The Role of an Interim Pastor: How to Help a Church Through the Process of Change in Pastoral Leadership
Reprinted with permission from Paraklesis Fall 2010.
When I came to BBS in 1998, after 20 years in pastoral ministry, I had no doubt God was leading me here. I was looking forward to being part of a team shaping a new generation of men to be servant-leaders for the church.
I enjoyed the ministry God gave me as a pastor, especially opportunities to get close to people, be involved in discipleship, and see a body of believers grow in their walk with and service to God. So when I approached the time for a change in ministry and focus I wondered: Would I miss being a pastor? The answer was “yes,” but God answered the longing in my heart with a great opportunity to combine my new role with continuing involvement in local church pastoral ministry: the role of being an interim pastor to churches going through the process of a change in pastoral leadership.
Soon after coming to BBS I learned a church I had previously served was losing their pastor. The deacons asked me to serve as interim pastor and assist them in the coming search process.
What a fantastic opportunity. I was able to go back to a church body I loved and assist them for nine months in areas that would help the church grow and prepare for their next pastor. Once this church cleared that process, which culminated in the calling of a new pastor, I found there were many churches going through similar circumstances.
Through the Church Relations Department at BBC&S and assistance from church fellowship leaders in various states, other contacts were made with churches needing similar assistance.
I studied to see how the early New Testament church developed leaders to serve during times of change. This led me to develop Paraklesis Interim Pastoral Ministries, a program assisting churches going through this unique period. The ministry provides Bible-believing churches without a lead pastor with an intentional interim pastor. The intent is to provide a temporary undershepherd for the church who can “comfort, exhort, and come alongside” in a paraklesis ministry, as Paul did in Acts 9:31.
Over the last 12 years, I have had the privilege of serving nine different churches in an interim role. It has been a joy to connect with believers in these churches, see God use this time to deepen their commitment, and learn many lessons, some of which I’ve included here.
Benefits of an Interim Pastor
- Regular, consistent expository preaching every Sunday, allowing consistent feeding of the flock. This also “unburdens” the church leadership of the extra time needed to secure speakers.
- Consulting services as an advisor/mentor to the deacons/search committee in the process, protocol, and resources needed for a successful search.
- Outside, impartial perspective for church health and growth through a godly, experienced pastor.
The Role of an Interim Pastor
Each church may have differing needs and situations, so the actual functions should be discussed and agreed upon with the church leadership during an initial Consultation Appointment.
- Plan for preaching each week at the morning and/ or evening services. The interim pastor can also take responsibility for securing a qualified speaker for any Sunday he is unavailable.
- Meet as an advisor/mentor with the church staff and/or deacons, on a monthly basis, or as otherwise needed.
- Serve as a consultant with the search committee, on a monthly basis or as needed, to assist in the process, protocol, and resources needed to successfully secure a new lead pastor.
- Help develop congregational trust and confidence in the church leadership team during the interim period.
- Assist in refining church mission, organization, and vision, as well as with conflict resolution and emergency counseling situations as these needs arise and as desired by leadership. This can also involve working with the church through change by helping it to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and preparing for any needed changes.
- Attend or give leadership to meetings on Sundays and/or as desired by the church.
What Functions Does an Interim Pastor Usually Not Cover?
In some cases, the interim pastor may not be able to provide functions or leadership in the following areas:
- Leading a mid-week service. This time can be a good opportunity for other church staff and/or deacons to lead times of informal Bible study and/or prayer.
- Teaching a regular Sunday school class.
- Long term counseling relationships, including pre-marital counseling.
The interim pastor should enter into a service agreement with the church through the written invitation/contract of the Deacons or other authorized officers. The appointment should be announced publicly to the congregation to provide consistent communication.
The beginning of the term of the interim pastor should be clearly understood and designated at the time of the initial Consultation Appointment, and his term will continue until such time as the church secures a new lead pastor.
Making it Work
Even during a time when a church is without a pastor, God should be glorified through a unified, edified, and serving body of believers.
When I begin a new ministry, I often include some teaching on the subjects of priorities of a local church from Christ’s perspective (Revelation 2-3); God’s blueprint for a pastor and his combined role of episkopos-bishop; presbuteros-elder; poimen-shepherd (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1; 1 Peter 5; John 10)); one-anothering passages from the New Testament that emphasize our responsibilities in our relationships to each other in the body of Christ; pursuing lost people for Christ (personal and corporate evangelism); and a theology of biblical change for churches. I also continue to remind the church of some great promises that Jesus Christ, the head of the church, made directly to the church: “I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matthew 16); “…Christ loves the church and gave Himself for it…” (Ephesians 5); “He (Christ) is the head of the church…” (Colossians 1); “I am the good shepherd (pastor), and I know my sheep…” (John 10).
