A highlight in April was attending the UUA’s Interim Ministry Seminar, my first as I finish my Accredited Interim Ministry training. Thankfully, I didn’t have to travel far to attend the national event as this year it was held in Woodstock, IL, at the Loyola Retreat Center. The major requirements for Interim Accreditation are two 12-hour courses through the Interim Ministry Network, attending the seminar, and a year of one-to-one coaching while serving as an interim minister. There are ministers who serve as interims without seeking accreditation, but I wanted to do it right—and I’m enjoying transition work. I may do it again.
One of the most insightful things I heard shared by one of our experienced interims, who is also following a high-profile minister, is this: “My work is to de-center the ministry away from a single person and back toward the congregation.” This is the best visual I’ve heard about interim work. Where the “center” of a congregation is often EITHER on a charismatic minister OR a few strong lay leaders, interim ministry re-centers things so the congregation as a whole is at the center. The interim minister leads through coaching, modeling, redirecting, and presence–but is careful to balance their authority with the congregation’s reclaiming of theirs. I’ve been calling this “a reset to neutral,” but I like the decentering image better.
I’m pleased with progress made this year. As I’ve said, one of my goals is to do a “reset to neutral” of church systems, worship practices, and congregational assumptions around ministry. What does this mean? In long-term settlements, a congregation naturally forms itself to the style and personality of its minister or ministry team. This is especially true with strong ministries. As with any healthy relationship, partners adapt to one another, compensate for strengths and shortcomings, and leverage what each other is good at.
As a congregation transitions to a new relationship with a new minister, those unspoken expectations and sub-surface adaptations can get in the way. My role is not to “reset” the church to my particular strengths or personality traits, but to more of what might be considered “neutral.” What does this look like in practice? We’ve reactivated key leadership functions, such as the Congregational Life Council and Committee on Ministry (for now called “The Transition Team”). We’re expanding the role of Worship Associates to include more leadership in the Sunday service. Overall, in line with this month’s Soul Matters theme of “Awakening Curiosity,” we’ve been curious about how lay empowerment and shared ministry will make our ministries more robust and ready for what’s next.