When a church becomes pastorless, a time of transition begins. The average time without a pastor in a Baptist church is nine to eighteen months. During that time, many of these churches need interim pastors with experience, training and ministry gifts that ensure high-quality leadership.
Some of the skills an interim pastor needs are: spiritual discernment, leadership, pastoral care, proclamation, relationships and conflict management. Interim pastors must also commit to remaining with a church until it calls a permanent pastor. Through Interim Pastor Equipping they will be prepared to lead churches through any type of transition.
Those who wish to be placed on the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s list of certified interim pastors must complete this training once every three years. There is a $49 registration fee for training, which covers lunch and all materials.