Intentional
Interim
Ministry

 
(© The Family Fund, P. O. Box 50, York, Scotland     Y01 9ZX)

Ministry in a Time of Transition

Toronto Conference of The United Church of Canada

WHAT IS INTERIM MINISTRY?
Intentional Interim Ministry is the result of a purposeful decision to identify and deal with important transitional issues.

The time is used by the pastoral charge and the presbytery – working together –  to reconsider the pastoral charge's goals and objectives for ministry and mission through the leadership of an Intentional Interim Minister.

Intentional Interim Ministry is an opportunity for congregations to look at and deal with:

• Congregational Renewal: The Interim Minister brings resources that help revitalize congregations - organizationally, emotionally, spiritually.

• Congregational Re-orientation: The Interim Minister  brings resources that help a congregation address its relationship to the community surrounding it. In some situations this could mean amalgamation or closure of a congregation.

• Congregational Co-operation: The Interim Minister helpsa congregation resolve conflicts and find new ways of working together.

• Congregational Healing: The Interim Minister helps a congregation move through grief over the loss of a minister or move toward healing following a period of pain or trauma.

• Congregational Identity and Mission: The Interim Minster helps a congregation identify "who they are" and "who they want to be" as church in their community and in the world.

• Congregational Leadership: The Interim Minister helps equip lay people to assume their tasks with greater vigour and heightened skill.

Congregations in Crisis: The Interim Minister helps congregations in crisis find ways of resolving the crisis and helps congregations who are near death determine if there is a new ministry waiting for them.

IS THIS THE RIGHT TIME FOR
INTENTIONAL INTERIM MINISTRY?

The questions provided in this brochure may help you decide.  If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, you should seriously consider "Intentional Interim Ministry".

For Further Information Contact:

Chair, Toronto Conference Interim Ministry Committee

Don White
8 Nancy St.
Bolton, ON     L7E 1C7
905-857-2615
dhwhite@istar.ca

OR

Conference staff person relating to Interim Ministry

Lillian Perigoe
Toronto Conference Office
65 Mayall Avenue
Downsview, ON     M3L 1E7
416-241-1677 x 224
1-800-446-4729 x 224
lperigoe@united-church.ca

The people listed above are available to help you consider Intentional Interim Ministry in your pastoral charge.

Sometimes the nature of the relationship between the congregation and former
ministers was such that
a period of Intentional Interim Ministry would be helpful. The first set of questions
looks at these relationships.

Yes     No

*       *  Our minister was here for 7 years or longer.

*       *  Our last minister was very popular and had a strong personal

                   following in the congregation.

*  * A number of people in our church feel that we will never get as

                   good a minister as the one who is leaving/has left.

*   *  The leaving of our minister was quite a shock to us, and we need

                  some time to re-order our life as a church.

*   *  We have conflict between individuals or groups in our church

                  which has not been resolved.

*   * There were problems between the last minister and other staff –

                  secretary, organist, Christian education worker, custodian, etc.

*    *  Our last minister made most of the decisions.

*    * A small group of people (which may or may not have included

                  the minister) made/makes most of the decisions in the church.

*    * Our last minister died or became so ill that he/she had to stop

                   working.

*    * Our last minister was asked to leave.

*       *  Our last minister was accused of sexual abuse or professional

                   misconduct while serving our pastoral charge.

*    * We have had a number of ministers who have stayed for short

                   periods of time.

Some material used in this brochure has been adapted from that developed by Saskatchewan Conference. 
We thank them for permission to use their materials

There are times in which life in the congregation is such that a period of Interim Ministry is appropriate
and helpful. This second set of questions looks at life in your congregation.

Yes          No

*      *    We want lay people to be more involved in decision-making.

*      *    Relations with the wider church (e.g. presbytery) have

soured, or are not very clear

*      *    The neighbourhood around the church is changing.

*      *    We experience difficulty in finding people to fill vacant

positions (Board, committees, etc.).

*      *    We have had a number of years of declining membership.

*      *    Our community has been growing steadily, but our

church membership has not grown.

*      *    We need to take some time to get clear about our church -

                             what is our missionn? what are our goals? where do we

                             want to go?

*      *    People in our church seem to lack energy.

*      *    It feels like our church is slipping or is stalled.

*      *    All our energy seems to go to just keeping the church

structures going - no one has energy for doing more.

*      *    It might be time for our church to close, or find some way

to be re-born.

*      *    Our church is in financial trouble / stewardship is down.

*      *    Our church is doing well, but we need to take some time to

                            plan a way to attract/include younger people.

*      *    Our church has been doing very well, but we think it might

be time to look at where we want to go in the future.

*      *    Our congregation has been growing very fast, and we need

time to develop more stability.

*      *    We have good people, but they need a chance to develop

their leadership skills.

*      *    Our Board needs help (process, conflict resolution, skill

training, sharing decision making, etc.).

*      *    Our church needs a 'breath of fresh air”.

*      *    We want to explore variety in styles of worship and being

church to help us clarify what we want in our future ministry

”interim Ministry gifted the congregation with an opportunity to reflect upon, learn from, and begin a positive transitional process following a 20 year plus pastoral relationship.” 
Rev. Stephen Iverson, Bloordale

                 “When our Presbytery recommended Interim Ministry following a difficult period in the life of our congregation, the idea was initially accepted with resentment and a degree of skepticism.  For some, this recommendation was viewed as an unnecessary postponement of the search for “permanent” settled ministry.  People were anxious to leave behind the painful memories of a tumultuous time and quickly move forward with church life before “losing” more members with further “delays”. 

                Looking back over the two Interim ministries with which we were blessed, I liken this to being offered a safe harbour after a stormy voyage where people could catch their breath, rest, and receive much needed support and care.  A time of healing was needed before we could even begin to think about and plan for our future as a congregation.   Under the skill and guidance of our Interim Ministers, we were able to come to terms with our history, develop trust and a stronger relationship with our Presbytery and the wider Church and eventually begin to prayerfully envision future options as a congregation.  We would not have been able to move forward in faith and confidence had we not first taken the time to reflect and heal under the care and guidance of our Interim Ministers.  Recognizing the time limitations inherent in Interim Ministry, provided us with the gentle but consistent momentum needed to make plans and decisions at appropriate points along our journey. 

                Interim Ministry – for whatever the instigating circumstance - offers congregations an intentional period of reflection, soul-searching, and new visioning.  Interim Ministry is, in my experience, a proactive approach to fostering spiritual health and new life within congregations facing current challenges and difficult future decisions.”
Christine Bell , Wexford Heights

 “To help with issues of grief and loss, the Intentional Interim minister both comforted and challenged the congregation to move on.” 
Rev. Won Hur, Ebenezer