In recent years, the search process for a new rector, including the preliminary self-study on the part of the parish, has caused the interval between rectors to approach or even exceed a year's time. Far from being an unfortunate by-product of the search, this interval offers positive opportunities that can strengthen the life of the parish in general and the ministry of the next rector in particular.

The Alban Institute, founded in 1974 by Episcopal priest Loren Mead for "building better congregations," identified this interval as a "critical moment" when parishes can do things that would not otherwise be possible.

It identified five "developmental tasks" that can enable a parish to be ready to accept a new rector and move forward constructively. These are:

1. Coming to terms with [the parish's] history. 2. Discovering a new identity. 3. Shifts of power [in parish leadership]. 4. Re-thinking denominational linkage. 5. Commitments to new leadership and a new future.

In order to make these and other helpful procedures possible, the Alban Institute began to train clergy for interim ministry as a specialty within the profession. This function has since been taken over by the Interim Ministry Network (IMN), a non-denominational organization with headquarters in Baltimore, Md. IMN offers several training sessions each year, held at conference centers in different parts of the country. Each session consists of three parts. Phase I is an intensive, week-long group session with two instructors. Phase II is actual work as an interim minister, lasting several months, under the guidance of one of the instructors as "mentor" and a nearby minister of the trainee's denomination as "supervisor." Phase III is another week-long group session, including reports from Phase II and analysis of them by the group.

Although the group sessions are intensive, they are also enjoyable, with time for individual and group recreation. There is quick bonding of people of different ages, sexes and churches - a fact confirmed by the joyful reunion at the time of Phase III. IMN also sponsors special workshops on particular topics, an annual national conference (actually international, since membership includes Canada), and a monthly newsletter and semi-annual journal.

A more informal organization, the National Association of Episcopal Interim Ministry Specialists (NAEIMS), is chaired by the Rev. Lynde E. May IV of Tampa, Fla., and coordinates matters of particular interest to Episcopalians.

Recent special workshops offered by IMN included those on preaching and worship in the interim, staff dynamics in multiple-staff congregations, and surviving sexual abuse and congregational trauma. Although a particular interim situation may require special skills, this does not mean that interim ministry is only for "problem parishes"; a healthy parish also needs to stop and take stock before it continues its growth and development.

Because many appointments are less than full-time, interim ministry is often associated with retirement. This can be appropriate if it is thought of as postponing full retirement in order to make a career change within the ministry, or to come out of retirement and go back to work. It is, however, a special ministry, requiring special training and a significant amount of work, and not a hobby for full retirement.

Moreover, clergy who are already receiving a pension from the Church Pension Fund should realize that payments will be suspended if church-related income exceeds 40 percent of the national average for Episcopal clergy. This amount varies from year to year, and clergy contemplating post-retirement work should contact the fund to ascertain the current figure. Most interim ministry specialists are not yet old enough to collect a church pension or Social Security, and do this work as the career on which they are financially dependent.

A special case is the retired priest who already lives in the parish and may seem the logical candidate for the interim position. In some cases, this may be the best of the available alternatives, although such a person cannot offer two of the important gifts of the ideal interim: coming in from the outside, with the outsider's fresh perspective; and going away at the end of the period, leaving an open field in which the new rector can develop his or her leadership.

Ministry in the interim can be a rewarding experience for both priest and congregation. Indeed, where the process is not followed, the next rector may move on after a short tenure, having turned out to be an "unintentional interim."

The Rev. Lawrence N. Crumb is an interim ministry specialist who lives in Eugene, Ore.