The Rev. Donald Aull, pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church in Butler, trained as an intentional interim minister and served as one at North Sewickley Presbyterian Church near Ellwood City.

When a minister leaves a congregation, it is a little like the Israelites in the wilderness. They hope for the promised land but may not get there quickly.

The Rev. Donald Aull, pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church in Butler, used the Biblical analogy for a congregation that needs an interim minister.

“You're building a bridge between goodbye and hello,” said Aull.

Aull trained as an intentional interim minister and served as one at North Sewickley Presbyterian Church near Ellwood City and at First United Presbyterian Church in East Palestine, Ohio.

“The goodbye side is the former pastor has left. Often there is sadness or we're somewhat glad the pastor is gone because it didn't go well,” he said.

“Hello is what might the future hold? What does God want that other side of the bridge to be like? What does the congregation want the other side to be like?” Aull asked.

“Some churches want to keep the seat warm, but an interim has a more detailed task than that,” he said.

“One of the important goals of an interim pastor is to help the leaders identify their strengths and weaknesses and articulate a mission and be excited about that mission,” said the Rev. Stan Keehlwetter, interim pastor of Plain Grove Presbyterian Church near Slippery Rock and dean of the chapel at Grove City College.

Keehlwetter has been an interim pastor at several churches including Center Presbyterian Church in Grove City.

“My philosophy is to make observations, to observe what they are doing well and suggest some things they could be doing,” said Keehlwetter.

After retiring as pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Chicora, the Rev. James Higgins, now living in Sarver, served as an interim minister for congregations in Manorville and Ford City and later at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Freeport. He also served briefly at Grace@Calvary Lutheran Church in Butler.

Higgins said a Lutheran intentional interim minister works with a congregation for six months to one year.

For Lutherans, there are also local interims who may serve small congregations. More than one area pastor may take on a part of the pastoral work.“That's not an ideal situation, but it's sometimes necessary,” said Higgins.There are also long-term interim ministers when Lutheran congregations cannot afford full-time ministers or are deciding whether to continue as congregations.“When we know someone is leaving, we assign someone else to that slot,” said the Rev. Philip Farrell, Episcopal Vicar for Pastoral Vicariate Region 4 serving the northern part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.He mentioned two exceptions. An administrator could be assigned to oversee the parish and may become the pastor. An administrator pro tem may be assigned where the diocese does not know how long the slot will stay open.At the end of April, after 10 years at St. Albert the Great Church Parish in Pittsburgh, the Rev. James Orr will become the administrator pro tem for Mater Dolorosa and St. Joseph parishes in Chicora. Orr expects to be there between a few weeks and two months.He did this before and kept a parish operating on an even keel until the appointment of a new pastor.“The usual position of someone coming in on a temporary basis is to maintain and not innovate,” said Orr. “I'm not going in there with the expectation to create anything.”Many interim pastors step into difficult situations.Aull said, “The boat is rocking on the water. Let's get the boat steady, calm on the waters.”Keehlwetter said the interim pastor can help the leaders and congregation with their congregational self-esteem.“Oftentimes they are beaten down,” he said. “They don't feel good with themselves. That's part of coming to terms with their identity and just recognizing their strengths and what they have to offer in terms of ministry.”The Rev. James E. Swanson, pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Butler, said an interim minister must keep the congregation looking forward and not complaining about the last pastor.“You need a sort of interventionist,” said Swanson.According to Higgins, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal and United Church of Christ churches “call” for new pastors. Members are active participants in the process and may interview potential pastors.Those ministers do not have to be from the immediate geographic area.“In the Presbyterian Church, it's strictly free market,” said Swanson.Higgins and Swanson said Lutheran and Presbyterian interim ministers are not members of the selection committee and cannot be the new pastor.Catholic congregations are less involved in the process, but Orr emphasized the diocese wants the best possible pastor for each parish.Farrell said the bishop assigns a priest after consultation with the regional vicar and the clergy personnel board.Despite challenges, ministers are willing to take interim positions.Swanson explained it can work for experienced ministers who want some flexibility without leaving the area.The Rev. Kurt Knobel is the pastor for three area United Methodist churches.He said being an interim pastor is very demanding, and it can be difficult to find one.Farrell said demographics are fluctuating in this area.“We have more priests retiring than we are ordaining,” he said. “In three years the largest class ever ordained for the diocese will be turning 70, at which point they will be able to retire.”Many clergy continue to serve after retirement.“They put us back out because they need that support,” said Knobel.“We want to continue to care for the faithful,” said Farrell.

The Rev. James Higgins has served as an interim minister for congregations in Manorville, Ford City, Freeport and Butler.