Disorienting.

That is the most accurate word to describe the experience of working in a local church without a Senior or Lead Pastor in place.  I have experienced it three different times in my career.  Right out of college, I worked at a church that just experienced a church split and was searching for their next pastor.  A bit later, the pastor I worked for took a larger role within our denomination.  From start-up churches to historical ones, I began to journey through this experience with realistic expectations that served me well through this vocational ministry rollercoaster. Here’s what I learned…

I became aware that I needed extra support during these times. 

I fondly remember Ron (an Elder at my church on the East Coast) who took me out to Cracker Barrel on a weekly basis to talk about my relationship with the Lord, marriage, ministry, and more.  This resulted in a huge boost of health and support during the transition season in the church.  Would you be wise in recruiting a team of support around you as you journey through a pastor-less time?

I needed to be flexible with my role and responsibilities.

Without a day to day leader, I can remember that I was asked to implement a new Sunday morning schedule, run membership classes, lead worship, teach more often, and even helped lead a financial initiative to help stabilize the budget in the midst of change.  Was any of this a part of my Youth Pastor job description?  No.  Did the church that God called me to need some extra coverage in certain areas?  Yes!

I learned to expect that things would operationally slow down. 

In all three of my pastor-less experiences, a volunteer board or an Interim Pastor were involved in the decision making process.  This resulted in additional time needed for just about everything.  This change could drive you crazy or you can learn to adjust realizing that things are different (and should be!).

I reminded myself to trust God in the process. 

In several moments, I found myself being frustrated by how little influence I had in choosing the next leader of the church.  I secretly prayed that I would be filled in, consulted, asked, or happen upon a candidate’s resume on the copy machine.  A team of wise people were commissioned to participate in the high stakes decision of identifying God’s hand-picked person for our church and I needed to trust God (and the process) that His church would be well taken care of.  In my three experiences, He came through in a big way to lead the church into fruitful, long term ministry under a Godly leader.

I had a heightened sensitivity to murmurs among churchgoers. 

When there is a noticeable gap in leadership, many times different people in the church would rise up with something to say.  Whether in the whispers of the church goers in the hallways or the power plays at meetings, this was something to stand clear of.  Even well intentioned people might approach you to win your support for their latest and greatest idea that they want to implement while there is no pastor present, simply redirecting them or encouraging patience might be the preferred route.  Whatever you do, don’t get caught in the middle of the murmuring and (for the sake of the church) don’t be the one causing it.

In short, if you’re experiencing a loss of leadership in your church and you’re being asked to fill in, in the gap…be faithful and remain humble in this season.  Your church will be better for it.