and fortify participation, giving, and attendance through the transition.
Sermon & small group teaching. A three-week sermon series and small group curriculum to help your church better understand God’s purpose behind leadership transitions and the spiritual growth awaiting them on the other side of this journey.
Coaching. Unlimited access to real-time coaching and problem-solving from Superintendent Gene Roncone.
Podcast. A companion podcast to coach search committees through important topics and phases of the search process.
Book. Defying Gravity, How to Thrive in a Pastoral Transition written for normal church folks about how to grow spiritually during a pastoral change. The book is available in both English and Spanish.
An online congregational survey that is customizable and presents results in online data reports, PDF’s and chart format.
Summary briefing to help your board get a big picture view of each stage of the process.
Q&A document that answers the most common questions your church people will have about the search process and how they can help.
Refresh Devotional. An online devotional to provide encouragement, pastoral care, and direction for pastoral search teams.
And much more as described below.

NAVIGATION HELP: Scroll down to find all the companion resources and click the yellow paper plane to fly back to the top!

Rise Up has become the most researched, comprehensive, and practical reference work on pastoral transitions available. After years of research on pastoral succession and transitions, Gene Roncone has released the 2023 updated version of RISE UP, the most comprehensive and practical reference for pastoral transitions and succession available today. This 232-page resource has been vetted by leaders all over the nation and was created for the Rocky Mountain Ministry Network but can be applied to churches in any region, size, or scope. Whether you are a pastor wanting to create a succession plan, a member of a pastoral search committee, or even a forward-thinking leader wanting to resource your board, this resource is for you. It is the only one in the nation that offers:

Scriptural intentionality.
A 13-step pastoral search process.
New all-church PDF prayer guide to provide a spiritual covering for every stage and person involved in the process.
Exposure to recent research and best practices.
Presentation of the five most common succession models and how to apply them to your situation.
A practical tool to shorten the transition learning curve.
Practical resources, forms, letters, schedules, and more.
Statistics regarding the financial impact of pastoral transitions and a transition budget template.
A 60-day sustainability plan with a focused prayer emphasis, sermon series, paperback book, and small group curriculum.
A new chapter on the importance and differences between the three different levels of AG credentials.
Customized online congregational survey with surveymonkey.com.
Helpful checklists to guide you through each stage of the entire process.
A podcast channel to help pastoral search committees navigate the uncertain waters of pastoral transitions.
Short explainer video and graphic to help search teams understand the three most common forms of church governance.
Summary to help search committees understand the difference between the three levels of ministerial credentials in the AG.
A three-week small group bible study with a curriculum to prepare your church for a successful leadership transition.
Coaching chapter on considering female candidates.
An exhaustive index to help you find what you need when you need it.

The 2023 revision includes the following updates:

Updates on best practices from recent books and articles
Updated online congregational survey to assess church health and clarify perceived pastoral priorities
New online devotional to encourage and affirm pastoral search teams throughout the search journey.
New content on common mistakes search committees make
Companion resources and paperback book to serve as a stand-alone or small group companion resource to help normal church attenders better understand the Biblical purpose of pastoral transition and how they can grow through them.
New podcasts. Two new podcasts on how to use the companion resource, Defying Gravity and the difference between unanimous and consensus decision making.
New downloads, templates, chapters, and relevant content.
Updated recommendations for severance and monetary gifts for departing pastors.
Summary of ministerial ethics and etiquette regarding pastoral transitions.
Additional coaching on how to do reference checks.
Customizable letters, forms, templates and worksheets that can be downloaded to save time and assist you in every stage of the process.
Hyperlinks to sample letters, forms, and templates in Microsoft Word and Excel format.

If you have every flown over a city, you get a much broader view of its scope and layout. In this short PDF document Gene Roncone gives you a “birds eye view” of the entire Rise Up pastoral search process. The Rise Up 13-step plan begins from the moment a resignation occurs and ends after your new pastor moves into their home and office. Some of these steps take hours to complete and others, like interviewing, can take weeks. It is also important to understand that many steps will overlap each other instead of being confined to neat and tidy compartments of time. It is also possible for several stages to be happening at the same time as the size and complexity of your church will determine the scope of each step.

