A critical partnership : the role of an interim pastor in the change, transition and transformation of a congregation

2016·6.3 MB·English

by  Seiders, John H.

A CRITICAL PARTNERSHIP: THE ROLE OF AN INTERIM PASTOR TN THE

CHANGE, TRANSITION AND TRANSFORMATION OF A CONGREGATION

ATUESIS-PROJE

SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF

GORDON-CONWELL THEOLOGH

1. SEMINARY

IN PARTIAL FULFILEMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREF

DOCTOR OF MINISTRY

BY
JOHN H. SEIDERS

MAY 2016
(Copyright 2016 by Jol HL. Sciders, All Rights Reserved
‘To my wife Ruthie, and our daughters Roksh and Anna, who have experienced the ups

ans downs of many interin periods with mv,
CONTENTS

UST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

Chapter

HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SETTING

2. UIRLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS
Initial Defiivons and Cemeepls

‘Tie Biblical Paradigms tor Chang, Leansitien, ant Yransformation

Tiblies, Paiadigms und 1hooloyicat Reflections on Connge
‘Bifiol Paradigms and Theological Reltctims on Teasitiom
Hiblca) Paradigms and Tacoloyieat Reflections wm Transformation
Cunchisions
3. LITERATURE REVIEW
Pusiness Models
Sotee's Meds! lar Chine
fridges’ Model fr Change
Business Pencils fram Kotter an Fridges
A Spevific lnrerion Medel
Srages of tater
Provess Tasks und Dewolopaentl Tasks

Some Fital Thoughts

45
48

49
47H PROJEC] FORMULATION AND RESULTS p

The Survey Design ”
The Selection oF Crees in the Survey. me
Analyzing the Resats 3
Seetion 1: Demegraphie fnGormation 85

tion 2: neti Tasks a

Section 3: Pavtacrship Information 100

Survey Critique 106
Section t: Demographic Information 16

Seetion 2: aterm Tasks 108

Section 3: Partnership Fnfirmicion we
Consens ML

5. OUTCOMES ANP CONCLUSIONS 3
Majoe Filings Tey
Diseoveries fom the Literate na

Discoveries town the Suavey M16

Same Thoughts About Fute Reseoreh uy

Some Final Thougbrs

Apoenalin
A. MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE W111 INTERIM PERIODS 121
8. TOR TIGHIESTRP PROCESS OF STCCESSHUI. CHANGE 128
©. THE ROLL OF THINKING AND FEELING 126

DTK FIGHT-SLAGE PROCESS 17
T. A COMPARISON Ob ITI? FIGHT-STUP PROCESS OF SUCCCLSSFUT.
CHANGE AND THE EIGIIT-STAGE PROCESS

#. STAGTS OF AN INTERIM PERIOD
G. ANALYSIS OF THE FIVE: MODELS

LL UIE INTERIM TASKS

1. MOSH? ORICIIONS AND THE LORI'S RESPONSI’S
J, DOCTOR OF MINISTRY PROJECT: INIERIM SURVEY
K. INTERIM SURVEY RESULTS: CLURCH af

1. INTERIM SURVEY RESULTS: CHURCH #2

M.INTERIM SCRVEY RESULTS; CHURCH #3

N. INTERIM SURVIY RESULTS: CHURCH #4
INTERIM SURVEY RESULTS: CHURCITaS,

P. RAW DAFA: INTTRIM TASKS AND #ARTNIRSHIC INFORVATION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

vita
ILLUSTRATIONS

Figures
Figure 1: The Thrce-Phase Pracens

Figur

Five Wasie Principles of Systems
igure 3: Taclons Which Will Guide aud Focus the Therm Period.

Figure a: Power ‘Cumensics?

Tubles

Table 6: Question 12a

Table 2: Question 123
Ibe 5: Question 126
Table 4: Question 124
Uae 5 Question 12e

“abic 6: Question 13

table 7 Question 14a
Table 8: Question #4
Table % Question 14

“ale 10: Question Ie
Table 11: Quosion 14
“ah 12: Question 15
Teble 13: Quesion 36

Table 14: Question 17

8

2

aR

89

loz
Table 15: Question 18 ws
Tabie 16. Question 19 104

Table 17; Question 20 los
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

‘The vonecprion, development. and ernpletion ofthis thess and project would not
Jhave boon postibre witout the encouragement and s apport of a number af pcople in ny

life, Mere words cauinot express ke depth of my gratitude fer these poosle,

lest ond Foremost | arr: grulefu for the eumt>nued cacourayement from De. David

(Currie. My iondshp with David extends hack 0 our dys in seminae i he suly
1980s, te relellssy,unashemedy, and continu invited me un enol na Doctor a
Minisiy oer Cknew Fina the beginning of he classe hat it wou be a fonuative
‘and import put of wy pastor ministry, Hh hea that aad much more becawe 0?

the cha‘Teages | encountered and the valleagucs J have met avor dhe past several:

Secor I would lke ta thmk the session af is Fest Pinbyterian Chomch of Sax
Antonio, TX tbat endonad ny desire o enol inthe Pacor of Minis Proyram at
Gerdor-Consell Thcologicat Seminary in Neplember of 2012, This meant being away
from the church a tot of eight wooks J esses Ex wets cued Hl, as well as 8 week
offer training in Maech of 2014 and a week fir ative course do August i 2014

Urge ofthe cigtt weeks F vas away coinsidea with a senivr pastor vacamey. Dung

‘weeks Janet Slayden, tbe Chuteh Busiess Vannger, and Stacie Rodrigues, my

‘uinéstruve assistant helpeel make ic ponsible foc me to be away’ and attend ln my

muds, i addition, Stacie assisted with tracking dum vountless res. and gathering
esearch inflrmstion for we as | truisitioned fiom serving First Presbyterian Church ia

Sun Antonio, TX in serving in the Noroton Preshyteriun Church én Darien, CL.
‘hie, 1am dhankFul foe my advisor Br Dawid Hoon Prior lo working on this
dog, David had boon an anquanianee oor te yeur. In te proces emaloting this
thesis he bas rea great dea ol my writing aud wont dls vf my Thess, Navid
eared enough lo ask the tough gucstions that helped mie focus my thoughts, my writin,
ond my research. He ha also graciously pes me to enemy nescatc: se thal will
be Belpfl to the Langer church

fourth, Tem aratetl for my’ sore caleguas und session ofthe Noroton
Preshylerizn Chunch wf Panien, CL, The pastes Sam Sckaviner, Bard: Denke, ant
Jinmy MePherson, have shows interest in ay research snd patence as have thought

bat Tel wth therm ab i

u ministry. The session has pravided me with time und

firances to suppor: my study, and the oppomity ta serve ia an interim associate pastor

Position as J competed my thesis Work. Fr niin, nny admninisralive assistant, Masene
Mott has helped review my wenkazere aes than T can count

ith 1am thunk forthe vaious intern expesiences he ad while om staT
at several churches over ny minty: the Puesbyterin Churea at New Providenec, NS
‘Westminster Presbyterian Chueh in Madison, Wk; the Hat Prxbsterian Church of
‘Bcthfchem. PA: the Fest Presbyterian Church of San Antonia, i; and ness, he Noroton
Preshylerian Chutch of Darico, CT grew we love the poole fn these congregations wl
Ais passion For Jesus Coriscand his Chore as we experiensed and cle terme
aperiencestogetier

Sinth, Tam yoefol for my duughloe, Bekah and Anma, who bave encauraged ms

‘nd stwxd by my side as I have pursued this study und completed this thexinepeojeer ‘hes

Food ibrongh soone chullenging interim seaions over the yeuni und as young adults made