| Over
the years, God has called me to minister as a Director of Christian
Education, a full-time installed pastor, part of a 2/3 time co-pastoral
team to four churches in three denominations, and a family pastor during
a time of crisis. In general, like most people, when God calls—or
redirects my call—I am often resistant, focused on my own agenda, or
just generally not paying attention. However, when God called me to
full-time interim ministry, having been blessed with following a
wonderful Interim Minister, I responded with alacrity and joy.
Interim ministry is more than being a
"bookmark" while more permanent pastoral leadership is sought.
Alban Institute and others have found that there are five
"developmental tasks" which every congregation, wherever they
fall on the crisis-to-healthy scale, must complete during the time of
transition in order to be fully ready to establish a new, enduring
pastoral relationship. Thus, along with all the other common tasks of
ministry (pastoral care, worship leadership, teaching, administration),
Interim Ministers must assist the congregation in discerning how to
complete these tasks. I have found that many churches find this process
to be not only helpful but enjoyable and empowering, offering
opportunities for people to be heard in new ways and for congregational
growth to occur.
The first of these tasks involves coming
to terms with history. It offers a way to look at past experiences
and relationships, to reflect on them, and to imagine how they might
affect future relationships within the congregation and/or with new
pastoral leadership. For instance, if a previous pastor never asked for—or
received—a salary increase, is there expectation that the next pastor
will work for the "love of God...and cheap"? Or if one person
or family in the congregation has occupied the position of benevolent
despot for several generations, what will that mean for the future?
A second task has to do with discovering
a new identity. The former pastor has left and/or retired. The
congregation has changed. Some people have gone into hibernation and are
"waiting for the new pastor to come," some have come out of
the woodwork with opinions and time to share, others are just keeping on
keeping on—but it is not the same. Some churches with long-term
pastors become known as "Rev. J’s Church," but Rev. J is no
longer there. So who will you be now—the Roast Beef Dinner Church? The
Church with the Food Pantry? How will the community know you? How do you
think of yourself? Are these congruent? It is time for discovery of a
new identity.
Along with a new identity comes the
opportunity to allow and empower new leaders. Most organizations,
the church included, find that the same people tend to do the same tasks
for periods of time. This is one way to maintain continuity. However, it
does not take into account the new people who also have gifts to offer
but no place to use them. A time of transition offers occasions to try
new things and new ideas, including new leaders—without putting
long-serving folks prematurely "out to pasture."
One really important task is that of renewing
denominational linkages. No matter how involved in the denomination
a church is, there are always some folks who are clueless. This is a
time when they can be brought on board. A denomination is only as strong
and healthy as the churches who are the denomination, and
churches are only as strong and healthy as their covenantal relationship
within the denomination. When a church lets that relationship wither, it
loses an important source of support and resources.
Finally, once the congregation chooses a
candidate, specific plans can be made to committing to new pastoral
leadership. What will the church do to encourage this to be a
healthy and enduring relationship? What will the congregation not
do that might sabotage the new call? How will the new pastor—and
family—be welcomed into this family of faith and the broader community
in a way that will be appropriate for them as well as for the church?
These are the minimum tasks through which
an Interim Minister can guide a congregation during the transitional
time. Of course, there are normally specific issues that appear with
which an Interim Minister can assist as well. One of the commitments an
Interim Minister makes is that he/she will not be a
candidate for the Installed position. One of the reasons for this is so
that those issues can be dealt with in clear and open ways...with
someone you will not have to face on a regular basis for many years to
come. Another reason is to give the Search Committee room to maneuver.
(Although there are usually at least a few folks who would like the
Interim Minister to become the Installed Pastor, there are also usually
at least a few who are greatly relieved when the Interim leaves. This
way the pressure is off the Search Committee in that balancing act.)
