RICHMOND — The newly-formed Virginia Network of Interim Ministers elected officers and regional representatives during an organizational meeting Oct. 18 in Richmond.
The network, which will serve as a professional organization for both traditional interim ministers and intentional interim ministers, relates closely to the Association of Intentional Interim Ministers. That national network held its annual meeting Oct. 22 in conjunction with a Healthy Church Summit hosted by the Center for Congregational Health in Winston-Salem.
The Virginia network will provide fellowship, support and counsel for interim ministers and promote and strengthen interim ministry in churches without a minister, according to a press release distributed by new-elected president Roy Thomas.
Other officers are Bill Tuck, vice president; Bob Lewis, secretary; and Ben Owen, treasurer.
A team of regional representatives will promote the network across Virginia: Bruce Queen, Capital Region; Wellford Tiller, Central Region; Bill Kendrick, Southwest Region; Steve Manuel, Valley Region; Paul Clark, Northern Region; Roy Ford, Southside Region; and John Carpenter, Tidewater Region.
Serving in an advisory role is Jeff Cranford, a field strategist for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board who consults with interim ministers.
“Interim ministers work with congregations in the critical transition between the leaving of one installed minister and the coming of a new minister,” according to the press release. “They fulfill the role and responsibilities of the former minister; they can also help the church work through the grief of losing a minister and any issues that may need to be resolved before the new minister joins the church staff.
“All intentional interim ministers receive specialized training before they are recommended to a congregation; they also go through an extensive evaluation of their work at each church they serve,” the statement added. “The new Network will also promote training and reviews for traditional interim ministers as well.”