Coaching For Interims

What Can Churches Share Besides a Pastor? - Rev. Gail Irwin. Episode 36

When congregations decline in numbers, the anxiety this causes can hinder their vision of adaptive options for a hope-filled future. This includes the possibilities of what they might share with a sister congregation. Seasoned UCC interim minister and author/researcher, Rev. Gail Irwin, offers some non-threatening ways to help a declining congregation in: “What Can Churches Share Besides a Pastor?”
Non-threatening ways to help a congregation declining in numbers begin to think about sharing a pastor (or their building) with another congregation;
Using your position as the interim minister to investigate the wider community on behalf of the congregation;
Good questions an entering interim minister can ask to help a congregation declining in numbers gain a positive mindset;

What Is the Value of Having an Intentional Interim Minister? - Rev. Cindy Mueller. Episode 35

What is the value of having a trained intentional interim minister? The more that parishioners understand the opportunities presented by an interim time, the more focused and engaged they will be. Listen to veteran interim minister, Rev. Cindy Mueller speak to this important topic.
Helping a congregation understand the value of having a trained intentional interim minister;
Difference between an “interim minister” and an “intentional (trained) interim minister;”
Guidance for lay leaders as they approach the interim time;
How to lower the anxiety during the interim time;
For additional podcasts on this and other topics, please visit the Coachingforinterims.com website.

Guidance for a Church on the Cusp of Legacy, or Ending Its Current Way of Ministry - Rev. Cindy Mueller. Episode 34

Do you find yourself wondering whether or not you can go on – continue to exist - as a church? In her piece, "Guidance for a church on the cusp of legacy, or ending its current way of ministry," Rev. Cindy Mueller speaks to letting go of the notion of having “failed” & navigating with authentic hope. She offers ideas of where to look for help and resource recommendations for navigating the threshold/legacy time.
Definition of a “Threshold” moment;
Letting go of the notion of having “failed” & navigating with authentic hope;
Guiding question: “What do you see as your future?”
The role of the congregation’s values guiding your decision of what to do next;
Why navigating the threshold moment takes time – don’t rush it;
Where to look for help: resource recommendations for navigating the threshold/legacy time;
For additional podcasts on this and other topics, please visit the Coachingforinterims.com website.

Guiding Question for Churches in the Threshold Liminal Space: What Is Ours to Give Away Now? - Rev. Lindsey Peterson. Episode 33

Is your church in that threshold liminal space? You know – you’ve arrived at that place where dwindling resources and energy make it clear that you to cannot continue doing ministry as you have previously. What is also clear is that to move forward, you need to let go of some “things.” But what? How? It’s an anxious and unsettling space to be in. In this episode with Rev. Lindsey Peterson, we offer a deceptively simple yet powerful question to help guide congregations and their leaders that find themselves in this threshold liminal space.
For additional podcasts on this topic, as well as downloading a transcript of this episode, please visit the Coachingforinterims.com website.

The Magic of Partnering with Non-Church Organizations - Rev. Lindsey Peterson. Episode 32

Many churches find themselves at that place of realizing they can’t go on as they have been, yet are stuck not knowing how else to be and how to make that happen. In this episode, listen to the thoughts of Rev. Lindsey Peterson whose congregation has prayerfully discerned a new vision of partnering with some non-church organization to become a community center, yet is still very much in the middle of knowing what that will actually look like, how it will turn out and what it will really mean for people. One thing that Lindsey does know for sure is this: She said, “The church needs non-church people – and not on our terms. We need non-church people of their creative terms.”
For additional podcasts on this topic, as well as downloading a transcript of this episode, please visit the Coachingforinterims.com website.

Managing Staff Challenges with Confidence during the Interim Time - Rev. Holly Millershank. Episode 6

One of the greatest gifts an interim minister can offer their successor and the congregation, is to deal with staff challenges deftly and forthrightly. It takes wisdom and often courage. What are some of the routine things interim ministers can do to create containers for challenging staff conversations to come? What are the plusses and minuses of having a staff person report to a committee versus to an individual person? What are some tips for team building among the staff?

The Holy No! can Clarify What Is Ours to Do at This Time – and What Is Not - Rev. Lindsey Peterson. Episode 31

Is your church in that anxious place of diminished vitality where folks are throwing out ideas left and right in a desperate effort to right the ship - “We ought to do this?” or, “We could attract young families again if we just did that!” etc.?
If so, the Holy No! can help clarify what is ours to do at this time – and what is not. In this episode, Rev. Lindsey Peterson takes us inside her own congregation and how they are using the Holy No! to focus and to empower.
For additional podcasts on this topic, as well as downloading a transcript of this episode, please visit the Coachingforinterims.com website.

Important Things We Learned about Nurturing and Evaluating Staff during the Interim Time - Rev. Peter Ilgenfritz & Rev. Todd Weir. Episode 30

As an interim minister, wouldn’t you love to get some thoughtful critique of your work from the settled pastor who followed you? You know – what the settled pastor most appreciates about your work; what turned out as you hoped it would? What turned out differently? And yet for interim ministers, it’s hard to get this kind of helpful feedback as part of your job is to leave the system and stay away. Sometimes, however, it is possible. In this episode, listen as interim minister, Rev. Peter Ilgenfritz, speaks about some specifics steps he took to nurture and empower the staff. Next, Rev. Todd Weir, the settled minister who followed him, speaks to the impact Peter’s actions had upon Todd and his ministry – especially during those crucial early months.
 
For additional podcasts on this topic, as well as downloading a transcript of this episode, please visit the Coachingforinterims.com website.

Managing the Relationship with Former Pastors of the Church in Such a Way that Enhances the Ministry of the Next Settled Pastor - Rev. Peter Ilgenfritz & Rev. Todd Weir. Episode 29

As an interim minister, wouldn’t you love to get some thoughtful critique of your work from the settled pastor who followed you? You know – what the settled pastor most appreciates about your work; what turned out as you hoped it would? What turned out differently? And yet for interim ministers, it’s hard to get this kind of helpful feedback as part of your job is to leave the system and stay away. Sometimes, however, it is possible. In this episode, listen as interim minister, Rev. Peter Ilgenfritz, and the settled minister who followed him, Rev. Todd Weir, speak about one of the biggest headaches many settled ministers have – dealing with former ministers of the congregations who are still hanging around. Listen to how the IM managed the relationship with these former pastors in such a way that enhanced the ministry of the incoming settled pastor.
 
For additional podcasts on this topic, as well as downloading a transcript of this episode, please visit the Coachingforinterims.com website.

Play As Curriculum (or, it’s Just As Easy to Teach a Fun Confirmation Class As a Boring One-Here’s How) - Rev. Niki Harvell. Episode 28

Injecting Play into Curriculum, like Confirmation, can boost engagement and focus purpose;
Tips and examples for how to incorporate play easily into class curriculums;
Advice for the leader who doesn’t think of themselves as a “play” person – who feels uncomfortable leading a play activity;
Play directly affects people’s level of engagement and motivation;
Using play to release Holy Spirit energy!
Play has so many benefits for not only individuals, but for our ministries and our leadership.
Examples of simple and more advanced games;