Helping your board and church people understand the process from a "big picture" point of view is important. That is why we have prepared two briefing documents. One for the board and a separate one that can be made available to your church people.

If you are using the church summary to educate your people, copy and paste the text below (with the link) to your bulletin or all-church email.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PASTORAL SEARCH PROCESS?

Our church is experiencing a pastoral transition and you may be wondering what steps, resources and coaching our board or search committee will be utilizing. We are pleased to inform you that we are using the Rise Up pastoral transition resources. Rise Up is currently the most researched, comprehensive, and practical resources available. We have prepared an online document that answers a few questions you may have. Access it at: http://www.agspe.org/20220725_13_Stages_Lay_Verson.pdf

The RISE UP PODCAST provides audio coaching for search committees concerning topics related to pastoral transition and succession. These podcasts are companion resources for the Rocky Mountain Ministry Network's RISE UP Pastoral Transition reference manual. Additional topics will be added as this resource is updated annually.

To listen to an episode of your choice, just select a topic below and click the play button. Additional episodes can be seen by scrolling through the list window below.

FINALLY, A TRANSITION RESOURCE FOR NORMAL CHURCH FOLKS IN BOTH ENGLISH & SPANISH!

Your church is experiencing a pastoral transition and you’re unsettled about the potential changes that may be coming. But help is on the way! Defying Gravity will help bring unity and focus to your church and mobilize your congregation behind positive momentum. This short 69-page book was written specifically for the normal people who volunteer, attend, lead, and call your church home. This resource will fortify your church by…

Helping your entire congregation understand the Biblical purpose for leadership transitions.
Giving your people a powerful 40-day prayer guide that provides a spiritual covering over everyone involved in the transition.
Protecting your church from the normal decreases in attendance, giving and engagement often associated with pastoral transitions.
Giving your people practical things they can do to thrive in a pastoral transition.
Teaching your people to embrace biblical, healthy, and reasonable expectations.
Building faith and willingness to embrace the new season God has ordained.
Learning the why, how and benefits of supporting your new pastor.
Encouraging readers to make a one-year commitment to assist your church through the transition.

God is up to something new and getting ready to take your church to the next level of spiritual growth. Transition specialist Gene Roncone will help you be ready and prepared for what can be one of the most exciting seasons of spiritual growth you have ever experienced!

SMALL ORDERS: Order 1-30 paperback copies or Kindle editions can be ordered on Amazon.

For English click here.

For Spanish click here.

LARGER ORDERS: Order bulk for your entire church. To place an order, email Gene here.

# copies. $ per copy Total cost w/shipping

50 $5.00 $250.00

100 $4.96 $496.00

250 $4.92 $1,230.00

500 $4.88 $2,440.00

750 $4.84 $3,630.00

999 $4.80 $4,795.20

CUSTOMIZED ORDERS: Any regional headquarters or local church can purchase copies that are customized with a special 230-word greeting. This would appear on the blank page after the title page and before the table of contents. Examples of what this might look like can be seen by clicking here. This requires a minimum order of 500 copies and can be priced by emailing Gene here.

Finally! Small group curriculum to help churches successfully navigate pastoral transitions and grow spiritually during them. This four-week Biblical study will help prepare your church to successfully face the challenges of a pastoral transition and to experience spiritual growth while overcoming them. The curriculum is paired with our companion paperback resource entitled, Defying Gravity, How to Thrive in a Pastoral Transition, by Gene Roncone.

This powerful resource will …

Increase your people’s capacity for faith and resiliency throughout the transition process.
Train your small group leaders through a short audio podcast.
Minister to the fear, confusion, and disappointment commonly associated with pastoral transitions.
Prevent the decline in giving, participation, and attendance levels so common in transitions.
Create momentum and excitement for the future arrival of your new pastor.
Unify your church behind biblical teaching, healthy expectations, and shared commitment.

