Coaching For Interims

Bi-vocational Ministry: How Might It Work? - Rev. Quentin Chin. Episode 76

Bi-vocational ministry is becoming increasingly common – sometimes out of choice, other times out of necessity. Either way, it’s good to approach it as a form of specialized ministry, thereby alerting its participants to take extra care around issues of boundaries, expectations and the congregation’s obligation to the pastor for fair compensation.
In this episode titled, “Bi-vocation ministry: How might it work?” Rev. Quentin Chin, a veteran of the bivocational space, shares some of the key things needed to make bivocational ministry work well.
Thinking about what else I can do as a bi-vocational pastor;
What is the congregation’s obligation to the pastor in terms of fair pay?
Setting healthy boundaries for time worked as a bi-vocational pastor;
Get agreement on expectations ahead of time;
For a transcript of this podcast, please visit the CoachingforInterims.com website. In addition, subscribe to this podcast series if you want to be notified when additional podcasts are available.

Grounding Your Daily Work in Spirit - Rev. Henry Schoenfield. Episode 75

Self-care is vitally important for us pastors, including our own spiritual nurture. Rev. Henry Schoenfield who is not only a skilled interim minister, but also a trained Spiritual Director, offers some very helpful and practical counsel to us busy pastors in this episode titled, “Grounding Your Daily Work in Spirit.”
Intention silence can give structure to your day;
Putting the big "rocks" in first;
How prayer can ground busy ministry days;
The role of surprise and wonder.
For a transcript of this podcast, please visit the CoachingforInterims.com website. In addition, subscribe to this podcast series if you want to be notified when additional podcasts are available.

Innovative Practices to Help Engage Younger Generations - Rev. Dawn Adams. Episode 74

“Innovation” is a buzz word these days in conversations about ministry vitality. And it is true that congregations that thrive are usually good at innovating. But what does “innovation” look like? How might smaller congregations and pastors engage it fruitfully? In this episode titled, “Innovative Practices to Help Engage Younger Generations,” Rev. Dawn Adams shares some of her congregation’s innovative adaptions of governance to help engage younger generations, including ways to helps parishioners feel connected to the congregation and serve with joy.
Innovative adaptions of governance to help engage younger generations;
Ways to make it easier for people to say, Yes, to serving;
Innovative ways to helps parishioners feel connected to the congregation and serve with joy;
The Spirit can often work through, No, not just through, Yes.
For a transcript of this podcast, please visit the CoachingforInterims.com website. In addition, subscribe to this podcast series if you want to be notified when additional podcasts are available.

Innovating Successfully As a Small Church in a Small Town - Rev. Dawn Adams. Episode 73

“Innovation” is a buzz word these days in conversations about ministry vitality. And it is true that congregations that thrive are usually good at innovating. But what does “innovation” look like? How might smaller congregations and pastors engage it fruitfully? In this episode titled, “Innovating Successfully As a Small Church in a Small Town,” Rev. Dawn Adams shares some of her insights, successes and struggles, particularly with regard to the different needs and expectations of younger generations.
Tips for making innovation and experimentation work for a small church;
Responding innovatively to the different church participation behaviors of younger generations;
Balancing it all: engaging the congregation while also maintaining healthy boundaries;
Examples of successful collaboration with other clergy for worship, Advent, Lent, that lessen one’s work load;
Collaboration should make things easier not harder;
For a transcript of this podcast, please visit the CoachingforInterims.com website. In addition, subscribe to this podcast series if you want to be notified when additional podcasts are available.

Why Your Body Budget Matters to the Quality of Your Ministry (or, What Neuroscience Has to Say about Clergy Self-Care) - Rev. Arlen Vernava. Episode 72

No one denies the need for good self-care as an Interim Minister, yet some IM’s suffer in this area. Some of us would be better at it if we could get it out in front of ourselves somehow – manage it like we do the many other tasks and projects. The concept of the “Body Budget” can be the help we need to successfully manage our own self-care. Rev. Arlen Vernava, a skilled Interim Minister and IMN faculty member brings real value to this conversation in this episode titled, “Why Your Body Budget Matters to the Quality of Your Ministry” (or, What Neuroscience Has to Say about Clergy Self-Care)
The 3 components of Body Budget: adequate sleep, nutritious food, exercise;
What to do when your Body Budget is in deficit, but don’t have time to attend to it;
How to advance the work of the church when Body Budget is in deficit;
Body Budget applies at the congregational level too;
For a transcript of this podcast, please visit the CoachingforInterims.com website. In addition, subscribe to this podcast series if you want to be notified when additional podcasts are available.

