Interim Ministry

FAQs for Interim Pastors

Must I have training to do interim ministry?

There is no synod requirement that all interims will have received formal training in interim ministry. BUT, all interims and the congregations they serve could benefit from training specifically offered for those serving in transitional times. Because of challenging circumstances in some congregations, the Bishop sometimes looks for interim pastors with particular gifts and training such as that offered in intentional interim ministry training experiences.

Where can I find training?

The NC Synod works closely with the Center for Congregational Health to provide training in interim ministry. The Center is part of the Bowman-Gray School of Medicine Pastoral Care Dept. They offer "Interim Ministry in Today's Church", a two-day introduction to interim ministry, with an event sponsored especially for NC Lutherans every two years. This training can be followed by "Intentional Interim Ministry Training", which includes two residential portions of a total of eight days, with fieldwork in between. Intentional Interim Ministry Training is intended for those who want to go beyond traditional interim ministry to specialize in intentional interim ministry.

The Interim Ministry Network is the primary ecumenical training and support organization for interim ministry. Their "Basics in Transitional Ministry" training covers roughly the same territory as the Center for Congregational Health's two events described above and leads to the same certification.

What if a congregation asks me to be their interim?

If the request comes from the council chair or someone designated by that person, say that the bishop would be glad to hear suggestions for potential interims. But that request should be made to the bishop or bishop's staff by the council chair. In the ELCA, synodical bishops appoint interim pastors. In North Carolina, Bishop Bolick is open to suggestions forwarded by the congregation council chair.

FAQs for Lay Leaders in Interim Congregations

How does our congregation get an interim pastor?

Must we have an interim pastor?

Yes. The bishop must, constitutionally, appoint an interim pastor to ensure that, at the least, the basic pastoral and sacramental duties will be continued. Some interim pastors can also help congregations prepare for calling the next pastor by working on specific tasks or issues. Congregations will typically see significant benefit from the appointing of an interim pastor mutually agreeable to the bishop and congregation council. The appointing of an interim pastor is a constitutional duty of the bishop. However, he welcomes suggestions and appoints interims agreeable to both bishop and council.

What if our interim pastor is just the right person to be our next pastor?

Interim pastors are constrained by synod policy from being candidates for call in the congregations they serve. There are many reasons to be adamant about this. Changing the rules or roles in the middle of the game can leave some congregational members feeling betrayed or, at the least, somewhat distrustful of a minister. On a synodical level, the integrity of interim ministry could be damaged if it became a "back door" into a called pastoral position, subverting the call process.