Rev. A. Morris Russell

If I may paraphrase the Irish Poet-William Keats, ”Preaching is not about filling a basket but lighting a fire.”

The Interim Pastor, involved in a Transitional Ministry, is there not just to minister on Sundays and Wednesdays doing some visitation as needed. He is there to help the church recognize where they are, re-establish their goals, rekindle the fire, and renew their vision.

After retiring from a very large and busy ministry in Nassau, Bahamas. I made a renewed commitment to the Lord for service when, where, and how He would be pleased to use me. It has been an exciting experience to serve in a variety of ministries. This has taken me to chaplaincy work amongst seniors, visitation pastor in a church, ministering to missionaries, and establishing an International Church on the Island of Bonaire, representing a Mission in Eastern Canada. However the ministry that has proved to be very rewarding, exciting and challenging has been that of Transitional Ministry as an Interim Pastor.

When this ministry opened up for me a number of pastors, denominational leaders, and well-meaning advisors shared what they thought should be the role of an “Interim Pastor”. They were ready to say, “It should be brief;” “You should not become too involved;” “A maximum of three months;” Etc., I am a pastor at heart, and I cannot minister to people without becoming involved. Therefore, in spite of the strong advice of many, when I am asked to be an Interim Pastor in a church I make it very clear that I will act as a “Full-time Pastor in an Interim capacity.” This involves determining the amount of time spent at the church and at home dealing with the issue of how much time will be spent with the Search Committee and the Board. The involvement should be with the preparation of the church rather than the day to day administration and function. It is also very important to establish the financial arrangements, such as remuneration, the paying of Employment Insurance and the deduction of Income Tax.

Transitional Ministry may occur in a church that has farewelled a beloved pastor who shepherded the flock for many years; it may be in a church where the pastor and the church has been the victim of conflicting personalities, philosophies or power struggles; it may be that there have been serious moral, theological, ideological, functional differences, or in tragedy. In either case, transitional ministry exercised by an Interim Pastor is required to deal with a wide range of emotions such as loss, hurt, disappointment, discouragement, bitterness, grief and even abandonment. Either way, the Interim Pastor is in a position to objectively and quickly identify the issues, build bridges, bring about repentance and forgiveness where necessary, open lines of communication, and bring comfort. He is in a position to create an atmosphere conducive for the church and leadership to recognize that Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church (Ephesians 1:22 and 4:15); that “Christ Loved the Church and gave Himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25); and to remind all of Christ’s commitment in Matthew 16:18 “I will build MY CHURCH and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

The responsibility of the Interim is not to make major changes in the church regarding its operation and function. He may bring matters to the attention of the leadership but major changes should be left to the new pastor and his leadership. Transitional ministry carries a measure of responsibility that is quite different from a regular, fulltime, pastoral ministry. In the mind of many people, anyone who has gray hair or no hair must have experience and authority.

For many years retired pastors were called upon for “Pulpit-Supply”as a stop-gap between one pastor leaving and a new one taking over. In other circumstances a “Moderator” would be appointed to guide a church through the time of their “vacancy”. However in the last decade it has been recognized that much more is needed.

Sometimes a church has members that have never “grown up in church” and they do not know what needs to be done. They do not understand the function of a “Search Committee-Pulpit Committee.” So in normal every day terms they are looking for a “CEO.” Assuming that, providing the individual comes with the right credentials, the right experience, the right educational qualifications, all of which are found on a Resume/Profile form, that individual will then be the right person for the position. They are not always aware of the primary qualification. The Pastoral Search committee is not appointing a CEO but rather is calling a “Shepherd for the Flock.” There is a need to identify God’s will and recognize God’s call. If it is anything other than that, all the mechanism may come together, run smoothly, and even produce results, but without the Lord’s anointing and call, not much, if anything, will be accomplished for eternity.

It is here that the Interim Pastor plays an important role by getting the church and committee to recognize the importance of preparation through prayer. Prayer is not to have our will done in heaven but rather to recognize God’s will being done on earth.

By establishing the priority of individual and corporate prayer, we will identify the mind of Christ, the man of God’s choosing, and the ministry best suited to that congregation and that community.

The Interim Pastor in Transitional ministry is not to fill the gap, provide cheap labour and keep the church going until someone is appointed. Rather he has a significant ministry and part to play in preparing the way for a new ministry with a renewed commitment.

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Pastor Russell was born in Scotland into a godly Presbyterian home and was saved as a teen. He very quickly became involved in ministry, singing, leading a Youth Choir, giving his testimony, distributing tracts, and preaching in the open air.

After graduating from College, he and his wife served as missionaries in Lapland, Norway during which time he began his pastoral ministry. He has been in the pastoral ministry for over forty years serving as pastor in various churches in Canada and the Bahamas, as well as being involved in radio and TV, and establishing a counseling ministry in one of his churches. He has also been active on boards and the executive of the Atlantic Baptist Convention.

For the last thirteen years Pastor Russell has been back in Canada serving as chaplain to three hundred and fifty seniors, involved in Interim ministries and serving on special assignment on mission fields.