Is It Ever Okay to Terminate a Staff Member During the Interim Time? - Rev. Dr. Jonathan New. Episode 71

Is it ever okay to terminate a staff member during the interim time? Some experienced interim ministers say that decision should be left to the settled pastor who follows them. Others say that if it’s clear that a staff member is no longer a fit, the interim minister should make sure that staff member does move on so as not to burden the incoming settled pastor. Either way, it requires clear thinking, compassion and some courage.
Savvy transitional minister and vitality expert, Rev. Dr. Jonathan New, brings a lot to the conversation in this episode titled, “Is it ever okay to terminate a staff member during the interim time?”
My take on the role of the interim minister in assessing, firing and hiring staff;
Asking the question: Does this staff member continue to be a fit?
Even if you have the authority, don’t make the decision to terminate by yourself;

What about Taking on Significant Projects during the Interim Time, such as a Capital Campaign? - Rev. Dr. Jonathan New. Episode 70

An important judgement during an interim engagement is deciding what to take on and what to leave for later – after the next settled pastor arrives. Examples include letting go problematic staff members, or taking on special projects such as a capital campaign. I’ve heard thoughtful and wise interim minister colleagues come down on both sides of such issues. Savvy transitional minister and vitality expert, Rev. Dr. Jonathan New, brings a lot to the conversation in this episode titled, “What about taking on significant projects during the interim time, such as a capital campaign?”
How to know if / when it’s appropriate to take on a significant project during the interim time;
The layers to think about when considering a major project during the interim time such as a capital campaign or an Open & Affirming process.
For a transcript of this podcast, please visit the CoachingforInterims.com website. In addition, subscribe to this podcast series if you want to be notified when additional podcasts are available.

Assessing and Evaluating the Congregation: Categories of Things to Look for - Rev. Dr. Jonathan New. Episode 69

When entering a new congregation as an intentional interim minister, a lot of things vie for your attention: How is their financial condition? Worship attendance? Morale? How did it go with the previous pastor? and more. So, it’s helpful not only to learn quickly, but also to avoid getting dragged down or distracted by the anxiety in the system or easily quantifiable things. To this end, deeply experienced transition minister and vitality expert, Rev. Dr. Jonathan New, speaks of the five key features of church life that he pays attention to, as well as exploring the congregation’s core governing principles, and helping them increase their self-understanding – all of which make for effective transitional leadership in helping a congregation take its next steps faithfully.
The five key features of church life I pay attention to;
Exploring the congregation’s core governing principles –
 its “DNA”
Does it matter which kinds of assessments to use?
Helping the cong. to increase its self-understanding.
For a transcript of this podcast, please visit the CoachingforInterims.com website. In addition, subscribe to this podcast series if you want to be notified when additional podcasts are available.

My WHY for Interim Ministry and Thoughts for Those Thinking of Entering Interim Ministry - Rev. Dr. Laura Barnes. Episode 68

Are you thinking of becoming an intentional interim minister? In this episode titled, “My WHY for Interim Ministry & thoughts for those thinking of entering interim ministry,” thoughtful and richly experienced interim minister, Rev. Dr. Laura Barnes, reflects on why she chose to take this step, how it’s going for her, and some of the surprises along the way.
If I'm encouraging churches not to be stuck, I too need not to be stuck;
Changing venues has helped me to let go of things in my own life - in a healthy way.
For a transcript of this podcast, please visit the CoachingforInterims.com website. In addition, subscribe to this podcast series if you want to be notified when additional podcasts are available.

Handling Difficult Financial Conversations with a Congregation - Rev. Dr. Laura Barnes. Episode 67

Do you struggle with understanding your congregation’s financial reality? Do you wish you could grasp what a congregation’s financial documents reveal about itself? While it certainly helps to have some financial training, you don’t have to be a financial wiz to engage the congregation in meaningful conversation about their financial reality. Former banker and veteran interim minister, Rev. Dr. Laura Barnes, offers valuable guidance and simple steps that any interim minister can take, in this episode titled, “Handing Difficult Financial Conversations with a Congregation.”
What their financial documents reveal about the condition of the congregation - what to look for;
Here's when and how I ask for their financial documents and what I do with them;
What if I don't have any financial training? Should I just leave all that to others?
For a transcript of this podcast, please visit the CoachingforInterims.com website. In addition, subscribe to this podcast series if you want to be notified when additional podcasts are available.