Coaching For Interims

Working with Children and Youth During the Interim Time - Rev. Lynn Carman Bodden. Episode 60

Children & youth can easily get overlooked during the interim time. Long-time Interim Minister and IMN (Interim Ministry Network) faculty member, Rev. Lynn Carman Bodden, speaks about helping them feel important during this transition period.
Helping children & youth understand the transition;
Thoughts about having a youth on the Pastor Search Committee;
Ways to help youth feel important to the transition / interim 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.

Thinking Collaboratively (not Transactionally) about the Tasks of Ministry - Rev. Quentin Chin. Episode 59

When a congregation moves from a full-time pastorate to a part-time one, there is often the unexamined expectation that the part-time pastor will still do all the tasks of ministry the pastor typically does – only in less time. Unrealistic. Stressful. Deeply experienced part-time interim minister, Rev. Quentin Chin, suggests that a way to resolve this dilemma is for congregation and pastor to shift from a transactional model of ministry to a collaborative one. He offers helpful specifics in this episode titled, “Thinking collaboratively (not transactionally) about the tasks of Ministry.”
Bringing 1 Corinthians 12 to life;
How clergy and congregation can make space for each other to shine!;
Collaborative ministry requires clergy and congregation to share with each other their respective strengths and weaker areas – especially important for part-time pastorates;
Some of the things I’m doing to prepare the congregation for a potentially indefinite period of part-time pastorates;
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.

Lessons from Hospice for Pastoral Ministry - Rev. Quentin Chin. Episode 58

Even if your congregation is getting small, there is still lots that you can do that can make people realize that you matter as a church in your town. Veteran interim minister and part-time hospice chaplain, Rev. Quentin Chin, offers some refreshing perspectives for congregations nearing an end of their current way of ministry in this segment titled, “Lessons from Hospice for Pastoral Ministry.”
How hospice philosophy relates to congregations in decline;
The positive message of hospice;
Be the best church you can be right now!
Even in decline, there are still lots of things you can do;
Finiteness is what makes a thing valuable.
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.

Fundraisers that Make the Church More Relevant to the Local Community - Rev. Quentin Chin. Episode 57

Do you really understand what your church fundraisers are doing for you (or not)? Have you wondered whether the income is worth all the effort? Are your fundraisers connected to real ministry? What could be learned from calling a one-year moratorium on church fundraisers?
Innovative interim minister, Rev. Quentin Chin, offers ideas that help ground our fundraisers in real ministry, what he calls, “fundraisers in the manner of Jesus,” in this episode titled, “Fundraisers that make the church more relevant to the local community.”
Fundraisers in the manner of Jesus;
What could be learned from calling a one-year moratorium on fundraising?
Do you really understand what your fundraisers are doing (or not) for you?
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.

Thinking Realistically about Part-time Ministry - Rev. Quentin Chin. Episode 56

Part-time pastorates are becoming more and more common, and for them to succeed, we need to think differently from when the ministry had a full-time minister. In particular, it’s vital to reframe the shift from one of loss to one of gain. In this episode titled, “Thinking realistically about part-time Ministry (and how it could actually make your congregation feel more empowered!)” Rev. Quentin Chin, a veteran of the part-time Interim Ministry space, shares some of the key things needed to make a part-time pastorate successful.
Helping the congregation think realistically about part-time ministry;
Reframing part-time ministry from loss to gain;
Ideas for how to lead Confirmation, preaching, etc., in new ways;
Is attending church suppers considered “work” for the pastor? If so, how to negotiate that.
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.

Buildings: How I Think About This Major Resource - Rev. Philomena Hare. Episode 55

Does your congregation worship its building? Is your congregation challenged with a building that no longer meets its needs? If so, listen as veteran Interim Minister shares her thoughts about aligning (or re-aligning) a congregation’s real estate with its authentic ministry calling.
Using them to further God’s kingdom
How they free up or tie up our telling the Jesus story
Dealing with idolatry of the building
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 Serving As an Interim Minister and Thoughts for Those Considering It - Rev. Philomena Hare. Episode 54

Are you thinking of becoming an intentional interim minister, or know someone who is? If so, listen as veteran Interim Minister, Rev. Philomena Hare, offers a personal reflection on why she chose this path and some wise counsel as well.
It's exciting!
If saying a healthy "goodbye" is difficult for you….
My WHY changes over time

Managing Difficult Staff Relationships - Rev. Philomena Hare. Episode 53

Interim ministers are often confronted with difficult staff issues. Listen to how seasoned Interim Minister, Rev. Philomena Hare manages staff challenges during the interim time.
Don't shy away from conflict, but….
Is it ok to have staff changes during the interim time?
Congregations usually know there is a problem, but…
Why staff performance evaluations are so important

Discerning a Call to an Interim Ministry Position - Rev. Philomena Hare. Episode 52

Are you thinking of becoming an intentional interim minister? Veteran Intentional Interim Minister, Rev. Philomena Hare reflects on why she chose to take this step, how it’s going for her, and some of the surprises along the way.
Getting clarity that interim ministry is for you – questions to ask yourself
Beware trying to discern in isolation
Why having a community of practice is so important

Setting Expectations: What Do You Want Me to Do During the Interim Time? - Rev. Philomena Hare. Episode 51

One of the basic sources of frustration and tension between interim ministers and parishioners is when their expectations are misaligned. One sign of this is when you, as the interim minister, find yourself wanting more for the congregation than they want for themselves. It can easily happen, and in such a case, then, it’s essential to discern what the congregation really wants. Veteran Interim Minister, Rev. Philomena Hare, speaks to this in this episode titles, “Setting Expectations: What do you want me to do during the interim time?”
Figuring out what the congregation wants (It may not be what it appears to be.);
Signs that expectations are misaligned;
Do they really want an interim?
The Interim’s job isn’t really to prepare them for their next settled pastor…