6 reasons the role of interim pastor is changing drastically

Thom Rainer April 1, 2019

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In the recent past, the role of the interim pastor was simple and straightforward: Find someone who can preach for six to nine months until the new pastor comes on board.

Today, the role of interim pastor is changing, becoming more complex, and carrying higher expectations. These changes are important not only for churches that are seeking an interim pastor, but the retired or late-in-career ministers who are often called on to help churches through a transitional period. 

Primary factors 

Why is this dramatic change taking place? Here are six major reasons:

1. Churches want and need more help than preaching in an interim period. Depending on how you define revitalization, somewhere between 65 percent and 90 percent of all North American congregations need some type of revitalization efforts and strategies. More churches want and expect that of their interim pastors. Clearly, the job is becoming more than a “show up on Sunday to preach” role.

2. Churches want to know if an interim pastor has specific qualifications for the job. Related to the first reason, this new reality is growing. More and more churches want to know if the prospective interim is truly trained and qualified for the role.

3. Interim periods are growing in length.  There are a number of reasons for this phenomenon, which I have addressed in other blogs. But we know the time between pastors is growing. Churches, therefore, want more than the traditional pastor during this period.

4. Churches need interim pastors to make tough decisions.  Many churches now look for interim pastors who can lead major changes and “clean the slate” for the next pastor. This type of leadership requires both experience and specific training.

5. The role of interim pastor is becoming a retirement vocation for many Boomer church leaders.  A number of these leaders may do 20 or more interim pastorates as a retirement ministry. Boomer church leaders will not fade gently into the sunset. This reality is a new phenomenon that is changing the way people look at interim pastors.

6. Church life in general is more complex. The consequence is the need for an interim pastor who can adjust to these complexities. That interim pastor is different than those of the past, even those of recent years. 

As church practices change and church challenges grow, the role of interim pastor will grow with it. Keep your eye on these dynamics, too. The interim pastor’s position during the coming year—and beyond—will look dramatically different than the interim pastor of 2015.

Photo source: istock 

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Thom S. Rainer is the founder and CEO of Church Answers, and online community and resource for church leaders. Prior to founding Church Answers, Rainer served as president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. Before coming to LifeWay, he served at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for twelve years where he was the founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism. He is a 1977 graduate of the University of Alabama and earned his Master of Divinity and Ph.D. degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Learn More »

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