1. THE CONTINUUM OF MINISTRY
CONTINUING
THE CONTINUUM OF MINISTRY

2. MISSION MAINTENANCE

3. BUILDING BUDGETS BYLAWS
DO JUSTICE LOVE KINDNESS WALK HUMBLY

4. Some churches operate as though…
The Pastor is the performer
The Congregation is the audience
God is the prompter

5. What should it be? The Congregation is the performer
The Pastor is the prompter
God
is the
audience

6. Human ego needs God discerned vision

8. CHANGING LANDSCAPE: Away:
Churches are hypocritical
Churches impose doctrine and morals
Churches are meddling in politics
Churches are vitriolic/toxic on moral issues
Churches are out of touch
Churches are boring

9. CHANGING LANDSCAPE Towards:
Conversation and dialogue: Informality
Acceptance and belonging
Meaningful generativity (make a difference)
Peace – Poverty -- Planet
Mystical encounter with Holy
Connection to sacred natural world
Do Justice – Love Kindness – Walk Humbly
Tradition – not Traditionalism

11. GOAL
TO BE HEALTHY, FAITHFUL AND EFFECTIVE IN THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF MINISTRY

12. Introducing the New LOCAL CHURCH PROFILE
Ministerial Excellence, Support and Authorization (MESA) Team, September 2016

13. Three Questions to Advance the Calling of the Church
WHO
Are we
Is our neighbor
Is God calling us to become
Compare to Alice Mann and Gil Rendle: Holy Conversations

14. Benefits of New Local Church Profile
Questions selected by prayer and research, volunteer MESA Working Group 2015
Churches experiences dynamic discernment
Questions from the past and present lead to future
Both narrative and data
Thorough, honest, and distinctive
Pastors sense direction and permission
Leadership for a purpose
Partnership together toward God’s future

16. Table of Contents

17. 1. Do It Anytime With current leadership Over time learn from changes
Discover/assess direction
Over time learn from changes
Recommended every 3-5 years
Not just in times of search and call
Yes, it’s an option to start the main section ahead of ministerial transition
Draw on a retiring minister’s energy within appropriate boundaries
During an interim
Often the whole Local Church Profile will be completed during an interim time

18. 2. Do the Profile In the Best Order
Church Answers:
WHO Are We?
WHO Is Our Neighbor?
WHO is God Calling Us to Become?
Final Document Reads:
WHO God is Calling Us to Become
WHO We Are Now
WHO Our Neighbor Is

19. 3. Maximum Participation!!
Governing Body or standing vision group OK
Search Committee OK
Transition Team can be strategic, to lead a season of involvement by the entire community!
Transition Team
Use discoveries already made in the above process
Add Position Posting, References for new minister
Begin confidential small-group process of discernment around candidates
Search Committee
6-12 months
6-12 months

20. Transition/Advance Team
Does not have to be the Search Committee
Understand and interpret/champion process to the whole congregation
Involve the whole community in preparing the Local Church Profile
Use: Diversity exercises, neighbor engagement, ministry assessment, demographic study, wider church connections
Use: Story-telling, worship, history, Appreciative Inquiry, church survey

21. Search Committee Finish references, consent
Position posting including Scope of Work
Establish group consensus and criteria
Prepare interview questions using church profile
Based on what you have learned about who your church is, who your church’s neighbor is, and who God is calling the church to become, describe four areas of excellence from The Marks that your next minister will display to further equip the congregation’s ministry in these areas

22. Timeline Designed to be done in a year 6-12 month process to prepare
6-12 month process for the search
Kairos time
Discernment and holy surprises
“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” 2 Peter 2:8
“For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.” Psalm 90:4

23. Conference Support for Search Process
Types of pastorate
Settled / Supply / Designated-Term / Intentional Interim
Compensation and costs
See Call Agreement Workbook
Timeline
Customized
Clarify covenantal expectations
Church Profile validation
Posting on UCC Ministry Opportunities
Use of Ministerial Profiles and Snapshot

24. Conference Support for Church Profile
UCC Data Hub 11-Year Report
MissionInsite Demographics
Welcoming Diversity Inventory
IS the LCP appropriate for every church?
Local Church Profile adds value for most churches
Local Church Profile is critical for the discernment of any pastor considering a Designated-Term or Settled commitment
If the Local Church Profile is not a valuable experience for the church, and if that church is not seeking a Designated-Term or Settled minister:
Proceed with Position Posting only for supply or interim
LCP can be done during an intentional interim or after the supply minister arrives

25. Interim Minister Toolkit
Local Church Profile
Link 5 focus points to 3 sections of the Profile
11-Year Report
MissionInsite Report
Ministerial history and Financial information
Narrative/AI/worship activities throughout Profile
Welcoming Diversity Inventory PDF
Call Agreement Workbook
4 types of pastorate
Congregational life cycle adaptations
Preparation for the next pastor

26. Role of the Intentional Interim Pastor
Discussion
Hello / goodbye / loss / change / transition / anxiety / creativity / humor / health / adaptation
John Keydel (2015)
“The focus points – Heritage, Mission, Connections, Leadership, and Future – offer a way for congregations to reflect on those [3] questions and prepare for a meaningful and productive future.”
The work of the interim:
“The real work of the intentional interim minister is to facilitate and coach, guide and support the members and leaders of the congregation as they engage the focus points.”
Scenarios
After trauma or misconduct
After no-change-for-a-long-time
After cyclical conflict
Congregations want to know ‘why interim?’ and ‘when are we done?’ Grief work v. Adaptive work… Health v. Preparedness

27. Theological Practice What questions did Jesus teach people to ask?
Does transition always become transformation?
Which spiritual disciplines on our part will help the Spirit lead us?