I have found interim ministry to be a
wonderful opportunity to meet some delightful folks, plus the chance to
learn from the inside how different churches are organized. The
diversity is as amazing as the assumption that most churches are set up
alike! When the time comes for your church to be in transition—and it will
come sooner or later—I hope that you will experience the blessings of
an Interim Minister who can walk that part of the journey of faith with
you. |
|
The United Church of Christ,
Congregational in Vermilion had never been in transition between pastors
before; our pastor had led our congregation for 36 years. It was a time
of questioning. What is this interim minister all about? What will
worship be like now? How will the pastor work with our committees? Will
baptisms, weddings, and confirmation be different? Will the new pastor
bring his or her own ideas to us? Will they expect us to conform to
their ways? What should we expect from them?
The transition from an
established pastor to an interim minister to a new pastor is an
opportunity for exploring new and different ideas. It can be a time to
set new goals for the congregation. The Interim Minister and
congregation members can learn from each other and grow spiritually and
in other ways.
Sometimes, the members will
want to call the interim minister as their new pastor. Since that cannot
happen, we have to remember that, at some point, this temporary minister
will be leaving. Then the congregation must adjust again.
Even if the Interim Minister is doing a wonderful job, it is still a
time when the church is "unsettled." The members wonder about
their future. Where do we go from here? How long will this minister be
with us?
It is difficult for the
congregation to hear the Interim Minister say, "He’s not here; we
need to move on." The longer the previous minister was with the
church, the more difficult the transition. There may be
"scratches" or there may be deeper "cuts" in the
congregational "body." By keeping open minds and relying on
God’s help through prayer, interim ministers and temporary
congregations can work together to heal the wounds and move into the
future. |
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Lay
Ministers of Health connect congregations to help for healing
Article from United Church News, page 1, January/February 2001 |
|
The Health and Wellness
Program of Justice and Witness Ministries has launched a new program
model of health ministry in local UCC churches.
The program, called Healthy
Connections, is designed to identify and train lay ministers of health
as "Healthy Connectors" who will share health information with
their congregations, identify congregational health needs, and develop
activities to address those needs. A specific goal of the training is to
establish or enhance health ministries in local churches.
On October 8, twenty
individuals representing ten UCC churches in Ohio’s Western Reserve
Association were consecrated and affirmed as Certified Lay Ministers of
Health.
The Health Connections
training program was co-sponsored by the Greater Cleveland Chapter,
United Black Christians. The graduation ceremony was held at East View
UCC, Shaker Heights, in conjunction with the United Black Christian’s
anniversary.
The graduates, Cloggie
Crowder, Charlene Higginbotham and Nathaniel Martin—Euclid Avenue
Congregational UCC; Mary Stoffiere—First Congregational UCC, North
Ridgeville; Shirley Gerecke, Frances Millward, Joan Mora—First UCC,
Berea; Geneva Jones—Hough UCC; Amanda Blade—Imani UCC; Rev. Pamela
Canzater Cheney, Douglas MacDougall, Kathy MacDougall—Lakewood
Congregational UCC; Anthony R. Gegan, Holly Spencer-Trueman-—Pilgrim
Congregational UCC; Roland Carter, Mary McClain, Ida Murpnhy, Christine
Rankin—Shaker Heights Community UCC; Carol Leahey-Kaliszewski—St.
Lukes UCC; and Helen Wilson—The UCC in Brooklyn, were given a special
charge: Find those in our churches who are in need of healing; do
whatever you have to do to help them heal; and, go out and tell the
story of the healing power of God in our midst.
The Health Connections
training is not designed to replace or detract from a congregation’s
parish nurse program. It is designed to enhance and support a church’s
existing program.
Lay Ministers of Health are
natural leaders who are respected in their church and community, who are
consulted by others for help and advice, who are or could be members of
the health ministry committee, and who are interested in health issues.
They are not necessarily members of the health care or medical
professions.
The Healthy Connections
Program is based on the concept of lay advisors, the people in every
community and church to whom others naturally turn for advice, help and
support. The purpose of the training is to enhance the lay persons’
helping and advising role, making them informed health advocates and
liaison persons. With their increased health knowledge and awareness,
the lay ministers of health can identify things that can be handled
within their own support system and network and things that need to be
referred to a health care professional. They also can enable
congregations to increase their knowledge of health risks and lifestyle
behaviors associated with most chronic diseases.
