Interim Pastor

LaSalle Street Church seeks an interim pastor for an expected window of 6 to 9 months, beginning in Spring 2022. This transition period will allow the staff and congregation to grieve and heal from the planned departure of a beloved pastor and, equally as important, to allow the church time to consider its future vision and the structure that best serves the vision. Our desire for the interim period is to begin to transform the church into what God is calling it to be under new leadership.

Responsibilities

Because of the intention behind the transition period, the church asks that the interim not apply for the permanent position. Rather, the interim pastor’s primary priorities will be as follows:

• 60% of time: Leading the congregation through a visioning and design process that helps us consider the future of the congregation and the staff structure and pastoral qualities required to support this future. Activities may include:
• Meeting individually with staff, board, and congregants 
• Leading focus groups/listening groups
• Leading meetings summits to focus on aspects of the work
• Bringing outside perspectives into our thinking
• Examining and recommending adjustments to the staff structure and related job descriptions and responsibilities, to align with the emerging vision for the future
• Preparing recommendations for the board and the search committee, and then supporting the effort to implement recommendations 
• Deliverables: further developing the profile of the congregation, a documented vision for the future, a recommendation for the leadership structure needed to achieve that vision, job descriptions for the positions in the leadership structure, a recruiting guide for the search committee
• 30% of time: worship planning including preaching, from the pulpit, 2x per month; supporting the director of worship in planning Sunday services; supporting other speakers/preachers as needed. Through Sunday worship, assist the congregation in grieving the departure of our previous pastor, and preparing for new leadership and new visions for the future. 
• 10% of time: pastoral care to the staff and other duties as required
• Supporting our journey of racial righteousness

We seek an interim pastor with experience navigating 1) structural change (with the congregation and current staff); 2) the grieving process; and potential conflict that can arise under stressful times of transition.

The interim pastor will be part of an experienced pastoral team (including the executive pastor, two associate pastors, a director of children’s ministry, and a director of worship). Because of this capable team who is managing much of the day-to-day operations of the church and the congregational care, the interim role is considered three-quarters time rather than full time. 

Additional pastoral duties will include:

• Partner with the executive pastor to support the staff and the functions of the church
• Attend Elder Board Meetings
• Participate in the life of the church.

Qualities

Through a series of surveys and visioning sessions, the congregation and staff of the church have identified these qualities as important in an interim pastor:

• Genuine, mature, and growing relationship with God
• Intellectually engaged with the Word and the world
• Models vulnerability, which helps enable authentic connection among congregants
• Comfortable with the uncomfortable, be it theological ambiguity, politically charged issues, or differences in worship or leadership styles
• Naturally collaborative, especially in working with staff and lay leaders
• Has radical love for all of God’s children, particularly those who live on the margins with little access to resources, privilege, or power
• Possesses management capacity and leadership qualities necessary for guiding staff and advancing congregational priorities
• Comfortable working in both in-person and virtual contexts
• Because of the church’s ongoing racial righteousness journey, the interim pastor should be fully supportive of the effort and have demonstrated engagement in this area.
• Supports the church’s affirmation that women and LGBTQ+ believers are called to use their spiritual and professional gifts as leaders in the church.

We recommend a careful reading of the full church profile to determine other qualities and characteristics that are in keeping with our church’s culture.

Requirements

Preference will be given to candidates with a graduate seminary degree, prior senior pastoral experience, and training/experience in interim leadership. 

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation for this position may be either three-quarters time salary or full-time, depending on the length and nature of the work plan agreed upon between the candidate and the church. Additional benefits are available based on the candidate's needs, and may include housing allowances, 403(b) retirement plan contributions, health insurance, and short term disability and life insurance. 

Applications

Please send a CV with a cover letter that describes your previous interim experience to search at lasallestreetchurch dot org; include links to two sermon samples and three references. 

Process

A search committee will interview interim candidates and make a recommendation to the Elder Board, who has the authority to invite an interim pastor and negotiate reasonable terms of employment.