Assistance During an Interim
Dr. John Lepper, Coordinator of Kentucky Baptist Fellowship, consults with churches in various ways during an interim period. Here are some ways he is open and willing to assist your church during the interim.
Pulpit Supply
Finding suitable ministers to speak in the regular, week-to-week, worship services helps the church and its members move forward, even during the interim period. Dr. Lepper serves churches in this way on a limited basis and also assists churches in discovering suitable ministers to fill the pulpit.
Interim Ministers
“From the time a pastor resigns until the next pastor steps into the pulpit, the church experiences a critical period of its existence… The advantages of having an interim pastor greatly outweigh other alternatives. The potential for maintaining attendance or even growing is greater under the leadership of an interim minister. The presence of the same person in the pulpit Sunday by Sunday reduces the anxiety of the congregation. The church can continue to plan, move forward and maintain continuity of church programs. An interim minister can bring wisdom.” (From In the Meantime: an Interim Guide for Ministers and Churches by John Lepper copyright 1993) See also Options for Churches During an Interim
Dr. John Lepper maintains a list of available interim ministers. He consults with churches and assists churches in discovering appropriate interim ministers for their congregations.
Search Committee Orientation
Serving on a search committee is one of the most difficult tasks of church life today. Dr. John Lepper works with search committees, providing consultation and orientation.
Bridge to an Interim
Dr. John Lepper is passionate about assisting churches during an interim period. He has developed the “Bridge to an Interim” program to bridge the gap between when the pastor departs and the interim pastor begins. This bridge gives the church time to catch its breath and make more cautious decisions regarding its pastoral leadership. See Bridge to an Interim for more information on this program.