Your minister is leaving.
You've been told it will take
at least 12-18 months before
your new minister arrives.
What do you do now?
You are in an Interim Time -- by definition a period of transition. One chapter of your congregation’s life is ending (or has ended) and the next will soon begin. The time between is a “liminal” period, not-quite-this, not-yet-that, rich with opportunities for deeper understanding and creative approaches to congregational issues. Your liminal time can be a positive transition, where seeds are planted, hopes are voiced, visions articulated and positive energy nurtured.
Working with an accredited interim minister is one path to positive transition.
· An interim minister can companion you in grieving, honor your history, facilitate needed conversations, and lift challenges gently into the light.
· She or he can view your congregation with clear eyes, giving you an honest assessment of your strengths and an appreciation of areas where you may choose to change.
· She or he can provide a thread of continuity in a time of change, a tangible connection to the wider fabric of our movement and our collective ministry.
· She or he can help you nurture and enrich your worshiping and working community during the transition period, and help you prepare for the next chapter of your collective ministry.
* She or he can walk with you on the path of expanding your congregation's perceptions and identity as together you seek to live out UU principles in creating a just and inclusive world.
These are part of what we might accomplish together during a period of interim ministry. Then, at the end of the appointed time, an interim minister will join you in celebrating your opportunities – and with respect and caring, she will move on. For that is the nature of an interim time – it comes to an end when the next chapter is ready to begin.
