David E. Cox, a veteran pastoral minister specializing in interim ministry and who is now a library leader, and Carisse M. Berryhill, a library science professor, explore how skills used by interim pastors can be applied by interim leaders or new directors to successfully lead libraries making the transition to new leadership. Cox recommends using a system-based strategy that moves through five steps: coming to terms with history, discovering a new identity, allowing for needed leadership change, reaffirming community with stakeholders, and commitment to new directions in programs and services.
Should a church seek an Intentional Interim Minister? Brown suggests it should following a long term pastorate of over 7 years, a forced termination, church conflict, or a series of short term pastorates (2–3 years). How does a church find an Intentional Interim Minister? The church should contact its Director of Missions, the Church/Minister Relations office of its Baptist state convention, or the Interim Ministry Network. The church and Intentional Interim Minister should negotiate their mutual responsibilities and expectations.
No longer does the interim period between pastors need to be a lull or a valley. Now trained interim pastors can lead a church to prepare for its future. Daehnert describes this exciting new ministry from his thirty-three years of experience in ministry. In addition to traditional interim ministry, a new program called Intentional Interim Minsitry has emerged. Intentional Interim Ministers are trained and experienced to lead congregations to use the interim to reflect on its history, to examine its organizational structure and leadership, and to redefine its purpose and vision. In this manner, rather than “down” time, the interim period can enable the laity to plan for and prepare for the arrival of a new pastor.
The interim period is a time of change, transition anad transformation. A new approach to interim ministry has been developed over the past 30 years, Intentional Interim Ministry. Intentional Interim Ministers are required to undergo training prior to being certified and evaluation after serving as an interim pastor. The future of Intentional Interim Ministry appears bright as more churches seek to be intentional during an interim, and as more Intentional Interim Pastors are trained and certified.
Interim Pastoral Skills as a Resource for Library Leadership Transitions