Chose from the options below to access the small group curriculum PDF packet in your language of choice.

Next to the Spirit’s divine leading, prayer is the most important resource for a successful pastoral transition. The prophet Samuel not only understood the importance of prayer during leadership transitions but also perceived a lack of prayer as sin. That is why in his farewell speech to the nation he said, Far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you (1 Samuel 12:23 NIV). Moses also modeled how we should pray during leadership transitions saying, May the LORD, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the LORD’S people will not be like sheep without a shepherd (Numbers 27:16-17 NIV).

That is why we have created a 40-day prayer guide with a daily focus to unite your church in prayer. The 360° prayer guide helps you provide a spiritual covering over every stage and person involved in our pastoral transition. The PDF version also includes a hyperlink to a short podcast outlining six positive things your people can do to support the board in your pastoral transition.

As a member of your church’s pastoral search team, you are excited about the future, while at the same time, challenged by the weight of responsibility. The journey will have its ups and downs and the weight of it all can at times be exhausting. What you need in this season without weekly pastoral support is a well of scriptural encouragement to help you stay spiritually centered along the way. That’s why Gene Roncone has partnered with John Cionca and Ministry Transition to provide you with short devotionals and practical encouragement as it relates to your role on the search team. The Refresh Devotional page features several topics with links to short, relevant, and timely encouragement.

Times are changing and the traditional method of pastoral searches is becoming more and more antiquated. Most all churches experiencing a pastoral transition also experience a 10-15% decrease in attendance and giving. However, a new model offers hope. There are churches that actually grow numerically and financially during leadership transitions. These rare churches have three things in common. 1) They have a transition plan in writing. 2) They know who the successor is before the transition takes place, and 3) the outgoing pastor is fully supportive through the entire process.

These churches embrace what is called “mentored succession.” Mentored succession is the process by which the lead pastor and the board collaborate together and select a person (current staff or future staff member) to be mentored and trained with the intention of one day leading the church. There is a focus to identify a divinely called “DNA carrier” who understands the church, has proven themselves effective, is mentored by the pastor, and is loved and trusted by the people.

Superintendent Gene Roncone recently created a free ebook for long-term pastors who want to set their church up to win in the event of their death, severe illness, or retirement. The ebook is entitled, “Mentored Succession, A Smarter Way for Pastoral Transition” and features the rationale for mentored succession, how to identify interior and exterior candidates, four of the most popular models of mentored succession, and seven hypothetical stages to achieve mentored succession. It also gives practical advice on how to fund the transition and links to audio resources on the subject. If you are a forward-thinking pastor who wants to customize a mentored succession plan or even want to provide your board with a resource in the event something ever happens to you, this resource is a must!

Since its formation, the Assemblies of God have recognized God’s divine call upon female leadership. Today, our Fellowship is currently blessed with female leaders serving as deacons, board members, associate pastors, lead pastors, presbyters, district/network officials, and one as a member of our National Executive Leadership Team.

Your church is currently seeking God’s will for leadership. It is our hope that the thoroughness of your search will include both male and female candidates. To help you explore the possibilities of female leadership, a first-ever collaborative partnership of over 25 district/network superintendents representing nearly 5,700 churches, 17,000 ministers, and 1,566,000 constituents have joined together to help your pastoral search committee consider the issues surrounding female leadership. This first-ever report addresses…

Statistics About Female Ministers and The Assemblies of God
The Bible and Female Leadership
Practical Reasons to Consider Women
When Caution is Warranted
Unique Contributions of Female Leadership
Questions to Consider
Common Challenges to Overcome
Moving Forward Responsibly

Why is it important for a pastoral candidate to hold a General Council credential with the Assemblies of God? That is an honest question that deserves a thoughtful answer. In this article, Gene Roncone teams up with fifteen other past and current AG leaders to share some combined wisdom in addressing this important subject. Together they will help your church better understand the importance of theological preparedness, contributing factors, potential risks, and practical solutions for avoiding missional misalignment.

This white paper covers ...

