The Life of an Interim Pastor
As of this month, I am finishing a 13-month term of being the Interim Pastor of the church we have been attending for the last four years. I was asked in April of 2013 to commit for six- to twelve-months to be the Interim Lead Pastor by the founding Pastor and wife who were moving back to the midwest to be closer to their aging parents. It has been a different kind of ministry assignment than I have ever had before. I consider myself a strong leader and a visionary. An Interim (like a substitute teacher) is there to keep things going, help in the "in between" and not alter the DNA too much. That's tough for me. I like to get my hands on things. I like change. I like momentum and growth and dynamism. I also followed a very loved and long-term founding Pastor and wife couple who were the glue of the church. They had been there fifteen years. Overall, the experience for Sallie and I was positive. I was able to lead, speak most Sundays and be active in mi