Working in Continual Transition

Transition is Positive

• Need to be flexible 
• Interim Pastor often does good work for 1 - 2 years and then leaves - they instigate change - have great ideas coming in
• New energy, new ideas
• Administrator is often connecting link
• Administrator may know the family connections better than the pastor and work with the pastor to make the transition smooth
• Every congregation has its quirks - administrator helps a new pastor to potentially avoid some friction
• Administrators often left to find their own way - don't always get the support that a new pastor receives

Transition is Frustrating

• With a new pastor, it may not always be clear who communicates information
• Lines of communication must be kept open between pastor and chair, pastor and administrator, chair and administrator, etc. - who gets what information
• Who lets adminstrator know information for bulletin?
• If there are too many changes, easy to become disengaged

Changes in Committees/Chairs

• Often there is no training of a new chair - sometimes this becomes the administrators job
• Policy binder is helpful - but it needs to be read
• Give an instruction sheet of expectations - e.g. church booking, minutes
• Council/Committee Minutes are a good source of information
• Good to be able to go to someone (e.g. council chair) and let them know what you need
• For new pastors, have an orientation checklist
• Leave a paper trail so someone can replace you if needed
• Make a binder of jobs, phone numbers, passwords, equipment tips, contacts

Intentional Interim

• Often involves congregational visioning process
• Weekly meetings are helpful
• Need to build trust - both have the same goal - how do we want to work together so things run smoothly