Interim/Supply Pastor and Staff Vacancy

Compensation

Written job descriptions for the interim pastor should also include a salary/benefit package. A general rule of thumb related to compensation is: If you expect the interim to do half the work of a pastor, you should pay half the salary package of your last pastor. If you expect the interim to do 75% of the work, pay 75% of the salary. The church should expect the interim to be away on some Sundays, slnce the interim is generally retired or working a full-time job. An interim needs time off. Decide how many Sundays can be taken off and whether or not the interim will be paid when absent--and who will pay the supply. Have a written job description/benefit package and let the church vote on it. Remember to compensate the interim for business-related expenses, such as mileage, meals and conferences.

Intentional Interim

A new concept in Baptist life is that of the "intentional" interim. Sometimes a church needs more than most traditional interims can, or are willing, to give. The intentional interim contracts with the congregation to be their pastor for a short period of time--usually a year to eighteen months. The intentional interim is paid the same salary/benefits package as the regular pastor. While serving as pastor, the intentional interim who has special training in dealing with conflict also uses expertise in other areas to assist the church during this time of transition. The intentional interim can assist a church in identifying its goals and objectives so they know what sort of permanent pastor they are seeking. The intentional interim understands power systems in the church and can address them while helping the church through a time of grief and confusion when the last pastor has left under difficult circumstances. The intentional interim is expected to speak frankly about problems in the church and have the experience to deal with those problems as well as deal with staff friction. The intentional interim can train the search committee and give them guidance in the process of finding a full-time pastor.

While many interims already fulfill some of the tasks of an intentional interim, they seldom have the time or training to deal with the more difficult problems many churches in transition face. The intentional interim is given permission to deal with these issues and, as a result, assist the church with potentially devisive issues before a full-time pastor arrives on the scene. If a church is in a transitional community, has had recent conflict, or the previous pastor had a long tenure, they would be wise to consider such an arrangement. Otherwise, the next pastor may, in effect, be an unintentional interim.

Choose the Right Person

Choosing an interim pastor is a crucial decision and should be someone who has been a pastor. Candidates should not be someone who will consider accepting the call as full-time pastor. For that reason, the church needs to be very careful about who is asked to supply or be interim pastor. Too often someone is asked to fill the pulpit who may use it as a way to circumvent the normal pastor seach process. This is an unfair manipulation and often creates tension. No one can know how God will lead a church to a full-time pastor, and there have been times when the interim has become pastor and all ends well. But it often creates confusion and is generally not in the best interest of the church for an interim to be considered as the full-time pastor.

This list includes those in our Valley who have indicated they would consider serving as an interim. Some have special training as an interim, or as an intentional interim. 

Those available to serve as interims are listed below:

A List of Supply Preachers for RVBA Churches

Below are those who have indicated they enjoy supplying in the pulpits of the RVBA.
Their name is on the list by their request.

Ivey Adams currently lives in Salem after retiring from active ministry. He is a graduate of Troy State and Southwestern Seminary. He served a number of churches as pastor, the last Beulah in Franklin County. He also served on the staff of the Baptist Children's Home in Salem. His phone number is 540-389-3690.

Ray Allen is a native Virginian, educated at the University of Richmond (B.A. & D.D.), Southern (M.Div.) and Southeastern Seminary (D.Min.). He has pastored several churches in Virginia, the last at Blacksburg Baptist Church. He retired early and lives at Smith Mt. Lake. His number is 540-297-4539.

Charles P. Anderson has served as pastor most recently at Winfall Baptist Church (12 years).  His number is 434-929-0708 and address is 144 Emerson Lane, Madison Heights, VA 24572.

Juan Barr has served as pastor most recently at Midland Baptist Church (Vinton) and prior to that at Cave Rock Baptist Church (near Troutville).  His number is 540-362-5493 and e-mail is KS4UW@verizon.net.

