| The Interim Priest’s Responsibilities The Interim Priest represents and extends the ministry which is the Bishop’s pastoral and canonical responsibility for congregations in leadership transition. The Interim Priest shall lead the parish as pastor, priest, and teacher, sharing in the councils of this congregation and of the whole church, in communion with our Bishop. The Interim Priest is a priest trained to assist parishes during a time of transition, especially during the period between the leave-taking of one rector, and the calling of another rector. It is an intentional ministry of sustaining the direction and ministry of a congregation as defined by the vestry; reviewing the past, assessing the present, and evaluating the future. However, it is expected that the ministry during the interim period will be different from that experienced by members of the parish under the previous rector. The major goal of the Interim Priest’s ministry is to prepare the congregation for the next phase of their life together. To this end, the Interim Priest shall: * Help the congregation deal with a sense of loss and any unresolved issues arising from the departure of previous clergy. * Deal with internal conflicts, if any, and help heal any divisions within the congregation. * Help the Vestry, lay leaders, and staff make such changes as may be needed to align parish life and administration, with generally accepted standards in our Diocese. Ensure that Officers, Vestry and, (as far as possible), Congregation are aware of and can access all resources available to them through TEC or Diocese. The primary tasks of the Interim Priest shall be to: * Work with the Vestry and other lay leaders to maintain the regular schedule of worship services and preaching, education, pastoral care and pastoral offices, (weddings, funerals, and baptisms), while increasing the flexibility and resiliency of the parish in liturgy and music, by offering opportunities to experience different forms and styles of worship. * Calling upon the sick and shut-in, visiting newcomers, and ongoing administration of the parish, while increasing the parish’s commitment to pastoral care by lay members. * Supervise all parish staff in the exercise of their responsibilities and ministries, for which they shall be accountable to the Interim Priest. If it is necessary in the interim time to hire or terminate staff, the wardens shall take those actions, given their canonical responsibility for the parish, between rectors. * Support the Vestry in its responsibilities. The Interim Priest is expected and encouraged to participate in regional, diocesan, and church-wide responsibilities, as well as, community endeavors. Further, time given to such work shall be understood as an integral part of the Interim Priest’s ministry in the parish. It is understood that the priest is frequently called upon to attend meetings, teach workshops and do other work for the benefit of the entire Church. Such work is considered as having benefit to the parish as well, and is considered a normal and necessary part of parish work.+ Next week: What is the Vestry’s responsibility in the Interim Period? +From “Covenant of Ministry for Interim Priest – Letter of Agreement” Diocese of Massachusetts, signed by Wardens and Priest, approved by Vestry |