For more information about
beginning a Health Connections Training Program, please call Barbara
Baylor, MPH, CHES, Minister for Health and Wellness, 216-736-3708, or
email baylorb@ucc.org. |
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United
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Start
Something--God's Calling You
Article from United Church News, page 2, January/February 2001 |
| "Awesome!"
"Cool." "Something you can relate to." These are the
words students are using to describe Youthfest, a three-day gathering of
high school students coming to the Ohio Conference on March 16-18 and
March 30-31, April 1 at Pilgrim Hills.
The theme of the gathering is START
SOMETHING—God’s Calling You. "START SOMETHING is actually a
dare," said Doni Driemeier, director of youth programs at Eden
Theological Seminary, sponsor of the program. "The dare is to
believe that each of us is truly called by God to start something
exciting…something that each of us is uniquely made to do. YouthFest
is not about recruiting pastors or telling high school students what
they "ought" to be doing. It’s designed to help them begin
the life-long process of asking questions, listening for answers, and
becoming the person God created them to be."
During the weekend, participants will
explore what it means to be called by God, think about the ways God
calls us, and develop skills to listen and react to God’s call in
their lives. The theme will be developed through an extraordinary
combination of music, drama, computer technology and Bible study.
- Internationally known musician Ken
Medema will lead the music. Medema, blind since birth, can listen to
young people’s words and immediately compose a song that tells
their story.
- A company of professional actors will
perform one-act plays written for YouthFest as well as involve
participants in improvisational theatre.
- An unusual approach to Bible study
uses music young people listen to as a springboard to examine God’s
call.
- Each participant will design a web
page that helps them see how their lives connect to those around
them and how those connections are vital to finding their lives’
callings.
- Wise people will be on hand to listen
and discuss issues facing young people—to explain their own sense
of call and help participants wrestle with their own understandings.
YouthFest is open to students in grades
9-12. Information is available from local churches, the Conference and
Association offices, on the Start Something website (www.startsomething.org)
and the Ohio Conference website (www.ocucc.org). |
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Calling
all quilters
Article from United Church
News, Page 3, January/February 2001 |
| Quilts
are needed for five single beds at the new Prettyman Adult Center for
Spiritual Nurture at the Pilgrim Hills Camp. Susan Towner-Larsen, Ohio
Conference Minister for Education and Youth—and an avid quilter
herself—is organizing individuals or groups to make the quilts in time
for Prettyman’s May dedication.
To kick off the project, Quilt Day was
held at Pilgrim Hills on February 7, with meals provided by the
Conference’s Division of Outdoor Ministries. Quilters willing to
commit to making one of the quilts were provided with fabric and thread
for an Amish style single bed quilt top.
Quilters are asked to provide a favorite
Amish-style quilt pattern, batting and backing; make the quilt top; and
complete the quilt (machine quilting recommended) by May 1.
If you are interested in making one of
these quilts and did not attend Quilt Day, Susan Towner-Larsen will
bring the fabric and thread to your church, or she will mail it to you.
For more information, please contact
Susan Towner-Larsen at 800-282-0740or by email: susantl@ocucc.org. |
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Church News On Line
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"Pastor
Judy" hits the airwaves
Article from United Church
News, Page 3, January/February 2001 |
| Every
Sunday evening at 9:30, the Rev. Judith A Vasile, associate pastor of
Euclid Avenue Congregational Church, hosts a weekly talk series on WCLV/95.5.
"Ask Pastor Judy" features discussions of questions submitted
by members of the listening audience on a variety of topics concerning
the role and response of religious faith in the 21st century.
Topics have included church/state relationship, euthanasia, faith
healing, reproductive responsibility, holiday consumerism and
homelessness.
Rev. Vasile began her ministry at Euclid
Avenue Congregational Church in December 1998 after serving churches in
Newark and Glen Ridge, New Jersey. While in New Jersey, Rev. Vasile was
a frequent host of radio programming on WFME Family Radio in Newark.
Listeners are encouraged to submit
questions to Rev. Vasile for use on her program. They may be submitted
by phone to (216) 791-5200, by fax to (216) 791-5204, or by mail to the
church at 9606 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106. |
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