“INTERIM”

The term “interim” has been used since the period between rectors came to be regarded as a time of intentional congregation development and since the specialized role of the priest serving a congregation during that period was defined. The English word derives from the Latin word for “between;” its synonyms are “interval” or “intervening time.” It refers to a period that is temporary.

Hence the terms “interim period,” interim ministry,” and “interim priest.” This is clearly preferable to the term “vacant” that was used previously to refer to a congregation without a rector.

“TRANSITIONAL”

In recent years, some people have sought an alternative term that emphasizes the process of the period that the specialized priest facilitates, rather than simply the status of both the congregation and priest.

Increasingly, the term “transitional” has found favor. It is from a Latin word meaning “movement” and means “change,” or “passage, movement, evolution, or development from one state to another;” it usually refers to a temporary process. Hence the terms “transitional period,” “congregation in transition,” transitional ministry” and “transitional priest.” While this process term may be preferred, its lack of precision is a disadvantage; congregations can experience other significant transitions, not just that between rectors, while the term “interim” generally is used exclusively in the church for the period and clergy role between rectors.

While most people generally assume that a search process for a new rector is an essential part of the interim or transitional process, such is not always the case. The terms “interim” and “transitional” apply whenever there is no rector leading the congregation even for an indefinite time with no search process planned. Interim periods are generally measured in months, but they could last decades.

“RECTOR”

The term "rector" is derived from the Latin word “rex” meaning “king.” Its synonyms are “ruler,” “leader,” and “director.”

In the Episcopal Church, a “rector” is a full-time priest elected by the vestry of a financially self-sufficient congregation and installed in that congregation by the bishop of the diocese. Although used on this web site for emphasis, the term “installed rector” is actually redundant; a rector is by definition always installed.

Once elected and installed, a rector has “permanent” tenure, limited only by the mandatory retirement policies of the Episcopal Church. The relationship between a congregation and a rector is very much like a marriage, mutually intended to be of indefinite duration.

A congregation wishing to dismiss its rector without provable cause (such as misconduct) can do so only if the rector agrees to resign. Similarly, a rector can resign to accept another position or for any other reason only if the vestry consents.

There are canonical (church law) provisions for the removal of a rector in cases of misconduct and for the dissolution of the pastoral relationship (divorce judgment) in cases of intractable conflict between rector and congregation.

“INTERIM PRIEST”

Because the term “rector” is by definition a permanent position, it cannot be modified by another term indicating impermanence. Thus, although used widely, the terms “interim rector,” “transitional rector,” or “time-certain rector” are actually self-contradictory. A preferred term is “interim priest” or “transitional priest.”

“PRIEST-IN-CHARGE”

The legal purists note that the term “priest-in-charge” is the only position title in the canons for a priest who is the principal leader of a self-sufficient congregation who is not the rector. Accordingly, they urge that “priest-in-charge” be used instead of “interim priest” and in all situations where the priest leading a congregation is not a rector.

However, some dioceses use the term “priest-in-charge” not as a general position title, but for particular, extraordinary situations after a congregation has experienced some kind of significant difficulty in its relationship with its rector – such as misconduct, conflict, or seriously mismatched expectations – and has retained the services of a principal priest to lead the congregation for a period of time without launching an immediate search process for a new rector.

Different dioceses have adapted this concept in different ways, such as allowing the priest, after a time for congregation development and healing, to be elected and installed as the rector and setting the length of time the priest will be in place before a search process can begin or a decision made about whether the priest can become rector. Some dioceses use the term “time-certain rector” for this role instead of “priest-in-charge.”

“VICAR”

The term “vicar” derives from the Latin word “vicarious.” Its synonyms are “substitute,” “agent,” and “deputy.” In the Episcopal Church a “vicar” is the principal priest leading a “mission congregation” or “aided congregation,” one receiving financial support from the diocese or otherwise under the supervision of the bishop and of which the bishop is the actual rector.

Officially, the bishop appoints the vicar and determines the tenure. In many dioceses, however, the bishop allows a mission congregation to screen recommended candidates and then appoints the one it selects. Accordingly, there are situations in which an interim priest serves a congregation while it is without a vicar.

“SUPPLY”

A “supply priest” or “Sunday supply priest” is one who presides at worship services for one or more Sundays usually while the rector is temporarily away on vacation or recovering from illness. There are occasions when a supply priest also provides emergency pastoral care and leads weekday worship. An “extended supply priest” functions in this limited way with a congregation for an indefinite period, but does not assume any administrative or other leadership responsibilities.

“PART-TIME OR FULL-TIME”

These terms are sometimes inaccurately used as synonyms for “temporary” or “permanent” when referring to the status of the ordained leader of a congregation as interim priest or rector.

Accurately used, the terms refer to the number of hours per week the priest devotes to work with a congregation. In practice, a full-time priest works significantly more hours than the conventional 40 hours per week. Part-time assignments can range from 10 hours to almost 40 hours per week.

By definition, a rector is full-time, although there are situations today where a part-time priest serving a congregation indefinitely uses the title “rector,” instead of the more appropriate “priest-in-charge.” 

It is more problematic when a congregation obtains a part-time interim priest even though the actual status of the previous and the next rector is full time. Congregations often choose this as an economy measure. However, it severely limits the ability of the interim priest to undertake the developmental work the congregation may require during the interim period. Most interim specialists insist that the interim priest be full-time if that is the status of the position of rector.

Copyright © 2008 by Theodore W. Johnson

February 28, 2008

www.interimpriest.com