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Advent Lutheran Church, ELCA
7985 Munson Road
Mentor, OH 44060
Phone: (440) 257-5565
Fax: (440) 257-3935

Pastor Phil Kunder,
Interim Pastor

Interim Ministry - What Exactly Is It?

First of all, each individual pastor has their own gifts, talents, abilities and experience, and styles, that come to their pastoral ministry in the parish.   Therefore, whenever any pastor begins ministry within in a congregation, there is the "normal" change.   I believe that is a good thing.   It is not a realistic expectation for the succeeding pastors (interims or regularly called pastors) "to be or do things like the previous pastor" (with the exception of their CALL to preach the Word of God and administer the Sacraments rightly, along with the other areas that is a part of the pastoral office).   An interim pastor’s role centers around 10 goals/agenda items.   Each interim ministry has some variations from congregation to congregation, yet having some basics tasks.    The interim pastor works with the elected lay leadership in many and various ways.   I have spent considerable time doing so and will continue to do.

One way to accomplish this is to raise questions.   The genuine intent of these questions is to have mutual learning and sharing through ongoing dialog.   These questions assist the interim pastor and members of the congregation’s leadership to think through many areas of the ministry.   The questions raised are not to be "taken personally"!   The intent is to help clarify for all, and especially to make clear for the next pastoral leadership, in addition to the interim pastor.   The advantage of doing this is that the interim pastor can pastorally function; the pastor needs to have as much accurate and clear information in a timely fashion, as soon as possible (to have it in writing, and dated, is even better).   For the past two months, I have been like a big sponge soaking up information and "cross checking it" with a wide range of people.   This is an ongoing process.

Asking questions (and sometimes they are difficult questions) is a way to have dialog among the leaders, pastor, and staff, as well as members who are involved in many and various ways on committees and organizations within the life and mission of the congregation.   All this is to assist the interim pastor in preparing the way, (somewhat like John the Baptist), for the congregation in anticipating the beginning of the new pastor’s ministry among you.   This sometimes includes dealing with issues and concerns prior to the arrival of the next pastor.   The ultimate goal is that the issues and concerns be addressed so that the next pastor can concentrate in offering their pastoral gifts, talents, experience and leadership here at Advent Lutheran Church.   This can be a challenge both to the interim pastor and to the congregation.   However, in the long term, the congregation’s ministry along with your new pastor ministry can begin anew in a positive healthy manner.

This process, like any transition that we might experience individually or corporately might seem like "chaos".   As people of God, brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to remember the biblical narrative of Creation.   God created EVERYTHING out of chaos.   Sometimes it is difficult to go through chaos...  but God continues to re-create us in his image on a daily basis.   There is the normal anxiety, (but there are healthy non-anxious ways we can choose to handle the anxiety and fears) but in and with FAITH that God is leading the way....who knows what God can accomplish through us (and sometimes in spite of us).    It is a time when the interim pastor (with his guidance and support), shares with the leadership of the congregation anything that might possibly need to be reviewed and addressed before the arrival of the next pastor.   I have personally coined this as "Pastoral Discoveries".   These discoveries are meant to help everyone understand some issues and concerns that become apparent over the interim period and that should be considered to be addressed during the interim period.   Communication issues and the need to share accurate and transparent information with both pastor and lay leadership is very important.

I have and will continue to work closely with the leadership of the congregational council as well as other leaders and staff.   I now would like to share with you the definition, goals and agenda for period of interim ministry as written in the Synod Handbook for Interim Ministry: Interim ministry is carried on within a congregation during a time of transition in pastoral leadership.   It is a critical and defining moment in congregational life; and important period in a congregation’s ministry.   Ideally, the congregation in an interim ministry period reviews the past, accepts the present, and anticipation.

THE GOALS AND AGENDA FOR A PERIOD OF INTERIM MINISTRY:

  1. COMING TO TERMS WITH HISTORY — It is important for congregations to know their history so that they can appreciate their heritage and at the same time be aware of the issues and concerns that need to be resolved in order to move freely into the future.


  2. CLARIFY MISSION-DISCOVER NEW IDENTITY — Knowing one’s identity is to know "who we are, and what our task and mission is".   A congregation in transition has a unique opportunity to clarify its calling and mission goals.   The interim pastor brings the voice and perspective of the larger church at a time when the congregation may be turned inward to focus on its own needs.   If the congregation does not have a current mission statement, the interim ministry period provides an ideal time to develop one.


  3. MAINTAIN VIABILITY - All the current ministries of the congregation need to be maintained and nurtured.   Efforts to help make them more meaningful can be undertaken with the assistance of the interim pastor.


  4. REINFORCE THE MINISTRY OF THE LAITY-DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS — The interim period is a particularly apt time to develop lay leadership, as many responsibilities in the church can be carried out by lay people rather than by a pastor or associate in ministry.   The congregation can recruit, train and orient volunteers so that their gifts and skills may contribute to the mission and ministry of the church..  strengthening ministry and providing continuity in the pastoral transition period.


  5. STRENGHTEN DENOMINATIONAL TIES-RENEW DENOMINATIONAL LINKAGES — the presence of an interim pastor who is working in partnership with the denomination encourages the local church to see itself as part of the larger church and to participate more in church-wide activities and programs.   The transition time helps raise the awareness of a congregation to its denominational heritage, ministries, and resources.


  6. RESOLVE GRIEF-EMPHASIZING FELLOWSHIP AND RECONCILIATION — the interim period encourages an intentional expression of feelings in a time when there is a great mixture of feelings of grief, loss and despair.   The task at this time is to rebuild trust and affirm that there is life in the future.   Opportunities for fellowship and times of reconciliation can be structured around worship and learning events.


  7. DEAL WITH SPECIAL NEEDS-FOCUS ON SPIRITUAL NEEDS — Through careful observation, the interim pastor can become aware of specific problems in the congregation.   Through knowledge of techniques in conflict management and tactful suggestions from an impartial and objective "outsider," beneficial changes can be effected.   As the congregation searches for an understanding of its identity, vision, and mission, there are opportunities for Bible study and prayer to address the spiritual needs present.


  8. ALLOWING LEADERSHIP CHANGES-REBUILDING INFRASTRUCTURES-STRENGTHENING STEWARDSHIP - The pastoral transition time provides a time for the congregation to rethink their leadership style, particularly in those areas that have been influenced by the previous pastor.   As some leaders choose not to continue in leadership, new leaders find an opportunity in the interim to assume leadership roles.   The interim period is also a good time to review and revise the internal organizational issues, such as procedures, policies, and care of the congregation’s assets and property.   The interim period can be a time to review the congregation’s assumptions about stewardship and financial support.   New understandings can be cultivated leading to a deeper understanding of Christian stewardship as more than simply underwriting a budget.


  9. COMMITMENT TO NEW DIRECTIONS IN MINISTRY — When a congregation has used the interim period well, to address many of these tasks, it will benefit from a renewed vision of its future as it calls a pastor who will have strengths in the growth areas desired.   As the congregation calls a new pastor there will be a commitment to the new pastoral leadership and the new future that has been envisioned during the interim period.


  10. INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR SUCCESSFUL MINISTRY BY THE NEXT REGULARLY CALLED PASTOR — The interim pastor is future-orientated.   The interim pastor is concerned with the coming of a new pastor and is helping to prepare the congregation for the arrival of a new pastor.


(#1-10 are from the Synod Handbook on Interim Ministry)