Interim Ministry Resources : IMR

Reflections and Resources from a Veteran Interim Pastor on the Practice of Pastoral Ministry

Welcome to Interim Ministry Resources : IMR

This 5,000+ page website comprised of 100+ PDF files in 21 chapters in 5 parts of Starting Well, Pastoral Ministry, Transition Dynamics, Call Process, and Ending Well provides reflections and resources for those engaged in interim ministry. Those serving installed pastorates may find many of these reflections and resources helpful also.

These reflections and resources come out of my pastoral ministry in 53 congregations in the NW Synod of WI and 1 congregation in the La Crosse Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for a total of 54 congregations as of 4/15/2020: 1980-1990 as an installed pastor in an open-country two-point parish and 1990 to 2020 in 36 assignments as a trained intentional interim pastor in small, midsize, and large congregations.

In addition, I provide titles and internet addresses in each chapter to offer the resources of the wider church and context. I served as convener of the synod interim ministry gathering 1993-2013. I have served as the synod review of constitutions since 2009.

Also included are Rural Ministry Resources in the form of PDF files of 5 desktop published booklets (1987-1992) on the family farm, rural communities, and care of the earth. A website, unlike print, is a work in progress, and I continue to revise, edit, and add reflections and resources as able. I welcome other reflections and resources at interimministryresources@gmail.com

My purpose statement is Motivated by the love of Jesus, I spread goodwill.

God bless your ministry!
Lowell Bolstad
Interim Pastor

Part 1 Starting Well

Chapter 1 Interview

Chapter 2 Start

Part 2 Pastoral Ministry

Chapter 3 Worship

Chapter 4 Preaching

Chapter 5 Governance

Chapter 6 Infrastructure

Chapter 7 Personnel

Chapter 8 Stewardship

Chapter 9 Publications

Chapter 10 Constitution

Chapter 11 Collegiality

Part 3 Transition Dynamics

Chapter 12 Heritage

Chapter 13 Identity

Chapter 14 Vision

Chapter 15 Mission

Chapter 16 Leadership

Chapter 17 Connections

Part 4 Call Process

Chapter 18 Transitions

Chapter 19 Profile

Part 5 Ending Well

Chapter 20 Prepare

Chapter 21 End

Rural Ministry Resources