(Guidelines for those times when we disagree) Though we would often like to think so, Christians are not immune to conflict. We face conflict in our homes and churches, in our neighborhoods and work places. Whenever and wherever we interact with other people, conflict...
Hot Potato Forum: An Exercise for Surfacing Issues of Conflict – by Rev. Dr. N. Bendroth
Part One: Analysis Four months into my interim ministry at a large, multi-staff church on the north shore of suburban Boston, I began to experience push back. People were responding well to my preaching, worship leadership and pastoral care. I had established a...
Prepping for Growth – by Ideas of Alice Mann
by Ideas of Alice Mann In her book Raising the Roof and in her recent IMN workshop, keynoter Alice Mann presents a complete program to guide congregations when they are transitioning from a Pastoral (50-150 weekly attendance) church to a Program (150-400) church. This...
YOU ARE NOT ALONE: Learnings and Unlearnings from Colleagues – by Rev. Marshall Linden
After 41 years, 26 as a called and settled pastor in three parishes and then 15 as interim/transition in eight, I retired on June 30th. I was not one of those who counted the months, weeks, and days to retirement. Serving as Transition Senior Minister at West Avon...
The Third Tier – by Rev. Art Bell
by Rev. Art Bell John F Keydel, Jr.’s article “Interim Spectrum” in the Autumn, 2007 edition of ReVisions presented a good, helpful review of what he refers to as the “Tiers” of Interim Ministry. Many Intentional Interim Ministry practitioners have become familiar...