Theological preparedness. What levels of credential are there in the Assemblies of God, how are they different, and why are they important?
Contributing factors. What factors most often contribute to a church’s being out of compliance regarding this issue?
Potential risks. What are the risks a church exposes themselves to when considering a lead pastor who does not have credentials with the Assemblies of God?
Possible solutions. What are some practical ways to resolve this tension should a church’s search committee feel drawn to a minister who is not credentialed with the Assemblies of God?

Gene Roncone’s Rise Up transition resources have become the most researched, comprehensive, and practical reference works on pastoral transitions available. After years of research on pastoral succession and practical wisdom gained from leading a network of local churches, Gene is available to help your team experience a successful leadership transition. Professional consulting services are expensive and often contain a hidden conflict of interest because they are paid to represent both candidates and churches. Gene’s entire context, however, is intensely practical and local-church focused due to his role as a district/network superintendent serving nearly 600 ministers, 170 churches, and 44,000 constituents in Colorado and Utah.

Consulting services for AG churches in Colorado and Utah are provided at no cost; however, if a church is outside of Colorado and Utah but would like to benefit from Gene’s wisdom, research, and experience, there are coaching packages available.

The pastoral search transition consulting package consists of the following services:

A paper and PDF version of Rise Up for all members of the churches’ pastoral search teams.
Access to the Rise Up coaching podcasts for all members of the pastoral search teams.
Access to digital versions in Microsoft Word or Excel of all the templates, forms, budgets, and all documents related to the search process.
A customized strategy for each church’s unique situation.
One online survey that all members of the pastoral search teams submit to help Gene hear their version of what their church needs before consulting topics are determined.
Three (3) one-hour consulting huddles. The first is an initial briefing of the Rise Up manual and a Q&A session. The second and third huddles are scheduled to address the needs the teams may have.

Imagine harnessing the power and wisdom found in the latest research, publications, and best practices of over 35 years of ministry experience to make the transition a success. Order the Pastoral Search Consulting Package for a one-time donation of $1,000.

Times are changing, and the traditional methods of pastoral searches are becoming more and more antiquated. Most churches experiencing a pastoral transition also experience a 10-15 percent decrease in attendance and giving. However, a new model offers hope. There are churches that actually grow numerically and financially during leadership transitions. These rare churches have three things in common:

They have a transition plan in writing.
They know who the successor is before the transition takes place.
The outgoing pastor is fully supportive throughout the entire process.

Mentored succession is the process by which the lead pastor and the board collaborate and select a person (current staff or future staff member) to be mentored and trained with the intention of one day leading the church. There is a focus to identify a divinely called “DNA carrier” who understands the church, has proven to be effective, and is mentored by the pastor and loved and trusted by the people.

Gene is one of the few transition experts who personally designed, wrote, led, and completed a successful mentored succession plan in his own church of over 1,000 members prior to being elected district/network superintendent. Gene will help your team explore this exciting option by introducing them to the rationale for mentored succession, how to identify interior and exterior candidates, four of the most popular models of mentored succession, and five hypothetical stages to achieve mentored succession. The mentored succession consulting package consists of the following services:

A PDF version of the ebook entitled “Mentored Succession, A Smarter Way for Pastoral Transition” for all members of the transition teams.
Access to the Rise Up coaching podcasts for all members of the transition teams.
A basic plan that can be customized for each church’s unique situation.
One online survey that all members of the transition teams submit to help Gene hear their version of what their church needs before consulting topics are determined.
Practical advice on how to fund the transitions and set the successors up to win.
Three (3) one-hour consulting huddles. The first is an initial briefing of the Mentored Succession concept with a Q&A session. The second and third huddles are scheduled to address the needs the teams may have.

Imagine harnessing the power and wisdom found in the latest research, publications, and best practices of over 35 years of ministry experience to give the church a plan to thrive in the next two decades. Order the Mentored Succession Package for a one-time donation of $1,000.

Rise Up Testimonials

Here are a few testimonials from boards, pastoral search committee members, and regional denominational leaders concerning their experience with the RISE UP resources and coaching.

