Your Congregation Deserves an S3 Intentional Interim Pastor

In a recent book I helped my ministry colleague Tom Harris write — Soaring Between Pastors: 8 Actions to Thrive During a Pastoral Transition — we defined an S3 Intentional Interim Pastor as one who is seasoned, skilled, and strategic. We did this in the belief congregations deserve the best quality interim pastor they can secure. Not just any person available to serve.

Numerous people available to serve have no interim pastor training. No accountability system supervises the quality of their performance. They are simply available. Excellence may be a hallmark of their interim service, but your congregation does not know that when you engage them. Availability, a good reputation, and early compatibility with the congregation assures their calling as interim pastor.

A growth industry in Christian ministry is interim pastor training, certification, coaching, and ongoing networks. Some networks have excellent interim pastors. Yet not everyone trained and certified exhibits S3 characteristics.

Some are just nice ministers who served with faithfulness in various congregations, but not always with excellence. They may bring the same mediocre pastoral performance of their earlier ministry into an interim pastorate.