Theodore Beza and the Essential Work of Succession Planning
In 1564, Theodore Beza accepted the unenviable challenge of succeeding his friend and mentor, John Calvin, as the pastor of St. Pierre’s Church and the leader of the Reformation in Geneva and throughout the French-speaking world. It is never an easy thing, for even a proven, capable leader, to follow a great visionary, a beloved founder, a successful reformer, and a soaring intellect. Calvin was all those things and more. Beza, on the other hand, was anything but a proven capable leader.
Prior to coming to Geneva just nine years earlier, Beza was an articulate and gifted proponent of Reformation ideas and ideals, but he had not enjoyed much outward or visible success. His efforts to establish academies of learning in Tubingen and Lausanne ultimately failed. His ambassadorial efforts amongst the Piedmont Waldensians, at the Colloquy of Worms, and with Peter Viret and William Farel in Berne were stymied by incessant conflict, controversy, and dissent.
Even after Calvin brought Viret and Beza to Geneva, providing them with a measure of security and stability, Beza’s life and ministry remained mired in difficulty and frustration. His efforts to reestablish an academy there were delayed for nearly four years. His literary ambitions were likewise subject to constant interruptions and obstructions. And he was thrust into a host of protracted personal and doctrinal hubbubs that very nearly exhausted his time and resources.
At Calvin’s death, everyone had good warrant to expect that Beza would ultimately wilt and wither under the white-hot spotlight of international scrutiny. Calvin’s shoes were too big for nearly anyone to fill. But, against all odds, Beza succeeded remarkably. Over the course of the next four decades, he would solidify, strengthen, expand, and unify the church in Geneva and its reforming movement. He confirmed Calvin’s legacy. He celebrated Calvin’s leadership. He upheld Calvin’s ideals. And in so doing, he made his own very substantial contribution to the work of the Reformation by demonstrating humility in nurturing a shared vision rather than grasping for the shiny ring of making one’s own mark. He admirably demonstrated the beauty of covenantal succession.
While Beza obviously brought great gifts to the task of succeeding an iconic founder, in many ways, it was Calvin himself who ensured that his young friend would ultimately be up to the challenge. Early on in his tenure in Geneva, Calvin entrusted unique responsibilities to Beza. Calvin saw in Beza what few others did—and so the great Reformer began preparing his disciple, embracing him publicly as a partner in ministry and in life. As one biographer asserted, “Calvin’s obvious affection for Beza, his trust in the younger man’s abilities, and his willingness to yield to his charge wide-ranging authority laid firm foundations for Beza’s eventual success.”
Calvin was never grasping—for control, for credit, for prominence, or for preeminence. His multi-generational perspective and his commitment to covenantal succession enabled him to unhesitatingly invest in Beza. By 1561 Calvin had even arranged to share preaching duties with Beza on alternate weeks.
Another biographer has noted, “Without being a great dogmatician like his master, nor a creative genius in the ecclesiastical realm, Beza certainly had qualities which enabled him to be the leader of the second generation Reformers…. But, it was Calvin’s great confidence in him that paved the way for all his later successes.”
If we are to survive, and even thrive, during seasons of transition and succession, we must first and foremost be very intentional in preparing for those seasons long before they are forced upon us by the dumb certainties of experience. As any insurance agent would remind us, we can’t delay preparing for eventualities until the crisis is upon us. It is sometimes hard to remember when institutions are still in the day-to-day-survival stage that we need to plan for the future—a future when our heroic pioneers are no longer on the scene. But remember we must. Calvin was very deliberate in his commitment to and investment in Beza. He looked forward to the day when Beza would stand in his stead—and he acted accordingly with great purposefulness.
Second, in order to genuinely prepare for smooth covenantal succession, founders have to lead the way themselves. They have to identify, train up, invest in, and send forth a host of young disciples. They have to essentially “give away the shop” continually. Their job is to work themselves out of a job. Calvin did not grasp at the reins. Instead, he put them firmly in the hands of Beza—and then patiently taught his disciple how to manage them.
Third, this means turning over responsibility for essential tasks—early and often, even when the possibility of failure looms large. There is a vast difference between leaders who must position themselves ahead of the pack and the servant-leader, who will intentionally place himself in the middle, or even at the back. It is the difference between following a man or a misson. It is impossible to tell the story of Calvin and the reforming movement he brought to Geneva without simultaneously telling the story of his open-handed, giving relationship with Beza.
Fourth, this necessarily involves real and substantial risk. But then, leaders always risk. They do not play it safe. Leaders lead. They do not wait until the path is already clear ahead. Calvin took a great risk with Beza. But, it was a risk that he knew he must take.
Finally, in order to make the institutional transition from founders to disciples, it is vital that the processes, expectations, and assumptions be altogether transparent. It is vital for leaders to help their entire communities toward buy-in. There must be good consensus going forward or there will be no going forward. Calvin worked hard to give Beza a strong and united support leadership team; he constantly kept Beza and the Genevan church focused on the Gospel rather than the myriad of peripheral issues that might otherwise vie for their attentions; he constantly prayed with and for Beza; and he helped to refine, develop, and maximize Beza’s already substantial gifts. His greatest desire was that Beza’s legacy might one day even outstrip his own.
Calvin understood that covenantal succession is at the heart of both resistance and reformation. May we faithfully walk in his footsteps as latter day Bezas.
This article is republished with permission from Florilegium.
