Roles and Responsibilities for the Transition Team
Overview:The role of the Transition Team is to facilitate the overall process of transition.While other entities of the church (board, staff, pastoral search team) focus on the specifics of their ongoing responsibility, the Transition Team keeps an eye on the pulse of the transition itself.Members of the Transition include the Regional Elder, Interim Pastor and members appointed by the Board of Directors.
The primary responsibilities of the Transition Team are:
Assuring that the process and timeline are being followed or revisions are negotiated with the Board of Directors, Pastoral Search Team and Church Staff
Meeting regularly by telephone conference call to monitor the progress of the process and timeline
Provide communication throughout the process so that the congregation will feel in the loop at all times!
Tasks:
Search for Interim:
Make arrangements with the Interim Candidate for their travel needs when coming for a weekend visit.
Arrange for the events in which the candidate will participate and everything associated with them:
Follow Up with candidate to thank them for their visit
In the event that a candidate is not appointed, the process will start over and these things would be repeated.
Arrival of Interim:
Work with the Interim to determine needs they may have around finding housing, etc. so as to provide them with as much information as they may need to make a move.
Plan some kind of welcome event for the interim and their family.This might include asking congregants to bring basic things like food, paper supplies, etc. to help them get settled.
Stay in touch with the interim upon their arrival to assist them in whatever they might need.
Begin working with the board and interim pastor on an Installation Service.
During the Interim period:
Work with the interim on identifying activities, surveys, forums, events, etc. that assist him/her in working through the five developmental tasks (the interim will share these with you when they begin to meet with you).
Work with all entities to ensure that timelines are followed or altered as things unfold.This would include discerning with the interim pastor and Regional Elder when it is time to put a pastoral search team together and begin that process.
Be a resource, sounding board, and support to the interim pastor as they deal with the inevitable issues that arise during the interim period.
During the Pastoral Search:
Determine with the Pastoral Search Team how your team can help with communication, in particular, while the search process is underway.
When a candidate is chosen, work with the PST and candidate to arrange for their travel and the activities in which they will be involved during their stay.This should include all the ways in which hospitality will be extended to the candidate.
Begin planning the departure of the interim and how they will be honored for their service.
Arrival of Permanent Pastor:
Assist the new pastor in finding housing and other things necessary to settle in a new city.Provide them with information and stay in close touch.
Plan for welcoming the new pastor and extending radical hospitality upon their arrival.
For up to a month, check in with new pastor to see if any needs have arisen.
Prepare a final report of your activities, etc. as a team and share it with the congregation with copies to the Regional Elder and Board of Directors.
Have a final discussion with the Regional Elder to give feedback about the entire process.
