What is an STM?

What Is A Specialized Transitional Minister?

A Specialized Transitional Minister (STM) is a pastor who can do all that a regular called pastor does, but who has also received special training to help churches during the very important transition time between pastors. This “in-between” or “liminal” time is often a time involving both hazards and opportunities. I will say more about those two categories below. An STM can help a church make it a time rich with opportunity by giving the congregation the kind of facilitating leadership that maintains the regular ministries of the church while addressing any other issues and concerns the church faces.

There are currently (2021) around 15 Christian Reformed Pastors in the US and Canada who have received this training and are endorsed by Pastor Church Resources. God has used this Specialized Transitional Ministry to enable many churches to turn a time of “vacancy” from “down time” into a unifying, clarifying and fruitful bridge to the future. And that is the ultimate goal, to prepare the congregation for a healthy future with a new pastor who has had the way prepared for a strong ministry.

The opportunities in a liminal time are many. Even the hazards are actually opportunities, if the church wants to make them that. There is time to explore the past and the present situation with a discerning eye and ear open to God pointing to clarification of a particular church’s purpose going forward. There is time to unclutter, to downsize if that proves necessary, to adjust programs or worship if that seems wise. There is time to work on hurts the past has brought, to restore relationships that may have been strained, and to reflect on past choices that may not have been the wisest and learn from them. All of these involve the likelihood of change, and that is where the hazards begin to surface. It is common for a number of people to be very restless to “get our own pastor as soon as possible” and to feel anxiety and threat in this kind of reflective pause, and their responses will be yet another opportunity to learn and grow.

Here are a number links to articles from the Banner and Christian Courier which can give a bit more information about the work of an STM. The first one is maybe the most immediately helpful:

http://www.thebanner.org/departments/2011/01/after-your-pastor-leaves

http://www.thebanner.org/departments/2012/01/a-theology-of-transition

http://www.thebanner.org/departments/2012/02/the-scarlet-number

https://www.christiancourier.ca/fractured-flocks-a-leadership-crisis-in-the-crc/ [you may have to cut and paste this link to make it work]

http://www.thebanner.org/together/2011/12/evaluations-that-help-pastors-flourish