• Interim pastors fulfil many roles that permanent pastors do.Soldiers grave image by Peter Helin from Fotolia.com
  
  Interim pastors perform the same duties a permanent pastor does while the church seeks for a permanent pastor. The goal of the interim pastor is to function in whatever roles the church needs to help the congregation make the transition to a permanent pastor with as little spiritual or emotional strain as possible. Interim pastors will write and deliver sermons, perform ceremonies, participate in leadership functions and provide spiritual care.
  
  

Sermons

• Interim pastors will spend much time preparing weekly sermons to the congregation and may preach at more than one worship service. The interim pastor will use references to biblical culture, the Hebrew and Greek languages, geography and landscape in biblical times and the Bible, drawing from each to help prepare the sermon messages. If the church needs an interim pastor due to a church split or if the previous pastor was fired or otherwise left the church unexpectedly, residual hurts and undue stress the congregation may be experiencing should be kept in mind during sermon preparation.
  
  

Ceremonies

• The interim pastor will be called upon to officiate at weddings and funerals as necessary. He will be in charge of celebrate baptisms and communion. Although many churches have an actual worship leader, the interim pastor may still provide input to weekly song selections, the order of the songs playing and the timing of the songs during church services.
  
  

Leadership

• Interim pastors are looked to fill a leadership role by either making final decisions or helping to vote on key decisions like budgetary concerns, scheduling and administrative procedures. Larger church denominations may have strict guidelines and policies in place and in these cases the interim pastor fills the roles required of him but is only allowed to operate within those rules and policies. A permanent pastor may have room to change some of the policies or procedures or at the very least be able to propose such changes. An interim pastor may not have the same freedoms in the leadership role.
  
  

Spiritual Care

• Interim pastors are available to provide counseling to congregational members during crisis like divorce or death. Premarital counseling may be offered as needed. The interim pastor will visit the sick in the hospital if requested by the patient or patient's family. Some churches will also have the interim pastor set aside time specifically to attempt contact with both inactive and active church members to help strengthen the bonds of the congregation. Finally, interim pastors may lead outreach events to make positive differences in the church's surrounding communities.