Coaching For Interims

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;
 

How the Interim Time Created Space for the New Settled Minister to Lead with Their Natural Leadership Style - Rev. Peter Ilgenfritz & Rev. Todd Weir. Episode 27

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 how the interim time created space for the settled minister to lead with their own authentic and natural leadership style.
 
For additional podcasts on this topic, as well as downloading a transcript of this episode, please visit the Coachingforinterims.com website.

Play As Devotion for a Meeting - Rev. Niki Harvell. Episode 26

Are your church meetings too much business and not enough fun – smiles? You know – “Another meeting…ugh!” It’s no mystery that the tone of any meeting is set at the beginning, and play can be that difference between a meeting being just business, or meeting being ministry – where the Spirit flows.
In this episode, “Play As Devotion for a Meeting,” Rev. Niki Harvel reveals how play has so many benefits for not only individuals, but for our ministries and our leadership. Listen as she offers some simple examples that shift the headspace at the start of your meetings so the Spirit can flow.
For additional podcasts on this topic, as well as downloading a transcript of this episode, please visit the Coachingforinterims.com website.

Making Your Church a Community Asset, a Center for Community Life - Rev. Quentin Chin. Episode 25

I often hear churches say they want to be a center for the wider community – they want those who are not members of the church to see the church as relevant - a community asset if you will. Yet, it’s hard to make that happen as it requires thinking differently about the assets and property of the church. But what if a church changed its name from “First Church of, for example, Centerville,” to “First Church for Centerville?”
For additional podcasts on this topic, as well downloading a transcript of this episode, please visit the Coachingforinterims.com website.

Laying the Groundwork for a Successful Interim Season - Rev. Erica Avena. Episode 24

Everyone wants the interim time between settled pastors to be productive, yet it can be easy to miss those early opportunities to start strong. Laying the groundwork for a successful interim time begins, in fact, much sooner than the first day of working together. It begins with what is discussed – or not - in the very first interview before any contracts are signed.
For additional podcasts on this topic, as well as downloading a transcript of this episode, please visit the Coachingforinterims.com website.