Serving, Strengthening, Stabilizing Churches

in Pastoral Transition

Serving, Strengthening, Stabilizing Churches in Pastoral Transition

Serving, Strengthening, Stabilizing Churches in Pastoral Transition

Introduction

• 85% either stagnant or dying.

• 80% functioning as organizations rather than living organisms

• 18% are without pastors

• 74 churches close each week

• 33 % have had a pastor leave due to a forced exit. From “reTurn ministry”

Dead and dying churches should concern us all. Millions of Southern Baptists attend churches that demonstrate little concern for the lost around them. Billions of dollars of church property sit idle and unused. This fact makes church revitalization also a stewardship issue. God has provided many stagnant churches with people, resources, and buildings. God has also given them a calling. They must be more than museums of past glory days.

Ed Stetzer, SBC Life

• Call to New Church or Ministry

• Conflict with Church leaders

• Forced Resignation

• Family, Health

• Moral issues

Lifeway

• Go into a holding pattern, become lax

• Power struggles

• Save money

• Call a Pastor as soon as possible

• Staff members preach

• Guest speakers

• Local retired pastor as interim

Southern Baptist Convention of Texas

• your church can move into greater health and effective ministry.

• A skilled interim pastor can bring strength and guidance to a church

• Carry on the previous pastor’s role• Give a sense of consistency to pulpit ministry• Keep the public aware the church is still going• Helps keep current programs running• A good job for retired/ semi-retired pastors • An upgrade from having guest speakers.• Primarily “filling in” till the new pastor arrives                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Is this what interim pastoral ministry is

Unfortunately, many churches see

the interim period as…

A time to shift into neutral orDown time till they get a full time pastor

http://simmsministry.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/The-Bottom-Line-logo.jpg

Exit of Previous Pastor

Entrance of New Pastor

Assess

ClosureSearch Process

Vision Renewal

Relational Renewal

Structural Renewal

Transitional Ministry

Pastoral Care

PastoralAdmin.

PastoralPreaching

This is not…. •a magic formula for success•a rigid plan of activities….

It IS an intentional process that is designed

to help the local church become all that

God intends for it to be

Intentional Purpose Intentional Process Intentional Planning

•Helps the Church Regroup• Identifies and Solves Problems•Evaluates and Improves Ministry•Develops Leaders and Workers•Unites around Shared Vision/Plan•Coaches the Pastor Search Process

Congregational studies

over the past twenty years

show that the time between pastors

is a pivotal time in congregational life.

It shapes congregational

growth, identity, and health

for years to come.

Let’s Join Together & Prepare Your Church For Its Future!

Questions and Answers