Transitional Pastoral Ministry – An Overview

Introducing

The Big Idea

Times of transition are windows of opportunity for churches to experience transformational turning points toward health

and mission.

The Big Objective

Welcoming a new Senior Pastor to a healthy,

functional, spiritually renewed church community.

The Interim Paradigma “hold the fort mentality”

Traditional Interim Roles – Pastoral Goals

• Pastoral care and rites of passage

• Preaching/Worship Service care• Short term administration

Exit of Previous Pastor

Entrance of New Pastor

Interim Pastoral Ministry

DenominationalLeader Input

Closure Search Process

Traditional Interim Ministry ComponentsTraditional Interim Ministry Components

The Transitional Paradigm

The 8 Goals

Transitional Leadership Pastoral Goals

• Provide relevant preaching/ communication

• Provide/facilitate caring pastoral services

• Provide/facilitate effective short-term administration

The Transitional Leadership Goals• Facilitate closure to the past• Facilitate relationship renewal• Facilitate mission and vision renewal• Facilitate structural/organizational

renewal• Facilitate an effective Senior Pastor

search process

The Transitional Paradigm

The 8 Goals

Stages of Transitional Ministry

Vision Renewal

Structural Renewal

Relational Renewal

Pastoral Preaching

Transitional Leadership Ministry

Exit of Previous Pastor

Search Process

Entrance of New Pastor

Pastoral Admin

Pastoral Care

Closure

Assess

A New Paradigm

• Transition as a season of renewal.• Transition as a time of meaningful change.• Transitional leaders trained as renewal specialists.• Pastoral search done from a posture of health.

Important Features

• The leadership team understands the differences between interim and transitional roles.• A transitional agreement is signed.• Knowing how to function inside of its constitution, bylaws, policies and procedures.

Important Features

•High value on denominational co-operation and (if needed) relational renewal. • Search process is put on hold until agreed upon key indicators of health are seen.• May include a Ministry Fitness Check.

Important Features

• Usually a 6-18 month process.• Ongoing training for the Transitional Pastor.• If a multiple staff church - emphasis on mentoring, team-building.

Ultimate Objective

To hand off a healthier, spiritually renewed church to a new Senior Leader who has been hired through a positive

search process in dependence on the Holy

Spirit’s guidance.