Interim Pastor

LaSalle Street Church seeks an interim pastor for an expected window of approximately 12 months beginning in early 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 not merely to keep the doors open but 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 priorities will be to prepare the congregation and staff for new leadership, including these activities:

• Grieving the departure of a beloved senior pastor

• Continuing the visioning process as input for the Search Committee in its efforts to secure a senior leader

• Continuing our journey to racial righteousness

• Examining and recommending adjustments to the staff structure and related job descriptions and responsibilities, to align with the emerging vision for the future

We seek an interim pastor with experience navigating 1) structural change (with the congregation and current staff); 2) the grieving process; and 3) potential conflict that can arise under stressful times of transition.

Additional pastoral duties will include:

• Working with the church’s director of worship and the arts, the executive pastor, and other staff to plan Sunday worship (which includes in-person and virtual components)

• Preaching 2-3 times each month

• Supporting the congregation through pastoral care and community life, as needed

• Supervise the executive pastor and support the executive pastor and other staff in the administrative functions of the church

• Attend Elder Board Meetings

• Leading and facilitating church obligations, as needed, i.e. wedding, funerals, baptisms.

• Advise the Search Committee.

• Serve as the point of contact between Pastor Laura, the church, and congregation if consultation is needed after Pastor Laura steps down as the Senior Pastor.

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 the marginalized

• 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. (Approximately 5% of the congregation identified as LGBTQIA.)

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 includes a full-time salary commensurate with experience for the duration of the contract. Additional benefits include matching contributions to a 403(b)- retirement plan, health insurance, paid time off, and short-term disability and life insurance as described in the LSC Policy Manual.

Applications

Please send a CV with a cover letter that describes your previous interim experience to search@lasallestreetchurch.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.

A full job description and church profile can also be found here: https://www.lasallestreetchurch.org/pastorsearch