Liturgy for the end of a pastorate

Here's a worshipful way to bring closure to the clergy-congregation relationship.

Photo of a church door is by Photo by Brandon Griggs on Unsplash.

Recently a clergywoman asked me if I had worship resources to mark the end of a pastorate. She wanted some sort of liturgy that celebrated a long, fruitful time period of mutual ministry. While I have a lot of prayers related to the pastor search process, I realized I didn’t have one for this particular situation. Here, then, is a customizable call-and-response that you are welcome to use with attribution:

[Minister reads the light print while congregation reads the bold print. Minister and congregation read the last line, bolded and italicized, together.]

Dear church, 

Dear [input minister’s name], 

Do you remember when we were new to each other?

We were a bit of a mystery to you and you to us.

We both had such high hopes for our ministry together. 

Not everything has turned out like we thought it would, but there has been so much good.

We have [name some specific high points of spiritual growth, service, and fellowship that the congregation as a whole has shared].

We have accompanied one another as we've gone through some really hard things too.

We showed up and made our way through by love and faith when [name some specific points that were particularly difficult for the congregation as a whole, such as disagreements, uncertainties, or key losses].

God has surely been here the whole time, on the mountaintops and in the deepest valleys, working in and around and through us.

We will always be part of each other's stories, changed for the better by who and how we have been together.

Now it's time for a new season of ministry for both of us, though.

It’s ok to have a lot of feelings about this change. I know I do.

Transition is hard, even when the time and the reason are right.

The emotions I want to lean into most are gratitude and hope. I am so thankful for who you are and what we have done as a congregation.

Thank you for who you are and how you have led us.

Because I know your gifts and God’s faithfulness, I am hopeful for what is to come for this church.

Because we know your gifts and have witnessed God’s call on your life, we are hopeful for your next chapter.

I now step aside as your pastor. As a fellow follower of Christ, I will continue to pray for you as individuals and as a congregation.

We release you as our pastor. As fellow followers of Christ, we will continue to pray for you and those you love.

To God be the glory for what has been and will yet be for us all. Amen.