Many times, the term "interim" is perceived to refer to the "pastor in-between pastors" – when in fact, it implies significantly more. It is meant to signify a period of time between periods – a time when stability and instability are in frequent tension with each other, and one during which the body or organization experiencing such will in some ways become defined by how they negotiate that tension.

When this interim period is approached with specific purpose, it is referred to as being intentional, a time in which processes are put in place with specific goals and objectives – and with the mark of intent. A church going through such a period of transition as this, usually when they find themselves between pastors, has the unique opportunity to explore who they are, who they want to be, and what God is calling and charging them to be and to do; in other words, the chance to be intentional about the process. Furthermore, moving through this process with an intentionality commensurate with the task helps facilitate the hope that this process, this period they have entered, be as effectual and productive as possible.

As we have mentioned from time to time in various congregational settings, this is the time when church self-discovery is at the forefront – an exciting exploration of just who we are meant to be by God, as well as who you have become over the last 20 years. It is inevitable that we will discover that some of what we were back then we no longer are...and some of what we were not, we have since then become. We will also discover, in the end, that the metamorphoses resident in the bird's-eye view of that picture will show the hand of God at work. This perspective is what we are going after during an "intentional interim time" – finding the working of the Holy Spirit, the journey He has taken us down, and the tell-tale signs of where that trail is meant to be leading us in this next chapter of OCC’s life as a church.

Being congregational in our polity (the manner in which the church governs itself), we assume that God not only speaks and moves through a church's leadership, but also through the expressed will and input of the congregation – hoping that they, too, are leaning on God's inspiration for indications of that direction. In other words, while your elected or otherwise appointed leadership are working hard to discern the will and intentions of God for the current work of the ministry, we all are charged with discovering, and forming, our future – because your vested interest and intentional involvement in this process is critical for its success.

We have already begun the first major step – discovering how we currently identify ourselves as both a living entity (a fellowshipping church) and a ministering body (one reaching out) – through the evaluations of your various Ministry Team leaders of the work and current goals of their respective ministries. After expanding on that endeavor through more comprehensive conversation around overall church identity, our next task will be to determine in what ways and to what extent we are both internally and externally focused, as well as what seems to motivate those points of focus. As we consolidate and collate those points, they will help inform us when addressing our next task: to explore where we feel God is taking us; to discover, through focused prayer and group discussion, what we are to become – what we are to do, and just who we are to be – as this proverbial "turning of the page" happens in our life as a church.

As your Pastor during this interim time, it is essential for me to stress here that this process is NOT only the responsibility of church leadership – it is both ours and yours. Collectively we are called to this task by God for determining our future, and then pro-actively pursuing it together. During the Fall, we will be facilitating several large group discussion meetings (one per month), focused on discovering among ourselves how we have been moved this way or that in our passions for church life, and what our role in that might look like. Your “intentional” involvement in this process will be vital to its success. As we draw closer to the time, we will be dispensing more information as to the dates and times of those meetings, as well as the specific nature and focus of each one.

It is my prayer and strong encouragement that you join us in this "joyous struggle" to discern God's will, to recognize His hand, and to mark our future based on those discoveries. I look forward to continuing this process with you with great anticipation, for these times are of the kind that re-introduce a church to its new life and calling – and to the community and part of the world she is intended to influence for the Kingdom of God. May we commit ourselves to this end, to this purpose, together. And intentionally.