If all you have is a hammer, then every problem looks like a nail.
Church leaders need resources to shepherd well when their church goes through a season of pastoral transition. Feel free to rummage around in this tool kit of resources so you’ll have more than just a hammer!
Leading Your Church Through Pastoral Transition:
TRM has published two workbooks which can help a church’s leadership team navigate the difficult season of pastoral transition, especially when the pastor’s departure was abrupt. The workbooks are designed to be discussed as a leadership team. Contact me (rick@interimpastor.org) to purchase digital copies.
“Aftermath” gives an overview of the significant issues that are stirring in a church when the lead pastor abruptly exits due to moral failure. There are both subtle and obvious concerns to address, but a leadership team can actually make matters worse if they’re not careful. It is very easy to underestimate the impact of a pastor’s departure.
“The First 90 Days” as the title indicates gives a leadership team specific direction of how to shepherd and lead their church in the first 3 months after their pastor abruptly exits. It identifies the 5 key areas where you are going to need to lead as you’ve never led before.
Blog:
Sign up to be on my email list. Regularly I post insights on leading the church through the uncharted waters of abrupt pastoral transition. My perspective is not theoretical but as a practitioner. I serve churches who are going through the uncertain season of pastoral transition as an interim pastor. What I’ve seen and learned after 11 years of interim ministry, I pass on to you.
Getting a Church Assessment or an Interim Pastor:
Quality organizations for church assessment as well as recommendations for men to serve as an interim:
-Vital Church Ministry
www.vitalchurchministry.org
-Tom Wilkins
-Interim Pastor Ministries
www.interimpastors.com
-Tom Harris
For churches in Canada:
www.outreachnetwork.ca
-Transitional Leadership Network
-Lutheran Church -Missouri Synod resources
www.interimministry.lcms.org
-Tennessee Baptist Convention
www.tnbaptist.org/page.asp?page=161
Churches Grieving the loss of their Pastor:
-Podcasts:
“Young Leaders Helping Others with their Grief”. In this 2-part series from Ransomed Heart Ministries, Dan Allender, Sam Eldredge, and Blaine Eldredge share how young leaders can effectively engage with, and respond to, those facing crisis and trauma.
-National Ministries:
When the senior pastor leaves abruptly, or even when there has been a planned succession, the church often feels the loss of their pastor as grief. One of the best shepherding initiatives is to offer the church grief counseling through GriefShare. This is a national organization that offers grief recovery support groups. Contact them at griefshare.org.
Articles:
- 9 Signs Your Church Needs an Interim Pastor
click here
- The 22 Most Common Mistakes Made by Church Leadership Teams During a Time of Senior Pastor Transition click here
Video:
What is an intentional interim pastor?
Dave Brooks of CRM reTurn
Pastoral Search:
For an overview of the pastoral search process, click here.
Please contact me at rick@interimpastor.org if I can be of help in recommending other resources.