Guidelines for Transition Teams - The United Church of Canada

Introduction
The Call to Lead
Congratulations! The congregation of your church has decided to take time out from its normal life,
and has launched itself on an intentional Interim Ministry—an exciting journey of exploration and
discovery.
You, with others from the congregation and two presbytery representatives, have been chosen to
serve on a Transition Team. Working together with the Interim Minister, you have the interesting
and challenging task of helping your congregation find its way through a process of self-study and
visioning to renew its call to mission.
May you find it an exciting and rewarding experience!
Guidelines for Transition Teams
The shorter booklet Introducing Interim Ministry: A Process of Change for Congregations provides a brief
overview of the structure and responsibilities of Transition Teams. Guidelines for Transition Teams
is intended to help Transition Teams understand their role and responsibilities within the church
in some detail, so that they can effectively lead a congregation through a process of transition and
renewal.
The sections of this resource are presented in the order in which they become relevant to a Transition
Team. As you begin, however, you will find it useful to browse through the document as a whole to
gain an idea of the totality of the interim work.
The appendixes offer examples, exercises, or other suggestions that further explain certain ideas. You
may use any of these that you find to be relevant to your work. A reading list is included at the end.
Be of Good Heart
In a newly formed Transition Team, members may feel some worry about the task ahead of them.
However, be of good heart! Many other churches have used Interim Ministry to explore their way to
the future. There is information, encouragement, and support for the work ahead.
You are not alone in this journey…
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