Hi, I’m Rick Foster! As the president and director of Transition Resource Ministry (TRM) here’s what motivates me:

I’m passionate about resourcing high-level church decision makers,
to lead confidently through abrupt pastoral transition,
so their church can thrive amid uncertainty.

Let me unpack that….when a senior pastor abruptly leaves (especially due to moral implosion), enormous shock waves radiate throughout the church. The decisions, and initiatives the leadership team makes in the first 90 days are critical for how the church will recover. What are those key decisions and initiatives?

The truth is, the majority of leaders have not been trained or prepared for this painful scenario. An abrupt departure (for whatever reason) at the senior pastor level causes the whole church to enter into a very unique season of transition. In addition, there is suddenly a leadership vacuum; many are disoriented and struggling; and there is a sense of urgency to act.

Transition Resource Ministry is designed to come alongside your church leadership team and provide the crucial personal help and guidance you need. Based on your specific situation TRM can respond in 3 ways:

• Urgent Care
• Online Care
• Pastoral Care

How Transition Resource Ministry Can Help Your Church

1. URGENT CARE

When a senior pastor abruptly leaves his position, the reaction by the church can reach a crisis or even trauma level. Even though the leadership team may have a few days advanced warning, they can still be in shock as much as the church.

What are the critical decisions to make? What needs to be done first? What decisions need to be intentionally delayed or postponed. How do we help the church work through this; what do they need?

Of the 7 churches I have served as an interim pastor, 3 of them had their senior pastor leave due to an affair. As leaders, you need someone to come alongside as soon as possible. A consulting phone call, followed by a set of meetings (via Zoom or in person) with the whole leadership team, and their wives, can set a course for your church being shepherded well in a painful time.

Contact me at: rick@interimpastor.org for urgent care (quick response) services that would fit your situation. If you’d like, I’ll give you an hour of free coaching with no obligation! 

2. ONLINE CARE

The TRM website is designed to provide helpful resources for leaders who are tasked with shepherding their church through pastoral transition. My blogs address issues that need to be faced. On my home page you can sign-up to be on my Newsletter email list.

You can also go to the ‘Resource’ tab, click here, and find a number of items that can be of help. I’d also suggest you check out my book recommendations on the right side bar of the Home page. I only recommend the best of the best.

I have written 2 workbooks that give tremendous help to understanding the dynamics that are in play after an abrupt pastoral departure. The “Aftermath” workbook gives an overview of the essential issues. “The First 90 Days” workbook is more of a checklist of the issues that the leadership team needs to address. Each one gives practical advice for those who are tasked with shepherding a church during a difficult transition. Click here to go to the Store to purchase.

3. PASTORAL CARE

I am not a traditional consultant, but rather, a practitioner. One of the wisest choices a church can make as they enter a season of pastoral transition, is to hire an intentional interim pastor.

When a church selects this option my wife and I move into their community and take on the role of being their interim lead pastor. The next 15-24 months follows a well-defined process of working with the leadership team, staff, and church members to evaluate what happened, and then discern together what the Lord has in mind to renew the church to a place of health and vitality. I work as an interim in strategic partnership with a wonderful organization called Vital Church Ministry. If I’m not currently available, they can find someone for you. Contact their executive director, Tom Wilkins.

In case you’re interested, here is a list of my interim ministry:

• New Community Church  -Elizabeth City, NC

This bible church of 450 entered pastoral transition after their senior pastor resigned due to an affair. The attempts by the elders and staff to handle the transition collapsed in hurt feelings and mistrust by the church of the leadership team.

The interim season brought stability through a strong pulpit ministry, thoughtful evaluation, complete transparency, and pastoral care. The church eventually called a new senior pastor who has led them in re-visioning their ministry and a reconnection to their community.

What they will tell you....

• Bethany Baptist Church  -Colorado Springs, CO

This 125 year-old independent Baptist church was quickly headed downhill. In its glory days over 1000 people attended, now less than 50 came and 80% were over 70 years of age. There was little energy, no connection to the community, and they were burning through their savings account.

At the very moment the leadership team realized that they were dying, a new church plant in the area came asking if they could rent a room for a mid-week recovery group. This new church was experiencing 50% conversion growth. After a couple of meetings, a merge was suggested instead of a rental agreement. Four months later the two churches did merge and the new entity continues to grow and reach the West-side community.

What they will tell you….

• Community Bible Church  -High Point, NC

Within a 90-day period the senior pastor took his life and the beloved #2 pastor died of cancer. This large Evangelical Free Church of 1200 attenders was reeling from grief and confusion. Over 200 people immediately quit attending.

The interim season allowed the church time to heal. Trust was restored through the consistent powerful teaching of God’s Word each Sunday, personal contact, and an objective evaluation of current ministries and values. Though there was a difficult “pruning” period, the church has emerged stronger. They have called a new senior pastor and are moving forward into a new season of Christ-honoring ministry.

What they will tell you….

• Rancho Baptist Church  -Temecula, CA

Standing on the threshold of a major building project, the former senior pastor admitted to a multiple-year affair. His immediate resignation not only necessitated the cancellation of all construction but rocked the church with feelings of betrayal and grief.

The interim season of 18 months sought to address the issues of loss, broken-trust, leadership renewal, and an appreciation of God’s grace.

The search team was “coached” in looking for a new pastor that fit not only the current needs of the church but also its future trajectory. Their calling of a new pastor has brought stability and a forward looking approach to the ministry.

• Village Church of Gurnee  -Gurnee, IL

Village Church was in transition after their founding pastor of 36 years decided to retire. As his last Sunday approached there was a great deal of nervousness. The staff and the elders were not on the same page. The search process had brought a potential candidate but people wondered if he would be a good fit.

The interim period gave the church the opportunity to do some self-evaluation and identify specific areas of change and growth. The assessments also confirmed to the elders and the potential candidate that having him come was a good next step.

• Lakewood Church  -Baxter, MN

Lakewood is an Evangelical Free Church in north central Minnesota. I arrived to finish the interim that another pastor had begun, but health issues required him to withdraw. The church had experienced 3 years of significant staff conflict that resulted in several key leaders being asked to resign. The church was discouraged and not sure if they trusted their elders.

The interim lasted 11 months and focused on pursuing reconciliation with a former staff member, coaching the search team, and being a purveyor of hope from the pulpit, reminding the church that Lakewood’s best days were yet ahead.

My Background

I graduated from Wheaton College with a BA in Speech and Communications, then Dallas Theological Seminary with a ThM in Pastoral Ministry.

I’ve had the privilege of being a pastor for over 25 years in Arizona, Ethiopia and Florida. But over the last 12 years I’ve had a special calling to serve churches going through pastoral transition as an intentional interim. As I’ve mentioned, of the 7 churches I have served as an intentional interim, 3 of them had their former pastor leave due to an affair. This has developed within me a sensitivity to churches experiencing trauma and loss.

Being an intentional interim has required training and ongoing skill development. I have benefited greatly from the training by Interim Pastor Ministry and Vital Church Ministry, the former leadership of Titus Ministry and Transition Resource Group. I’ve also been certified by Peacemakers Ministry in Conflict Coaching.

My family

Lucy and I are empty-nesters (but not retired) having been married for 45 years. We have 3 grown married kids, with 6 wonderful grandkids. When we’re not serving a church, our home base is Colorado Springs, CO.