--- title: When to Leave description: Learn how to know when it's time to go before you stay too long. Download this free resource! image: https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/1-Sep-09-2020-01-06-20-92-PM.png --- [Skip to content](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/when-to-leave#main-content) [![cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95.webp?width=342&height=95&name=cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95.webp "cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95")](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/) - [How We Help](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/what-we-do/) - [How We Help Candidates](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate/) - [How We Help Churches](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/church/) - [Our Team](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/team/) - [Our Mission & Strategy](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/what-we-do/) - [Churches](https://chemistrystaffing.com/church) - [Hire New Staff](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/2021-churches-new-staff-hiring/) - [Free 30-Minute Church Consult](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) - [Chemistry Solutions – You Don’t Have to Do Ministry Alone](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/solutions/) - [Final Fit Assessment](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/final-fit-assessment/) - [Senior Pastor Succession](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/succession/) - [Job Seekers](https://chemistrystaffing.com/candidate) - [Add My Resume / Profile](https://chemistry.fyi/kwq) - [Current Openings](https://chemistrystaffing.com/jobs) - [Free Resume Assessment](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/free-resume-self-assessment/) - [Step-by-Step Job Search](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/cjb) - [How Chemistry Can Help](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate/) - [Resources](http://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate/) - [Free Playbooks & Downloads](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/resources/) - [Chemistry Blog](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/) - [2024 Youth Pastor Compensation Survey](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/resources/2024-yp-compensation-survey/) - [Contact Us](http://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) - [Candidates](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate-contact-page/) - [Churches](http://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) - [Find a Job](https://chemistrystaffing.com/jobs) - [My Church is Hiring](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) [Staff Transitioning](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/tag/staff-transitioning) # When to Leave Learn how to know when it's time to go before you stay too long. Download this free resource! ![](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/1-Sep-09-2020-01-06-20-92-PM.png) # How to know when it's time to go, before you stay too long   Over the last six weeks, I have been surprised by the number of conversations that I have had with pastors regarding succession. While every conversation has been slightly different, they have all been similar to "I had a ten-year plan, but this has changed everything... and I don't think I should be the one developing this church's next ten years."   Whether it is because they are approaching retirement age, because they have accomplished all that they feel God has called them to do in this church, or because they do not believe that they have the skills required to help the church in the next season, they are beginning to contemplate moving on. And I applaud them. Seriously, I am grateful for their willingness to actively, and fearlessly, question whether they are the right person to lead their church in the days to come. This kind of self-awareness is in short supply, and I am convinced that whether they stay or go, their church is the better for having a pastor who is willing to ask the difficult question about their tenure at their current church. When pastors invite me into their process of discernment about their future, I am quick to point them to what I believe to be one of the finest resources available for this process: Wade Hodges' book When to Leave: How to Know it's Time to Move On (Before You Stay Way Too Long). Wade has generously shared this resource with the Chemistry team, and we would like to share it with you. You can obtain your free copy by clicking here:   [![WHEN TO LEAVE - FREE DOWNLOAD](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5045578/c215a533-5dd7-4b30-8584-c997202341c3.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5045578/c215a533-5dd7-4b30-8584-c997202341c3)   I know that these conversations can be awkward, difficult, frightening, and liberating... and I know that they are not conversations that we can have with just anyone. If you are considering what the season ahead looks like for you and need someone to process it with, I'd love to have a conversation... [you can use this link to find some time to talk.](http://chemistrystaffing.com/matt-steen)   ![matt](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/matt.png?width=124&name=matt.png)    P.S. If your church is preparing to enter a season of succession planning, we'd love to help. We've all heard the horror stories, but it doesn't have to happen to your church. I'd love to spend some time with your team helping you get your succession process right. [Click here to schedule a time to talk](https://meetings.hubspot.com/matt-steen).  [![Schedule a Conversation](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5045578/a26943f9-3125-481e-834d-0f6e8e490d8d.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5045578/a26943f9-3125-481e-834d-0f6e8e490d8d) ### [![Matt Steen](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/IMG_4588.jpg) Matt Steen](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/author/matt-steen) Matt has served the local church for over two decades as a youth pastor, church planter, and executive pastor. Originally from Baltimore, Matt currently lives in Orlando, with his wife Theresa, and has a B.S. in Youth Ministry from Nyack College and an M.Div. and MBA from Baylor University. Certified as an Urban Church Planter Coach by Redeemer City to City and as a StratOp facilitator by the Paterson Center, Matt has made a career of helping churches thrive through intentionality, clarity, and creating healthy cultures. He is convinced that a healthy church is led by a healthy team with great chemistry, and loves partnering with Chemistry’s churches to do great things for the Kingdom. [![Facebook Author](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/facebook.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/snoop4jc) [![Twitter Author](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/twitter.svg)](https://twitter.com/matt_steen) [![Linkedin Author](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/linkedin.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewsteen/) ## Latest Resources Browse Articles ![What's Actually Killing Your Church? 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