Important tasks for the church between pastors

For the past 18 or so months I've served as the Transitional Pastor of Madison First Baptist Church. The church has called a pastor who is leaving for a three month sabbatical that was already planned, and I've been asked to remain until he begins. I was more than happy to do so.

This has been a wonderful time of ministry. This is a very active church with numerous ministries, a passion for missions, and some great leadership. During my time here we've discerned a fresh vision for ministry with which the new pastor is in agreement. I believe this vision will lead the church forward for several years to come. We have spent time in the past few months looking at how to live into that vision with positive results.

I asked for the title of Transitional Pastor rather than Interim Pastor because I wanted to highlight the fact that we were in transition and not just standing around waiting for a new pastor. To me, transition implies movement, and I wanted to keep the church moving forward. The church has done that very well.

However, during this transitional time for the church there are five primary tasks that need to be done to help prepare the church for their new pastor.

1. The church needs to come to terms with its history. This is especially important if there are unresolved issues in its history. No church should call a new pastor if it has such issues that have not been resolved. That would be very unfair to the new pastor. On the positive side, this task can also help a church better understand its strengths.
2. The church needs to discover who it is today. Many churches still think of themselves as they were 20-30 years ago. This is a great time for a church to look inward to understand its current personality, its strengths and weaknesses, its passions, and its hope for the future.
3. The church needs to allow for leadership changes to occur. Some current leaders, especially if they were close to the former pastor, may feel the need to step back. New leaders might decide to step into new roles. This is normally a healthy thing unless conflicts begin to develop. When a pastor leaves there might be a leadership vacuum that people with ulterior motives might be tempted to fill.
4. The church needs to reconnect with its denomination if it belongs to one. Denominational leaders are often the first persons called when the current pastor leaves. These individuals can assist the church in finding a qualified Transitional Pastor and help the search team when they begin looking for candidates for the position.
5. The church needs to discern a fresh vision for ministry and be prepared to work with its new pastor to see that vision fulfilled. If a church is not ready to work with a new pastor it should not call one.

Too many churches just look for someone to preach during this transition time, and that is a mistake. A church will be far healthier and more ready to receive a new pastor if it intentionally works through these five steps. When your church needs to call a Transitional Pastor make sure he or she will help you do that.

*These five steps come from a booklet written by Kenneth Blazier titled Tackling the Tasks: Planning Interim Ministry in a Church. It was published by the Ministers-at-Large Program of the American Baptist Churches USA.