The 7 Major Tasks of an Interim Period..

Several of you asked me to put in the ECall some of the words I shared at the congregational meeting on May 23rd.  The 7 major tasks of an interim period (the time between ordained pastors) are:

1. The congregation must come to terms in a healthy way with strong feelings of loss, grief, or anger with the previous pastor.
2. The congregation must regain its own power in the rebuilding of the church infrastructure, especially the communication that languishes during the interim period.
3. The congregation reconnects with the wider church.
4. Church staffing issues are resolved.
5. Congregation “secrets” are exposed and dealt with.
6. Conflict within the congregation is dealt with.
7. The congregation prepares to receive its new leadership.

Since I have not been present while you have done much of this work, you will have to evaluate how much you have completed and what additional work is needed.  In the short time left, I am focused on preparing the congregation to welcome your new ordained leader.  How am I doing that?  Here are a few of the ways.  In worship I am doing things in a variety of ways—some you have done before and some that may be very different.  In preaching I am focusing on matters of UCC identity and progressive thinking.  I am trying to identify language that we use which excludes visitors.  I am urging the use of nametags, not only at worship but for meetings as well.

At this time in the interim, my job is to prepare you for the dance of welcoming a new ordained leader.  It is a dance in which you neither defer nor dictate.  If you defer, you give up your own power and gifts; if you dictate, you lose the gifts of your new leader.  Keep in mind that your new leader wants to be accepted and loved by you as much as you want to be accepted and loved by she or he.  Relationships are built by talking, sharing ideas, and trying things out together.  The time is now sufficiently short that you do not have to postpone action until the new leader arrives.  Your new minister will appreciate the fact that things are underway and not just on hold.  Give your new leader sufficient time to get to know you and your ways and learn that leader’s strengths before you let her or his weaknesses disappoint you.

The dance will involve some new steps, different twirls, adjustments, seeing things differently because of the new relationship.  You must be both flexible and confident as you engage in the next adventure of this congregation’s history.

Your Pastoral Search Committee has good choices because you are an important and attractive church.  50% of UCC Churches nationwide have memberships less than 150.  In the Pacific Northwest Conference, Plymouth and University UCC churches in Seattle are the largest by far.  But at 425 members, Bellevue is in the second tier of middle size churches with Bellingham, Fauntleroy, and Richmond Beach.  You are a congregation of amazingly talented and dedicated persons, you have an unusually fine music program, you have kids and youth in your church school, you are a theologically progressive and thinking congregation, you have a beautiful facility, you are financially healthy, you are engaged in serious and significant outreach ministry both in time given and financial support, you are located in a good community in a wonderful area of the country.  You had a long and fruitful pastorate with the Rev. Harvey Buer and there is no reason to believe that your next pastor might not stay even longer.

As your pilot/bridge/interim/whateveryouwanttocallit minister, from my view you are getting close, you are as ready as you will be, and it is time to make plans for the new dance.

Faithfully yours,
Rev. Paul Forman