Interim Minister's Role in Ministerial Search

In September, the Rev. Stephen Furrer will be joining us to serve as our new interim minister. Before the Rev. Furrer’s arrival, the Interim Ministry Transition Team would like to prepare the congregation to understand his role as our interim minister.

There have always been ministers available to fill a vacant pulpit until a new minister is called. However, the role of an interim minister is much more complex. Interim ministers serve a congregation for a year or two, easing the shift from the past to the future. An interim minister helps congregations shake loose old patterns and open up the possibility for a new form of ministry to take place. The role of an interim is to help a congregation make changes between settled ministries, correct problems, and prepare the way for the
next minister. The interim is like a mirror, reflecting the congregation back to itself. When the congregation decides on changes it wishes to make, it consults with the minister on how to make them. And the interim points out things the congregation might not see about itself.

The main role of an interim minister is to assist congregations in reviewing and revitalizing their operations.

In particular, the duties are to:

• Claim and honor a church’s past and engage and honor its griefs and conflicts.
• Recognize a congregation’s unique identity and its strengths, needs, and challenges.
• Clarify the appropriate leadership roles of minister(s), church staff, and lay leaders
  and to navigate the shifts in leadership that may accompany times of transition.
• Make appropriate use of District, UUA, and other outside resources.
• Proudly come into possession of a renewed vision and strong stewardship, prepared for new growth and new professional leadership, ready to embrace the future with anticipation and zest.