It’s become a very busy January at QUUF. See the long list of events elsewhere in this edition of the Weekly Update, sure signs of an active and engaged congregation. (And by the way, thanks as always to Holly for making the Weekly Update happen!)

But it’s a good busy, from family ministries to covenant groups, justice work to adult learning. This is how congregations make good on the promises in their mission. This is how a religious community changes lives, and practices spiritual disobedience in such times.

Now that I’m on the ground, let me give more shape to interim ministry in general, and our shared ministry in particular. Some overall information about this unique way of doing ministry:

● We come to help look backward and forward – what a congregation’s learned from it’s past, and how to apply that learning as they go forward;
● Interim work is time-limited: Save for certain situations, interim ministers stay for no long than two years. (I began with QUUF in August 2025);
● Interim ministers work from both theory and practice. We’re charged with focusing on the biggest possible questions, and offering some ideas about how best to answer them.
● Our loads are generally administrative-heavy. We’re more consultants that preach, less preachers that consult;
● We’re pastoral but not pastors; social but don’t socialize save for large congregational events; and our justice work is more about advocacy than direct action.

Some details about how all this applies to my work:

● Per the heavy administrative load, most of my work is done out-of-office. I’m glad to schedule by request, and am on the QUUF campus several times each week. It’s just the nature of today’s ministry;
● Your pastoral care team help with most of the caring ministry, but I’m available if needed;
● I’m now responsible for three in-person services most months – a big jump from one virtual per month. Worship prep and delivery is important at QUUF;
I’ll flesh more things out as we go along, but hopefully this will give you a better idea of how interim ministry differs from other, equally distinct forms.

Thanks for your attention, patience and support as we journey together. As I often say, we’re a good match!

1/25 “All You Need is Love?” Don’s preaching schedule is a little off for Valentine’s Day, so let’s talk about love a little early. Fun love, painful love, love for a world torn asunder by injustice and pain.