For megachurches, changing of the pastoral guard is a time of risk and opportunity

When Bill Bohline founded Lakeville's Hosanna! Lutheran Church 35 years ago, the mission was clear — to turn a 65-member congregation in the southern Twin Cities suburbs into a destination spot for believers.

Now, as the 66-year-old pastor prepares to retire, the once-tiny congregation that grew into a 7,000-member goliath faces a new challenge — how to carry on without its charismatic leader who, over more than three decades, developed a loyal and passionate following.

The stakes are high for the 2,500-seat church, which operates on an $8 million annual budget, with 160 full- and part-time staff members. Other megaministries across the country have often failed at pastoral successions, causing pews to empty and church finances to suffer.

"Not many churches do this transition very well," Bohline said. "There are a lot of train wrecks out there."

Megachurches, commonly defined as Protestant congregations with 2,000 or more people in average weekend attendance, became popular in the 1980s as churchgoers pushed for livelier services, more resources and flexible worship schedules.

As Minnesota's second-largest megachurch, Hosanna! — and Bohline's life's work — faces a crucial transitional stretch where little precedent exists.

In the past, churches rarely have had succession plans. Typically, a pastor would announce a retirement several weeks before leaving, shocking the congregation and setting off a scramble to find a replacement, say consultants like Russell Crabtree, president of Holy Cow! Consulting and co-author of "The Elephant in the Boardroom: Speaking the Unspoken Truth About Pastoral Succession."

"Many pastors today, especially if they're thinking about retirement, are saying, 'There's got to be a better way of doing this,' " said Crabtree.

In recent years, an alternative method of succession planning has spread across the country, with large churches hiring consulting firms a year or more in advance. Crabtree's firm is working with Hosanna! on its succession plan.

At Hosanna!, a huge multi-wing facility boasts stadium seating, numbered entrances, a coffee shop, a mall-like atrium and more flat screens than a local sports bar. Not to mention a gym, youth wing and on-site preschool.

Such amenities are typical of megachurches, which also provide a sense of anonymity that can be a draw for those who haven't attended a religious service in years and simply want to observe.

Despite the impressive amenities and charismatic pastors, megachurches like Hosanna! face many challenges. Their membership tends to be more fluid than that of traditional denominations, and keeping people coming back week after week can be a challenge.

For Bohline, that's an inspiring metaphor for those believers growing closer with God.

"Christianity is not a spectator sport," he said. "You can watch for a while, but that's not what following Jesus Christ is all about."

Megachurch membership can also drop in response to political or cultural divisions, observers say. Under Bohline's leadership, Hosanna! has largely avoided such conflicts and continued to expand because the church is clear about its ideology, said congregation member Diane Tollefson. Bohline doesn't shy away from controversial issues, she said, but newcomers are told that if they don't agree with its teachings then they should rethink joining.

Bohline also has bolstered membership through an emphasis on charity and high-commitment worship, as well as by incorporating humor into his services, supporters say. And in March, Hosanna! became a multisite ministry when it opened its first satellite campus in Shakopee.

Bohline's leadership has been vital, but he has also led with an eye to his departure.

Bohline mentored his executive pastor, Ryan Alexander, and recommended him when he announced his departure. The succession is set for November.

Although the church still must approve that recommendation, Alexander said he has few concerns, because Bohline "has avoided making this church all about him and his personality."

"You don't hear people refer to Hosanna! as Bill Bohline's church and you won't see his face on a billboard," Alexander said.

Liz Sawyer • 952-746-3282