Churches enter a time after their pastor has gone with uncertainty, confusion, and even fear. They need someone to model the love of the Good Shepherd and Head of the Church, reminding them He will never let them down and, in fact, He already knows who their next undershepherd will be.
Dr. Lee Kliewer is Assistant Seminary Dean, Registrar and Director of the DMin program at Baptist Bible Seminary. He joined the administrative team of Baptist Bible Seminary in July, 1998, after serving in pastoral ministry for 20 years. Contact information here.
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Right now I’m undergoing some throat treatments. We have an assistant pastor. We have a a retired pastor in the church too. But when we discussed who would preach this Sunday our deacons were scared-but-willing to step up if needed. Could we put together a preacher/teacher training program for our laymen? Sure. Does scripture require that? 2 Tim. 2:2—but is that just “faithful men who will TEACH others…”? Argh!
gdwightlarson "You can be my brother without being my twin."
You completely fail to take into account the normal life growth cycles of the local church. Because a qualified pastoral candidate is not immediately available the moment a pulpit vacancy appears, you judge the church and the pastor failures, derelict in their biblical duties.
Perhaps the faithful pastor has faithfully discipled a faithfully growing church. Perhaps they have raised up numerous faithful ministers over the years who are scattered abroad in the body as pastors and missionaries. Perhaps they have just sent out the most recent “success” story in the last 6 months when the pastor is suddenly, and unexpectedly, called home to glory. Perhaps the sudden, Providential circumstances leaves a number of disciples part way through the discipleship process, headed for future vocational ministry but not presently ready to step into that role. Who is the failure here?
This is only one possible scenario that defies your evaluation. What would you have them do? Should they shut the doors? Should they install an unqualified pastor? Or should they seek help from an interim pastor while looking to call another permanent minister? You make no sense brother.
Why is it that my voice always seems to be loudest when I am saying the dumbest things?
First, it is a problem for any church to have only one guy who can fill the pulpit, much less the other duties. What a shame and a blight on that church.
The NT never limits a church to single elder, ever. Elders are always spoken of in the plural.
Second, if a church does only have one elder (obvious problem at the start), deacons are supposed to be men full of wisdom. How full of wisdom are they really if they can’t open the word to people?
Third, the mentality that the pastor is in some form of professional position is false as well. You don’t have to think of him as a CEO after a business model to still think of the pastorate as the presidency.
Even if only one elder is paid, other elders are to be in the church. They might be a lawyer or manager or janitor.
The interim pastor concept is a bandaid. It is the best pragmatic solution for a problem created from a bad model.
The church is supposed to have men who don’t fumble the word, who are wise, who have a heart to seek growth in others. If the church lacks such men, then their failure is even more accentuated.
1 Kings 8:60 - so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other.
[James K] Chip, I assume your post meant me instead of Kevin. If so, none of what you are saying or any of your scenarios have anything at all to do with what I am saying.Yup - sorry about that.
[James K] First, it is a problem for any church to have only one guy who can fill the pulpit, much less the other duties. What a shame and a blight on that church.Why? Because you think there should be multiple elders?
[James K] The NT never limits a church to single elder, ever. Elders are always spoken of in the plural.True, it doesn’t limit the number of elders. You do understand that not everyone agrees (including myself) that the plural use of the word elder in Scripture necessitates an understanding of multiple elders in each church, right? Are you saying the lack of a limit=a command for multiples? So, a church lacking multiple elders is violating Scripture?
[James K] Second, if a church does only have one elder (obvious problem at the start), deacons are supposed to be men full of wisdom. How full of wisdom are they really if they can’t open the word to people?Deacons are vastly different in role and function than pastors. Furthermore, they are not required to be apt to teach. Their presence should help i finding a new pastor, but does not necessarily qualify them to fill in for the pastor.
[James K] Third, the mentality that the pastor is in some form of professional position is false as well. You don’t have to think of him as a CEO after a business model to still think of the pastorate as the presidency.Don’t understand the point you are trying to make here regarding the present discussion.
[James K] Even if only one elder is paid, other elders are to be in the church. They might be a lawyer or manager or janitor.As I said before, not universally accepted.
[James K] The interim pastor concept is a bandaid. It is the best pragmatic solution for a problem created from a bad model.I don’t think you’ve proven this point yet, just remade previous assertions.
[James K] The church is supposed to have men who don’t fumble the word, who are wise, who have a heart to seek growth in others. If the church lacks such men, then their failure is even more accentuated.Which comes back to the scenario I presented earlier. No failure there. Your supposition is invalid.
