The Interim Period: A Strategic Opportunity for Church Leadership

For many churches, the interim refers to the time between when one church staff member leaves and another steps into their role. Commonly viewed as a simple pause, the interim is often used as a holding pattern, where churches aim to simply keep things afloat without rocking the boat. However, treating the interim merely as a pause is a missed opportunity. Church leadership should instead see the interim as a strategic window, a pivot point that can help introduce healthy leadership.

Navigating the Interim

Rather than avoid difficult conversations, rely on an overburdened set of volunteers, or postpone organizational challenges, the interim provides the time and space to engage with such issues. Here's how:

• Be upfront and honest: Acknowledge the loss and allow your team to process the change. Regardless of whether the departure ended well or not, this is a necessary step.
• Clarify the now: Assign clear and realistic roles. Create a sense of purpose and revise any outdated organizational chart. Could the new role be a better fit for your church's current needs?
• Employ outside voices: An interim period might be the best moment to gain an outside perspective. Consider staging a meeting with an outside coach or consultant. Fresh eyes can bring new insights and innovations.
• Pursue spiritual triage: Identify what's fragile, what's toxic, and what's weak in your area of ministry. Address these issues before your new hire starts.
• Invest in staff health: Your existing team may carry extra weight during the interim period, both practically and emotionally. Regular communication, understanding, and compassion are essential during this time.

Leveraging the Interim for the Future of Your Church

Treating the interim as a stewardship moment, not a stopgap, allows for both growth and preparation. With well-considered plans, the interim can serve as the best chance to rethink your church's direction, clarify your culture, engender trust, and lay the foundation for your incoming church staff.

Embracing the interim as a strategic opportunity is a key topic in my latest book "Silent Alarm - The Quiet Collapse of the Church Staff Pipeline and How to Rebuild it Before it's Too Late." To delve deeper into this topic, tune into today's Healthy Church Staff Podcast episode. It's time to move forward, making strategic use of the interim period for a stronger church leadership.