QUICK LINKS

The Rev. Beryl Allerton, M.A; ended her Interim Ministry at Bury Unitarian Church , in Lancashire , on October 16^th.

 We are all tremendously grateful to Beryl for her efforts; with energy and enthusiasm, she has provided us with spiritual guidance, a huge amount of pastoral care, and a sense of stability and continuity; we have been fortunate indeed.

Meanwhile, Bury continues to seek a permanent, full-time minister; Beryl has agreed to act as its Infill Minister, on a three-quarter time basis, until such an appointment has been made.

Beryl has a long association with Unitarianism in the area. She was an active member of the congregation at the old Chesham Chapel before becoming an equally active member of the Bury congregation. After training for the ministry she became the minister of Unity and Stand congregations.

A Personal Message from Beryl about Interim Ministry

An interim minister, is one who serves a period of time between one minister leaving a church and his/her successor being appointed.  The usual ministerial duties, taking services, conducting weddings, funerals, and baptisms, attending meeting and social events, and pastoral visiting are all part of the role.  

Appointing an interim minister firstly gives stability and is the first step to moving on. It is the space where the emotions from the departure of a minister can be acknowledged and then hopefully let go allowing the congregation to go forward positively. There has to be an ending, in popular jargon ‘closure’ before people can move on. An interim minister ‘fills the gap’, helps to bring closure and encourage a new beginning.  The time can be one of creativity and renewal, a time for assessing church life both as individuals and as a congregation. All this takes time and people will do it at different speeds, an interim should help everyone work through the challenge of change at their own pace.

 This time between ministers gives the church a breathing space so there is time to conduct an effective search for a new minister and thereby make a successful appointment. It also allows everyone to be involved in the process of holding constructive discussion and in joint decision making.

 As the minister and the congregation work together to make the interim successful and worthwhile some important points of reference are being kept in mind. They are as follows:

• Keep the church lively, involved, confident and active.

• Resolve feelings of anxiety, hurt or anger.

• Discuss and create a vision for the work and ministry of the congregation.

• Clarify the identity of the church.

• Emphasise the importance of fellowship and commitment to one another.

• Emphasise the importance of commitment to the church.

• Encourage people to acknowledge, forgive, learn, move on and look positively to the future.

 A successful interim ministry depends on the support and commitment of the congregation and their positive attitude to a new phase of church life.

Beryl