Ministry during a vacancy. Education for ministry during a vacancy. It seemed like a simple enough article when I agreed to write this, but the more I got into this, the bigger it got. Huge. Still, at the risk of over simplifying, and looking at this from an educational perspective, there is only one major difference between a congregation with a minister and one that is without one. Attitude.
There is an attitude in our denomination about congregations that are "destitute of a fixed pastor" (Book of Forms, Appendix A-8). It's not openly talked about but it's there, like the hidden ingredient in the soup, seldom seen but always making its presence known.
I'm not speaking here of the many practically permanent vacancies in the Presbyterian Church in Canada, where neither congregation nor presbytery has any thought of ever calling or appointing a minister. These congregations already know about doing what they do without having a "fixed pastor".
This is about those shorter-term vacancies. In between the last pastor (recently gone) and the next one (arriving in the next year … or two). The goodbyes have been said. The moving van has gone. The pulpit has been preached vacant. And the attitude is alive and well.
Like here: the interim-moderator was meeting with the Session. The meeting had gone well and now all that was needed was to set the date for the next one, as well as some possible agenda items. One of the elders spoke, "Last year we started talking about term service for session members but then the pastor moved and everything stopped. I think we should keep working on that." The interim-moderator hemmed and hawed and finally said she thought that issue should be left until their new minister was in place. And then she called for adjournment.
Or here: different interim moderator. Different session. After opening worship, the interim moderator looked around the table and asked, "What do we call a congregation that doesn't have a minister?" He was answered with blank looks. One of the members started to flip through the index in his Book of Forms. Others shifted in their chairs, avoiding eye contact. And then he said, "We call it 'church'. A congregation that doesn't have a fixed pastor is still a church. I just think it's a good thing for us to keep in mind."
Neither is exactly a true story but they could be. In fact, they are both based on true events. It's all about attitude. We sometimes act as if congregations without ministers are in suspended animation, alive but without much happening. In semi-hibernation until spring arrives with the next service of induction.
And we know better. We know that the church is the community of faith (with or without benefit of clergy). We know that "all Christians are called to participate in the ministry of Christ." (Living Faith 7.2.1) We know that ministers come and ministers go and the life of the congregation goes on, even in that interim between the last moving van pulling away from the curb and the next one pulling up.
Of course, the language we use doesn't help. We call congregations without ministers vacant. Have you ever looked up some of the synonyms for vacant? Unoccupied. Disused. Deserted. Empty. "So, what's happening at your church these days?" "Oh, not too much. We're unoccupied, you know." Is it any wonder many congregations looking for a minister choose to have a "search committee" instead of a "vacancy committee?" But still the attitude persists.
So, what can we do about it? We know that attitudes are hard to change — and slow. But here are a few ideas that might help. This isn't an exhaustive list but perhaps it will start you thinking and get you making a list of your own —
Ministers: Are you considering a move? Have you started looking with interest at the ministry opportunities listed in the Record? Before you walk too far down that road, think about the congregation you now serve. You know how this pastoral charge does things. So imagine what it will be like when you leave. Which programs and events will continue uninterrupted? Which will be put on hold until a new minister is in place? Will the session lead the way concerning the worship cycle in this church, making sure the interim moderator knows how things are done here? How will pastoral care needs be met?
Are there things that you would want to be different for your congregation? Now is the time to do something about it — while you are still their pastor. If you can speak openly with the session about the possibility of a call to another church, then together you can plan for the ministry of this church during that interim time.
Session Members: That imagination exercise is a good one for you, too. And you may have the advantage of remembering what your church life was like the last time you were vacant. Identify the areas of greatest weakness. Remember what happened then and what you wouldn't want to happen again. Now do something about it.
You don't have to wait for your minister to have accepted a call to another church. Trust your pastor. Trust yourselves. Talk about it at a session meeting. Make it the topic of a session retreat. Sign up for an online course with the Elder's Institute (there are several that would be helpful, including When the Pulpit is Vacant: Ministry in the Interim). Ask presbytery's help in organizing an area-wide workshop.
Interim moderators: Remember that if there are any experts around on ministry in this congregation during this vacancy, you aren't one of them. Pay attention. Ask questions. Find out what's important to the people of this church. Ask if there are areas in which they need extra support. And remember to encourage them.
Presbyteries & Synods: Consider having a workshop around the whole issue. Help interim moderators (and future interim moderators) fine tune their skills. Make sure everyone understands church procedures, not just the letter of the law but the spirit. Give ruling and teaching elders a chance to plan at a less anxious and stress-filled time.
Ministry during a vacancy. It really is about attitude. That time between pastors can sometimes feel like everything has been put on hold. But it doesn't have to. It can be a great time of self-discovery in the congregation. Of enjoying the strengths of the family of faith and working on the areas of weakness. Of growing together as the Body of Christ.
What it takes is a memory — ministers come and ministers go but the life and work of this congregation goes on. And it takes a decision — we will plan and learn and work together in order to grow stronger as people of God. And it takes a change of attitude.
