Transitional Interim Pastor: Help for Churches that are Between Pastors

The pastor has just left your church. The period between his departure and the arrival of your next pastor is commonly referred to as the interim period. It would better be referred to as the “transitional” period. This is an excellent opportunity for a congregation to gain new insight relative to her specific calling and mission. It can be a profitable time for renewal of fellowship and ministry. With the right leadership, the “transitional” period can be a blessed time in which the congregation readies herself for the new pastor.

Appropriate Goals for the Transitional Period:

• To maintain the viability of the church.

• To resolve feelings of grief.

• To reinforce the ministry of the laity.

• To help clarify the mission of the church.

• To deal with special needs of the church.

• To emphasize fellowship and reconciliation.

• To strengthen denominational ties.

When the pastor of a church resigns, the church often develops a sense of insecurity and uncertainty. This is especially true of churches that have to deal with one of the following issues.

• The previous pastor was encouraged to leave.

• There was a moral failure by the previous pastor.

• The church said good-bye to a pastor who had been there many years.

• The church is contemplating moving from full-time to bivocational status or vice versa.

• The church has just experienced a split.

• The church is grieving over the death of the previous pastor.

These churches may need help in dealing with certain issues before they will be ready to respond positively to the leadership of the next pastor. Too often they are in a hurry to call their next pastor or they call an interim that does little more than preach during the worship services.

The interim period is an excellent time to assist a church in moving through certain processes which will produce a healthier environment in which to face the future. More and more ministers are doing interim work but few are trained to lead a church through these specific processes.

The work of the “Transitional Interim Pastor” includes most of the tasks of a regular pastor, as well as special tasks that are usually needed only during the interim period. These include: guiding the congregation’s grief over the loss of their previous pastor; helping the congregation rebuild trust in the office of pastor; and preparing for needed changes in the ministry and mission of the church.

WHAT IS A TIP?

• A Transitional Interim Pastor is a temporary shepherd who is trained to lead a church through specific steps toward a healthy beginning for the arrival of the new pastor.

• He is not a candidate to become the next pastor.

• He is a seasoned minister who has a wealth of experience, training, and skills with which he can move a church forward during the interim period.

WHAT DOES A TIP DO?

• He provides pastoral leadership to the church during the interim period.

• He performs ministerial duties (leading worship, counseling, visiting the sick, conducting funerals, weddings, etc.) as agreed upon in consultation with the church.

• He helps the church clarify her purpose and vision.

• He provides training and guidance to the church-elected Transition Team.

• He works with the Transition Team in helping the church deal with matters that affect future health and progress.

• He provides training and guidance to the Pastor Search Committee.

• He readies the congregation to accept a new pastor.

WHO NEEDS THE SERVICES OF A TIP?

All churches could benefit from the ministry of a Transitional Interim Pastor. There are some church situations, however, where the benefits would be greater:

• The previous pastor was asked to leave.

• There was a moral failure by the previous pastor.

• The retirement/resignation of a pastor who had served the congregation for many years.

• The church is contemplating moving from a fulltime to bivocational status or vice versa.

• The church has just experienced a split or is embroiled in conflict.

• The church is grieving over the death of the previous pastor.

HOW DOES A CHURCH COMPENSATE A TIP?

The TIP is uniquely qualified by training and experience to serve the congregation in the interim period. He should, therefore, be fairly compensated based on what the congregation expects him to do. The congregation and the TIP will negotiate schedule of work, salary and benefits that are mutually acceptable.

HOW DOES A CHURCH SECURE A TIP?

The Baptist Convention of Iowa can help you find a candidate who is committed to the ministry of Transitional Interim Pastor. For more information, contact the BCI Office at 515-809-2819 or bciowa@bciowa.org.

Reprinted with permission from the Baptist and Reflector, the official publication of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.