“Our pastor retired after thirty years of faithful service. We never would have been so successful without Gene’s help and support. His Rise Up preaching series really galvanized the church to stay with the process. His expertise served to keep us on track and the Rise Up materials helped reduce our fear and trepidation about a process that we had never been through.” James Hagerman, Acting Chairman of the Board

“Our search was the result of a disappointing moral failure and several complex obstacles. We know God ultimately was in control, but I would hate to think of where we would still be in the process if we had not had Pastor Gene's help combined with the Rise Up manual to guide us through this difficult time.“ Rick, Chairman of Search Committee

"Superintendent Gene Roncone made the difference in obtaining a Lead Pastor at Living Waters Ministries. His many years of experience, teaching, guidance, and counsel given to us at our request, was most critical throughout the 10-month process and especially in the final stretch of the successful transition." Paul Martin, Chairperson of the Search Committee

“Gene Roncone’s interim training was a great blessing to me. It is one of the very best ever on pastoral transitions and I learned so much about interim pastoring and its importance to any church in transition.” Interim Pastor in Southern Missouri Ministry Network

“We used the Rise Up resources and our pastoral search was such an awesome process. The manual and three week sermon series were so instrumental in helping us get in the correct mindset to pursue what God had for us.” John Hansen, Chairperson of the Search Committee

“The Rise Up manual, congregational survey, and preaching series were very helpful to us in encouraging unity, support for the board and our incoming pastor.” Matt Sutton, Pastoral Search Committee

“The Rise Up resources were absolutely fantastic! The three-week preaching series was excellent and our congregation loved the content. Gene was always very responsive, extremely helpful, and always concerned about how the process was going to offer any help he could.” George Salles, Chairman, Pastoral Search Committee

“The Rise Up three-week preaching series was absolutely helpful.” Steven Carlson, Deacon

"Our interim pastor conference with Gene Roncone was one of excellence and far exceeded our expectations. Gene’s presentation was a means for us to recruit, instruct, and equip men and women to serve churches in pastoral leadership transition with greater expertise.” David E. Satterfield, Interim Pastor Ministries Coordinator of the Southern Missouri Ministries Network

“The Rise Up resources were invaluable. This is such a valuable service to our District's churches. Please continue.” Pamela M Kaleva, Deacon

“I loved, loved, loved the Rise Up manual! It was very thorough, practical, and helpful. The congregational survey the Network provided was quite revealing. Where was all this stuff 15 to 20 years ago?” Lynn Spangler, Pastoral Search Committee

“The resources provided gave me and my board members a strong foundation. Superintendent Roncone was always available to assist and answer questions. The advice he provided, as well as the guidance he gave, made the search so much easier. Everyone at our church loved the three-week preaching series. It provided a wealth of information as well as putting everyone in the right frame of mind concerning the search and the new pastor.” Jack Gillund, Chairman of Search Committee

“The Rise Up resources were extremely helpful in getting us started and preparing the church for what was yet to come. During the middle part of the search, we fell away from using the resource, we came back to it after experiencing difficulties in the process. If we ever have to go through this process again, I know we have the prayers and resources to get through it. " Jim Faber, Chairman of the Search Committee

“I have served on four pastoral search committees and the Rise Up resources far surpass what was available in the past. Superintendent Roncone was always checking in on us and willing to meet with our board and provide coaching. The Rise Up preaching series was exceptional!” Dale Fleming, Chairman of the Search Committee

“I felt Superintendent Roncone understood our church situation and gave us sound guidance throughout the process. He made himself available for questions and answered them honestly. I appreciated our Network helping to make the search process much easier and definitely smoother.” Jeanette Sisson, Pastoral Search Committee

“Amazing! Rise Up was a game changer! We wouldn’t have done it nearly as fast, and we might not of found the right pastor without it. It turned a huge job into a manageable task.” Toby Kechter, Deacon

“The Rise Up resources were the reason we had a smooth transition. The Network’s coaching and guidance not only helped the church but made our board stronger.” Sam Calhoon, Deacon

