<p> In most any church, the transition to a new lead pastor presents a significant challenge to a congregation. Ethnography is the practice of listening to a particular group or culture to learn the nuanced life of that community. This ethnography of a congregation located in upstate New York examines the congregation&rsquo;s response to a particularly difficult pastoral transition. Based on interviews with more than forty members of the church, as well as interviews with pastoral staff and denominational overseers, this study presents a snapshot of the church as it faces a new transition in pastoral leadership while the wounds of a previous transition remain tender. This study advocates for leaders to provide the kind of listening that acknowledges the challenges that result from a change in lead pastors, and to be proactive and transparent in communicating with parishioners throughout the transition period.</p><p>