What Interim and Transitional Pastors Read
Seven years ago this month I completed the first week of required training for the work I do. It was called “The Art of Transitional Leadership”. A boatload of required reading was to be done prior to showing up at Zephyr Point Conference Center. The teaching faculty did a good job of enlivening the content about family systems theory, appreciative inquiry, pastoral leadership in times of transition, and how to lead adaptive change. But it was their stories about these practices that captured my imagination and drew me initially into this field of work.
The next summer I trekked across the country to Montreat, North Caroline for a second week of training. Again, the reading list was robust. Similar topics, different authors, resulted in deeper learning. The faculty was terrific. By the end of the week I was granted certification in transitional leadership having met what was required to serve in my denomination.
Since that time I’ve enjoyed serving six churches as transitional or interim pastor. Moving frequently means I’ve become selective about what I bring with me. Here’s my go-to list of most helpful books and authors:
Adaptive Change
The Practice of Adaptive Leadership by Heifetz, Grashow, and Linsky (2009)
Leadership on the Line. Staying Alive through the Dangers of Leading, Heifetz and Linksy (2002)
Leadership Without Easy Answers by Ronald A. Heifetz (1994)
Leadership
Leadership and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic World (2006) and Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope in the Future (2009) by Margaret J. Wheatley
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team (2002), The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive, and other titles (and many talks) by Patrick Lencioni
Leading Without Power Finding Hope in Serving Community, and other titles by Max De Pree
Congregational Life
The Emotionally Healthy Church: a Strategy for Discipleship that Actually Changes Lives, by Peter Scazzero (2010 updated and expanded edition). I also recommend Pete’s “The Emotionally Leader Podcast”.
God’s Potters Pastoral Leadership and the Shaping of Congregations by Jackson W. Carroll (2006)
How Your Church Family Works: Understanding Congregations as Emotional Systems (2006), Congregational Life in Anxious Times: Being Calm and Courageous No Matter What (2006), and A Door Set Open: Grounding Change in Mission and Hope (2010), by Peter L. Steinke.
A Change of Pastor by Loren B. Mead. No list on this topic would be complete without a book by this influential leader, thinker, and founder of the Alban Institute.
Self Leadership
Dare to Lead: Brave Work, Tough Conversations, Whole Hearts (2018) and other titles and talks by Brene Brown
Now Discover Your Strengths (2001) and Putting Your Strengths to Work (2006) by Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton. Knowing my strengths and how they show up in my life and ministry has been game-changing. Mine are: Learner, Maximizer, Self-Assurance, Intellection, and Activator.
Enneagram resources by Suzanne Stable, Ian Cron, and Richard Rohr. Owning that I am an Enneagram 3 and being curious about the numbers of those I work with, has been transformational in my life and ministry.
If these authors and their work interest you, it’s quite likely you may enjoy interim and transitional ministry. For more about the attributes and skills of leaders who serve in this way read 9 Musts for Pastors.
Already serving in this way? Fabulous! I’d like to know what you’d add to this list of resources. Do you blog? Would you like to guest post here? Please be in touch.
