What Interim Pastors Do First

Congratulations, you’ve signed a new contract. Completed a small mountain of paperwork. You have keys in your hand, codes to the phones, alarms, and ‘what not’ in your head. It’s time to move in. You’re ready to get started in your new call. But what do you do first?

The colorful poster on the door is a sweet reminder of the congregation’s warm welcome. The empty shelves and cabinets speak of the former pastor’s life and ministry. Clearly a robust library of books and artifacts once lined these ornate bookcases. And, no doubt a large mountain of files and folders recently exited the building as evidenced by the many now-empty metal file cabinets.

Here are three initial assessments and two creative ideas to adapt as you wish:

Ask yourself and experts: How safe is it during the COVID-19 pandemic to bring resources into the office? Am I perhaps better off from a health and wellness perspective to do writing and research from home? Adjust accordingly. Ensure your staff and elders understand your decision.

Assess how well the new workspace suits your needs. If working from home is an option, do your best to live with the office set up as-is for a while. Adjust accordingly. Ensure you have what you’ll need in each locale. Invest in efficiency. Gradually, as time and safety allows, begin to locate your own things into the space.

Adapt the space to make it your own. Stock emergency supplies such as toiletries, energy snacks, face masks, and personal items for comfort and rest. For me this means a toothbrush, trail mix, flavored water, pillow, blanket and an extra set of ear buds to support napping.

Ensure there are signs of life evident. For me orchid plants do the trick. Consider lining visible shelves with artifacts that tell the story of the current ministry season. For instance, display 52 similar objects as a counting device. Weekly move one item to indicate the passage of time (see picture gallery communion cup count-down).

You might also choose book and resource titles to display that speak to the season ahead. Keep extra copies on hand to loan out. In the first season of transitional ministry I find that family systems resources prove vital to work ahead. Adapt your list to the context in which you serve. Thinking ‘staging’ in the way realtors stage a property for sale. Think about what your space says about you and the work ahead of you and the congregation.

In summary ~ ask strategic questions, assess your needs, roll up your sleeves (so-to-speak), and begin to practice hospitality with kindness to yourself and others.

This gallery of photos was taken during my first two weeks as Transitional Pastor at Lacey Presbyterian Church in June 2020.