“Keeping the Faith in the Interim Time:
Thoughts, Views and Opinions from your Interim Vicar”
(Developmental Task #4 Renewing Denominational Linkages)
Perhaps two of the most dreaded statements we may hear are: “We’re from the government and we’re here to help you!” or ”We’re from corporate headquarters and we’re going to fix all your mistakes!”. Having spent a significant part of my adult work life serving on a corporate headquarters staff, I know how uneasy those words make people feel who operate in their own environment. Often the further we are from a central authority the more we feel we are traveling down a stretch of highway that we know far better than anyone else. After all, we are unique in our own spheres of operation. We have our own ways of doing things and we don’t need any “help” from someone who wants to tell us what we need to do!
Unfortunately, all too often this same attitude shows up in our congregations when we ask “Just what exactly is it that those folks at the diocesan office do?” Why do we need to send them so much money? Why should we have to pay such a thing as a diocesan “assessment”? These are good questions to ask during the interim time since they open the dialogue between parish and diocese that often is neglected or at best is seen as not being relevant to our congregational life here at St. Philip’s.
In the Episcopal Church we have a hierarchical structure that a lot of folks don’t quite understand. The smallest unit is not the “parish”, it is the “diocese”. All of the various dioceses are organized around a bishop who has jurisdiction or oversight of all the congregations in his or her area. In fact the Greek word for bishop is episkopos which simply means “overseer” or if you want to stretch the meaning it can also be interpreted as “supervisor”. In reality, and according to our canons (laws), the bishop is the head of each congregation and delegates authority to the local rector or vicar. So when there is an opening in a parish for a new pastor the diocesan staff becomes fully engaged with that congregation in the transition process.
Interim time, the time of transition, is a time for us to use the resources of the diocese in order to guide us through what can be a confusing process. Not only can we rely on diocesan resources but since we belong to a national church we can also use extensive assistance available through the Episcopal Church Center in New York. Both the diocesan office and the national church can provide us with guidelines for self-study, examples of excellent Parish Profiles and other printed material to guide us through this process.
In addition, the interim time is a time for the diocesan staff to examine how well the parish is doing in its financial management. Are records kept accurately? Has an audit been conducted recently? Can the parish afford a full-time ordained leader or should it consider other alternatives ? If the decision is made to search for a full-time priest then healthy financial conditions are even more important. One of the first things candidates will want to know is the financial stability of the parish. Is there a budget deficit? Does the parish raise enough income from pledge contributions to meet its financial needs? Our diocesan staff and members of the diocesan finance or stewardship committees are eager to help a parish find ways to improve its financial health. And since we are all interdependent parishes in the diocese, the diocesan staff can recommend that we network with other parishes who have recently been through the transition process and can provide answers to many of the questions we may raise.
The diocesan deployment office is also eager to work with congregations as they make their pastoral opening known to candidates both locally and nationally. The Diocesan deployment staff reviews and screens candidates for parishes to help to provide a better fit of the candidate’s skills and the parish’s needs. In addition, the deployment staff is in close contact with other diocesan deployment officers and with the deployment office at the Episcopal Church Center. This close-knit group will recommend certain candidates who may be just the right choice for the parish.
And finally, the interim time is a time for members of the parish to step forward and assume positions of responsibility on the various diocesan commissions and committees that are usually eager to have qualified, enthusiastic people serve with them. The standing committee, diocesan council, finance and stewardship committees are usually seeking new members to fill the posts of people whose terms have expired. Please give good, long prayerful thought to how you can serve your diocese.
Well, I hope I have convinced you that the folks who serve on the diocesan and national staff are not just sitting idly by but are anxious to provide their resources to each parish which may call upon them, not just during times of transition but any time you ask them to step in and lend a hand!
Your faithful servant in the Lord,
The Reverend Barry Miller, Interim Vicar
