Leaving Well, Starting Strong:
Draft Transition Checklist From Interim Pastor To Successor – Peace, St. Joseph MI
Congregation Tasks Timeframe/Comments:
Assigned to:
Council appoints
Transition Team
Role: to keep the transition
process on task and
schedule, and act as liaison
and support to the incoming
pastor in key areas of
service.
Typical Timeframe:
From date of pastoral election
through 90 days after installation.
__Council Appoints
Transition team members:
1. _________________, Team coor.
Comments:
 Often, a well-functioning call
committee can facilitate a
smooth, seamless transition by
taking on the role of the
transition team and adding
additional liaisons
 If there is already a mutual
ministry committee or pastoral
support committee in place, the
incoming pastor needs to be
involved in selecting its
members after getting to know
the congregation, its mission and
members.
2. _________________-- Housing
3. council liaisons____--Intro. to Cong.
Ministries
&Contacts
4._________________ -- Community
Contacts
5. ________________ -- Spouse &
Family liaison
6. (usually office mgr.) --Office/Admin
and staff
7. (usually President) –Council rel’ns.
8._______________-- installation
service
9. ______________ --Other welcome
events
Issue Letter of Call &
Compensation Package
effective start date:
(________)
Copies of Call documents
to NALC
Immediately upon candidate’s
acceptance of call
Council president signs the
documents
Interim Sr. Pastor can facilitate
this process prior to departure
ASAP after pastor accepts call .
Assigned to:
Interim Sr. Pastor can facilitate
this process prior to departure
Set Installation date, plans
ASAP after pastor accepts call
_______________ in consultation
with Incoming Pastor, Pr. Dave
Wendell, Mission District Dean
____________ and worship chair.
________________ Financial Sec.
Obtain payroll
information (Social
Security #, withholding
statement, etc.)
Sign up for Insurance
Benefits: Deadline for
NALC benefit signup is
14th of the previous month.
Benefits sign-up information
________________ Financial Sec.
should be sent to incoming pastor
upon acceptance of call, per terms
of compensation agreement
Welcoming checklist for transition from interim to settled ministry -- Page 1
Ministry calling cards
Pastor’s study move-in
ready
Pastor’s computer cleared
of predecessor’s files;
Other files in order
(including shut-in list,
prayer list, nursing home
list, etc. )
Parish records up-to-date
Office phone greeting
updated with incoming
pastor’s information
Signage updated with
incoming pastor’s name
Moving arrangements
(PODS, or vehicles,
trailers, helpers, as
needed)
By start date
By move-in date
By start date
Office manager
Office manager and property/facilities
manager
Interim Senior Pastor
By start date
By start date
Interim Sr. Pastor & Office Manger
Office Manager
Pastor’s cell phone
arranged for and
connected
Pastoral household
“welcome” – anything
you’ll do in way of a
“shower”, Welcome
Wagon, meal on move-in
day, etc.
Media announcements
(including current photo)
introducing new pastor
By arrival date
Update incoming pastor’s
name on website,
newspaper worship pages
By start date
Set welcome date, time
time to meet contacts and
liaisons for Pastor &
family to call with any
questions, etc. about
congregation and area, etc.
Other: (specify)
By start date
By week prior to incoming
pastor’s first worship service
By moving date
Office manager
By arrival/move-in date
To appear first week in residence;
can also be repeated to announce
installation date
Welcoming checklist for transition from interim to settled ministry -- Page 2