The contributions of transitional ministry specialists to the mission of the early 21st century Upstate New York ELCA Lutheran and full communion partner churches

The purpose of the project research was to explore the history of transitional ministry specialists, interim ministry theory with particular attention to the geographic area defined by the Upstate New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the effectiveness of current transitional work with ELCA Lutherans and their full communion partners in Upstate New York. The methodology included reading and research, interview and survey of transitional ministry specialists, leaders in congregations served by them, and denominational supervisors.; Findings in the information gathered included discovering several effective and vital roles that transitional ministry specialists may inhabit for the good of the congregation served and the church at large. These roles include companion to a congregation in its grief, encourager in and through the interim journey, problem solver, conflict manager, bridge builder, change agent, hopeful realist, and spiritual director.; Project conclusions include recognizing that Upstate New York ELCA Lutherans and their full communion partners approach the interim agenda with a similar blend of the developmental tasks described in Chapter IV of the project and normal adaptable parish ministry. Many, but not all transitional ministry specialists have specialized interim training. Some are chosen and placed for particular skill sets that are needed. Congregations continue to discover this specialized form of transitional leadership, cautious at the onset of the experience. Those who serve as transitional ministry specialists are a varied group of mostly experienced parish pastors. Finally, measuring effectiveness may take some time after the transitional ministry experience to thoroughly process.