A Brief Overview of Intentional Interim Ministry
As you may know by now, we have a heart to change the world. Our premise is simple. We believe that all of the solution to all of the problems of all of the world can be found in the grace of God. Now, if the vessel to share that message is the local church, then local churches need to be healthy. Here is the reality: churches are not perfect, nor will they ever be. However, if we can periodically take opportunities to examine individual churches and help them come to terms with what makes them beat, then they have a better chance of being successful.
When we started exploring how to do this, one of the pioneering methods we found was a ministry entitled Intentional Interim Ministry. This type of ministry takes on different names, styles and methods depending on many factors such as denominational affiliation, geographical location, etc. In the context of what we do at HCS, IIM ministry looks much like that which has been developed by the Center for Congregational Health in
The FAQs
What is Intentional Interim Ministry?
In short, the Intentional Interim Process is a system of study that is designed to help the membership of a local congregation come to healthy understandings about their church and make critical decisions that will aide in the transition of a new pastor or other key leadership.
What are the steps of the process?
There are five basic steps to the process. They are:
Coming to Terms with History
Dealing with Leadership and Decision-Making Concerns
Looking at Denominational/External Relationships
Clarifying the Congregation’s Identity
Committing to New Clergy Leadership and the Future
What can a church expect to benefit from this process?
When finished, a church will have had the opportunity to really examine themselves. This should translate to:
Having a deeper understanding of who it is;
Having dealt with any lingering issues;
Having a clear portrait of itself;
Knowing what kind of pastor or key leader it is looking for;
Being poised to enter the future in a healthier state.
Does our church have to be without a pastor to participate in the process?
No! The process is simply a tool. Most churches that engage in this process are without a pastor or other key leader at the time. This is a natural bridge if you would between the past and the future. Just like a person will use life transitions for a time of evaluation, so to can churches.
How long does it take?
There is no definitive answer to this question. Typically when a church is without a pastor, the process is about 9 months to a year. This might seem long, but consider this. The average church takes 12 months to find a pastor once the pulpit becomes empty. If the church is struggling with issues and a pastor comes on board, he will spend the first part (or the whole) of his ministry working through those issues. Indeed, the average stay for pastors in churches with ongoing or lingering areas that have not been dealt with is lower. Likewise, once finished with the IIM process, a search committee will be formed, but will already have a number of tools, set direction and clarified purpose. This will expedite the process and provide a solid foundation upon which to build. Churches that are committed to the process and are deliberate in what they do will actually reach a point of readiness faster.
Won’t we lose members if we don’t have a pastor?
Will you? Probably, however you will lose them any way. Moreover, when the new pastor comes on board you will loose even more. If there are issues that are lingering, growth will be stagnated because focus will be diverted. Consider this though. A trained Intentional Interim Minister is neither a “rookie” nor only a “supply”. Don’t get me wrong, not every church needs an IIM. They may only need someone to fill the pulpit and my intention is not to minimize that.
A certified Intentional Interim Minister is a person who has proactively sought out tools to assist them in their skill set. Not only do they bring pastoral/leadership skills to the table, they also bring at a minimum the completion of two separate, intensive courses, 6-9 months of field work, participation in collegiate field groups and a heart to serve. This directly translates into stable, balanced leadership in an uncertain time.
Other questions? Give us a call and we will be glad to assist. 940.206.9372 or email at teamhcs@verizon.net