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Practical Principles For Being An Effective Interim Pastor: Traditional or Intentional
by Dale Huff
Things you should do:
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Develop a simple but adequate agreement that will cover:
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Compensation
- Designate monetary amount for each service.
- Expenses
- Mileage amount
- Meals
- Housing
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The contact person who will secure the supply when you need to be out.
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Whether or not you will be paid if a service is cancelled.
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Study the church directory often. When you know their names it makes an immediate connection.
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Circulate in the sanctuary before the service and speak to people.
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Be positive. Brag on them.
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Help them develop short term goals and reach them.
Examples: Lottie Moon Offering, High Attendance Day, Debt Reduction.
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Listen to the grumbles. Encourage an appropriate response.
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Visit each Adult Sunday School class. Contact the teacher ahead of time and indicate a desire to visit his/her class.
What have I left out?
Things you should not do:
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Schedule a see-how-we’re-doing checkup for every three months. Deal with issues of concern immediately. Nip it.
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Stray beyond the agreement without discussing it with an authorized group.
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Act like you’re the permanent pastor.
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Try to become the permanent pastor.
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Have your head swelled and swayed by those who say they wish you were the permanent pastor.
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Agree to help the Search Committee run references.
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Recommend someone to the Search Committee.
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Hold on to the church after you leave.
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Join the church.
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Impose your preferences on them. If they have a blended service in music style don’t make critical remarks about a worship music style you dislike.
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Lobby for a second interim.
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Give opinion unless asked.
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Attend the prospective pastor’s trial sermon
What Have I left out?
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