When a pastor leaves a small church, the congregation faces one of its most significant challenges. The weeks and months between pastors — the interim period — will either strengthen the church or damage it, depending largely on how it is navigated.
This handbook gives church boards, deacons, and elders a practical framework for managing the interim well. It covers everything from the first 48 hours after a pastor’s departure through the preparation for a search.
What’s Inside
- The First Two Weeks — immediate actions, the announcement, what not to do
- Interim Leadership Structure — three models with pros and cons
- Interim Preaching Options — how to keep the pulpit filled faithfully
- Communication Strategy — what to say, when, and how
- Congregational Care — who handles what when there is no pastor
- The Search Process Overview — when you are ready to search and how to prepare
- Financial Stewardship — protecting the church’s finances during the transition
- Master Interim Checklist — week-by-week action items
- Sample Congregational Update Letter template
Written specifically for small churches where the board is navigating this for the first time without professional HR support or denominational staff.
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