Why is it that my voice always seems to be loudest when I am saying the dumbest things?
Acts 11:30
And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.
(greek word for elder here is presbyteros – a ruling council)
Acts 14:23
When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22, 23 and 16:4
And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue…When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them…The apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter…Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas—Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, …and they sent this letter by them, “The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, greetings…Now while they were passing through the cities, they were delivering the decrees which had been decided upon by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem, for them to observe.
Acts 20:17
From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.
Acts 20:28
Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
Acts 21:18
And the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.
Philippians 1:1
Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons
I Thess 5:12-13
But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work.
I Timothy 5:17
The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
Titus 1:5
For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you
James 5:14
Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord
1 Peter 5:1-2
Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness
Hebrews 13:7
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.
In light of 2 Tim 2 and others, you don’t find it to be problematic that a church only has one qualified man to teach the scripture? Perhaps that is your problem is seeing the problem with an interim pastor. The shepherd leaves and the sheep are left to wander. How tragic. Unless you can actually demonstrate from the NT that:
a. interim pastors exist
b. a church should only have one qualified guy to teach
I will have to take your objections as merely pragmatic as well and not biblically thought out. I look forward to a thoughtful discussion if you choose demonstrate either of the above.
1 Kings 8:60 - so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other.
[James K] Fine Jonathan, you have found an example of an apostolic appointment to help out the Thessalonian church. Since you can’t actually post any support for such a thing to happen again today, I will take this as a concession that pragmatism rules your position on this issue.??? Many churches today have multiple elders today because it happened in the first century church. A church today can get temporary pastoral leadership because it also happened in the first century church. 1 Thessalonians 3:2 is clear on what was provided to a church in need. You have not stated any Scriptural reason why the kind of help described in 1 Thessalonians 3:2 shouldn’t be given to a church today. Since you cannot give any reason why the help of 1 Thessalonians 3:2 should not be given today, I will take this as a concession that your view on temporary pastoral leadership is not based on the authority of the Scriptures.
Titus 1:5 is key: “Ordain elders in every city…”
When Paul wrote letters, he wrote them to the “church (singular) in [name of city].” And yet we also know that Christians met in multiple homes in the city, and each gathering was also called a “church” (singular).
So it’s obvious that each city’s church had multiple elders, but what is not so clear is whether each house had multiple elders. For someone who argues so strenuously that Paul’s instruction to Timothy to assist a church doesn’t apply to us because Paul was an apostle, you need to be careful not to read the contemporary church situation back into the NT.
The most we can dogmatically assert is that there should be multiple elders among the churches that meet in each particular city. Whether each individual church in that city MUST have multiple elders is less clear (although HSAT, I think multiple elders is preferable).
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Greg Long, Ed.D. (SBTS)
Pastor of Adult Ministries
Grace Church, Des Moines, IA
Adjunct Instructor
School of Divinity
Liberty University
Timothy was an apostolic emissary. He wasn’t sent to be the pastor of a church. He was sent to appoint elders. That is what he went there for.
1 Kings 8:60 - so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other.
Where are the other men in these churches that feel like they need to outsource the work? Are they really that immature, weak, and/or inept?
1 Kings 8:60 - so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other.
I just wish you could make it in a less caustic and argumentative way.
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Greg Long, Ed.D. (SBTS)
Pastor of Adult Ministries
Grace Church, Des Moines, IA
Adjunct Instructor
School of Divinity
Liberty University
[James K] Timothy was an apostolic emissary. He wasn’t sent to be the pastor of a church. He was sent to appoint elders. That is what he went there for.I don’t deny that Timothy was an apostolic emissary, but you have not written anything convincing as to why if Paul helped out a church in the first century by providing temporary pastoral leadership why a church today could not get that same help. Such help is clearly biblical, it is not a pragmatic response to a need.
I agree that the ideal situation is that every church be spiritually mature and able to manage its spiritual needs after the loss of any leader, but many N.T. churches failed to live up to what they ideally should have been, and many churches today do as well.
That you take 1 Thessalonians 3:2 and confine it to the first century allowing it to have no timeless application for the church today is, as far as I am concerned, an irresponsible and unedifying way of handling Scripture. What you have written thus far amounts to: “If it was done by an apostle and they did not clearly state that we can follow their example then it isn’t for us today.”
[Greg Long] I just wish you could make it in a less caustic and argumentative way.Very wise counsel! I would imagine God is just as concerned with the content and tone of what we post, as He is conserned about whether an Interim Pastor is Biblically allowed.
Serving the Savior, Pastor Wes Helfenbein 2 Cor. 5:17
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