“The Rise Up manual was extremely helpful and helped us know how to set realistic expectations for everyone involved. It was insightful and full of wisdom. Superintendent Roncone was proactive, readily available, positive, and encouraging. He helped us stay focused and encouraged us not to jump ahead or shortcut any necessary steps in the process. I'll always be grateful for the Rise Up resources and the help our Network provided.” Mark Burough, Chairman of the Search Committee

“The Rise Up manual was very helpful. We used the electronic congregational survey which reinforced the direction we felt God was leading. Superintendent Roncone made himself available to our committee and spoke twice to our congregation on God’s purpose for pastoral transitions. The process went smoothly!” Kirby Weeden, Deacon

“Gene’s training on pastoral transitions was awesome. Fantastic material and presented well.” Presbyter, Southern Missouri Ministry Network

“The Network was in contact with our board any time we needed them and had suggestions for our small church. Superintendent Roncone was very encouraging, always available by phone and visited our little church twice. The Network had "fill-in" preachers available when needed. They did background checks and advised us when we processed resumes. I have worked in several other churches before and have never received the attention in a small church that we received from Superintendent Roncone.” Claudean Jones, Pastoral Search Committee

“The Network’s coaching was top notch! Superintendent Roncone was a real confidence builder and a great help in advising our committee on steps that needed to be taken during our transition. Looking back, I can clearly see that your guidance helped us identify the man the Lord wanted to lead our church.” Norman L Lenstrom, Pastoral Search Committee

“I honestly believe we couldn't have done it without the Rise Up resources and brother Gene Roncone guiding us through the whole process. He was always supportive of the board and only expressed his concern when he felt it necessary and I will admit, he hit the nail on the head when he reached out to offer support when we were dropping the ball. The sustainability initiative the Network provided gave our members a reason to stay and continue their support and involvement through the transition.” Terry Reeves, Pastoral Search Committee

“Not knowing where to start and how to proceed with the search, the Rise Up resources became a valuable guide. Superintendent Roncone was a source of support, wisdom, and gentle guidance every step of the way. The three-week preaching series was so "on point" for our congregation. We all got through the whole process sane and in one piece. Thank you!” Tim Frasco, Chairman of Search Committee

“The Rise Up manual and preaching series was so very valuable for the church board and congregation to search and prepare for transition. The three-week preaching series got the congregation ready and educated for the transition and kept them engaged in staying and supporting the church through the entire transition. I am so thankful to have had these resources available to us in such a trying time. I can't imagine going through this transition without the guidance and support.” Cheryl Rouse, Pastoral Search Committee

“The Rise Up preaching series and training podcasts were very helpful to us”

Vernon L Sava, Chairman of the Search Committee

“Gene Roncone was a blessing to us at our recent Interim Pastors training in the Southern Missouri Ministry Network. The RISE UP resources are fantastic and lay out a path for every interim pastor to pursue in leading a church through a pastoral transition. The “in-person” training by Gene was so invaluable. Since the conference, “RISE UP” has been the buzz words coming from the nearly 50 participants that were present. Without question, it is the finest resource available.” Phil Hastie, Interim Pastor

Welcome!

Rise Up, Pastoral Transition Reference Manual

Updated 2023 edition

The 2023 revision includes the following updates:

13 Stages of a Successful Pastoral Transition

A bird's eye view of the entire process

RISE UP Podcast

Audio Training for Pastoral Search Teams

Defying Gravity by Gene Roncone

Small Group Curriculum

An Interactive Tool to Prepare Your People

360° Prayer Guide

A spiritual covering for every stage and person involved in your pastoral transition

Refreshed Devotional

An online well of encouragement for search team.

Mentored Succession

A Smarter Way

Female Lead Pastors:

A Discussion Worth Having

It’s a must-read for any search team serious about finding God’s person

to lead their church.

Qualified: Pastoral Candidates and AG Credentials

The Different Levels & Importance of AG Credentials

10 Mistakes Pastoral Search Committees Make

by Gene Roncone

Pastoral Search Consulting

Mentored Succession Consulting