Interim Ministry in Action: A Handbook for Churches in Transition

by Norman B. Bendroth

Overview

Many churches today find themselves in frequent transition, whether due to the changing culture, the struggles of mainline churches, or the changing nature of mission. Interim Ministry in Action helps guide churches and their leadership through these times of change. The book will guide readers step-by-step through the process of how and why to decide to call an interim minister, the process for deciding what’s next, and more. Each chapter concludes with exercises for readers, search committees, or boards to illustrate key themes and help them determine the best path forward.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538105009
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	05/14/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	204
Sales rank:	457,411
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Norman B. Bendroth is a professional transitional specialist trained by the Interim Ministry Network and serves on their faculty. He has served as a settled pastor in two United Church of Christ congregations and as an interim minister in ten others. He is the author of Transitional Ministry Today: Successful Strategies for Churches and Pastors and is a board certified coach and church consultant.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction 1

1 It's Not Your Parents' Church Anymore 9

2 What Is Interim Ministry? 35

3 Why Do We Need an Interim Minister? 51

4 Who Should We Hire? 67

5 What Will We Do? 81

6 But We Like Things the Way They Are 101

7 Shepherd, Coach, Consultant, or Cheerleader? 109

8 Like a Shark: Move Forward or Die 121

9 Ready, Set, Go… 135

10 Build a Cathedral! 145

Appendix A A Behavioral Covenant 151

Appendix B The Mission of First Community Church 153

Appendix C Gut Check: Twenty-Five Key Questions to Measure Church Vitality 155

Appendix D Sample Interim Ministry Covenant-Contract 159

Appendix E What Do We Have Energy For? 167

Appendix F It All Depends 171

Appendix G Questions for Congregations 173

Appendix H Self-image Assessment for Local Churches 179

Appendix I Appreciative Interview Guide for Congregations 181

Notes 183

Selected Bibliography 191

Index 195

About the Author 203

Editorial Reviews

When a pastor departs after a short or long tenure, a unique season of possibilities opens up for a congregation. Based on his own extensive experience in leading congregations through the interim season and educating transitional pastors, Norman Bendroth offers insight and inspiration for navigating those possibilities from the best of current wisdom.

David R. Sawyer

I recommend that all ministers of the Gospel, especially interim ministers, as well as lay leaders and Church search consultants, have this tool in his or her repertoire. This book will beautifully guide churches and their leadership step-by-step through the transition process. It will also help ministers to know what to say and when to say it during the transition. I wish Interim Ministry in Action had been available five years ago when I started my ministry as Director of Transition Ministry in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts.

Jean Baptiste Ntagengwa

This marvelous resource reaches deeply into the actual practice of transition ministry and delineates the What, the How, the When, and especially the Why in a marvelously accessible manner. This work will be of enormous benefit to lay and ordained leaders and their congregations for many years to come.

John F. Keydel

I recommend that all ministers of the Gospel, especially interim ministers, as well as lay leaders and Church search consultants, have this tool in his or her repertoire. This book will beautifully guide churches and their leadership step-by-step through the transition process. It will also help ministers to know what to say and when to say it during the transition. I wish Interim Ministry in Action had been available five years ago when I started my ministry as Director of Transition Ministry in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts.

This marvelous resource reaches deeply into the actual practice of transition ministry and delineates the What, the How, the When, and especially the Why in a marvelously accessible manner. This work will be of enormous benefit to lay and ordained leaders and their congregations for many years to come.

When a pastor departs after a short or long tenure, a unique season of possibilities opens up for a congregation. Based on his own extensive experience in leading congregations through the interim season and educating transitional pastors, Norman Bendroth offers insight and inspiration for navigating those possibilities from the best of current wisdom.

From the Publisher