I currently serve as an Assistant Pastor at my home church and a Transitional Interim Minister (TIM) for another church all while I was completing the TIM training. “Learning to build the plane in flight” has been an interesting experience, one where I learn something and almost immediately put it into practice (or realize I should have already been doing something). Before this training, I really didn’t know anything about transitional ministry; I thought it was another name for a vacancy pastor. When I learned the difference, I began to see transitional ministry as an extension of my Christian Conciliation work and decided to ask President Harmon about this “secret world” I had discovered. He not only encouraged me to take the training but asked if I would consider serving as a TIM at Peace Lutheran church in Goldsboro, NC. Needless to say, I was not anticipating such a fast assignment, but over the next couple of months, I started the training and established a start date with Peace.

One thing I’ve learned is how valuable a TIM can be for a congregation experiencing a change in pastoral leadership; therefore, I wanted to (re)introduce TIM in these blogs for those who may not be as familiar with the mission as a congregational wellness resource. Since starting the training, I’ve heard several stories about how a vacancy pastor supported a church and thought, “wow…a TIM may have also been a good choice to help with their unresolved issue”.

Here are a couple of FAQs to consider (and Click Here to visit the LCMS TIM website for more).

• What is a TIM? They are more than vacancy pastors. They are specially trained pastors leading congregations through specific focus areas while also providing typical pastoral duties.
• When would a church need a TIM? There really is not a “if this happens, find a TIM” answer. Some common reasons include: a) when a long-serving pastor retires; b) a pastor is removed for disciplinary reasons or dies suddenly; c) a pastor takes another call and residual conflict needs resolution/reconciliation before extending a new call; d) the congregation desires to re-evaluate the church’s vision and mission before extending a new call.
• How long are TIM assignments and can they be the next called pastor? A transitional minister is assigned by a District President or contacted by LCMS TIM coordinators and contracted (not called) for a specific period, typically 12-18 months. Regardless of how well they do, congregations cannot call the TIM as their next pastor.

Transitional interim ministry can help better position congregations for the future by understanding themselves through the lenses of culture, partnerships, leadership, future, and mission. Look for more information on TIM coming soon to a congregational wellness blog near you…or November.

Rev Alan Shaw is an Assistant Pastor at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Cary, NC and a part-time Transitional Interim Minister at Peace Lutheran Church in Goldsboro, NC.  He is a retired Army officer and serves as a resource for the SED and LCMS with Christian Conciliation training, workshops, and reconciliation cases. He can be reached at alan@restoringharmonyllc.com.