Bill Board is an active member of Salem Baptist who has been licensed by that church. He is involved in jail ministry in our area.He attended the Univ. of Florida. He is available for pulpit supply and conferences on jail ministry. His phone numbers are 540-389-9409 and 540-345-8556.

Richard B. Brown was born in the Valley. He is a graduate of Averett College and Southern Seminary. He is currently serving as chaplain for a local hospital, but would be available for supply in local churches. His phone number is 540-977-1718.

Arthur J. Chisom was born in Roanoke.  Arthur is an active member of Bonsack Baptist.  He attended Shenandoah Bible College and Luther Rice Seminary.   His phone number is 540-977-8288.

Brian Clingenpeel, a native of Roanoke, served as pastor of Villa Heights for over 7 years, also served Hillsboro Baptist in Crozet for 4 years; graduate of Carson-Newman College and Southwestern Seminary.  Brian currently works at Roanoke County Fire and Rescue as a Public Education Specialist and as a chaplain at a local hospital.  You can contact Brian at 777-8718 or 400-5360 or email:  bclingenpeel@roanokecountyva.gov.


John Cochran recently retired as Minister of Education at First, Roanoke after serving there for 30 years. John is a graduate of Carson-Newman and Southwestern. He has been active in Baptist work in our Valley as well as in the SBC. His phone number is 540-977-4406.

Carl A. Collins, Jr., is a native Virginian, educated at the University of Richmond, Lynchburg College and Southwestern Baptist Seminary. He served Southern Baptists for more than 56 years as pastor, chaplain, professor and interim pastor of many churches in the Valley. His phone number is 540-992-4943.

Harold Cook recently retired after 25 years as pastor at Springwood Baptist.  Served as interim at Mill Creek Baptist on two occasions and interim at Troutville.  Attended Bluefield Junior College, BA, Wayland Baptist University, Plainview, TX, MA, Virginia Tech, Completed one year at Southeastern Seminary.  Phone 540-254-1502 or cell 540-797-3402.

Russell Coulter has 12 years experience as a pastor.  He has a Diploma of Theology from Liberty University and is a member of Ridgewood Baptist Church.  His phone number is 588-9918 (cell) or 381-1037 (work).

Jim Cravens has retired to the Valley after having spent much of his ministry in Virginia. He is a graduate of Ouachita University and Southern Seminary. He has served as a pastor, home missionary, and as the Director of Missions for the Greater Pittsburg Association (the sister association of the RVBA). His phone number is 540-362-9442.

John Divers retired to the Valley after serving as a missionary to Argentina for 28 years. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Southern Seminary. He has trained as an Intentional Interim at the Bowman-Gray School of Pastoral Care. His number is 540-992-5450.

Charles "Chips" Doyle is a lifelong resident of the Valley. He pastored Hollins Road for a number of years prior to his retirement. He is a graduate of Concord College and Southeastern Seminary. He has served as interim in several churches. His phone number is 540-366-9222.

Steve Dyer has lived in Roanoke for quite some time. He was pastor of Emmanuel in the RVBA. He currently has a photography business and is available for supply. His phone is 540-989-1061.

Charles Fuller was pastor of First Baptist, Roanoke for nearly 40 years before retiring. He is well known in Roanoke and around the nation as an excellent preacher and pastor. He is available for supply. Call him at 540-774-3849.

Robert M. Hamner recently retired as pastor of Grandin Court Baptist Church where he served for over 30 years. He was born in Texas and graduated from Baylor University and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His phone number is 540-774-3208.

David G. Hardin is a native of Roanoke. Educated at National Business College, Radford and Southwestern Seminary, he has been active in his home church, Windsor Hills here in Roanoke. He as served as a youth minister at Longdale and as a short-term missionary for the IMB in Tanzania. His phone number is 540-989-1543, e-mail is DGHardin@juno.com

Sam Harvey, Jr. recently retired from the active pastorate and has moved back to his native Salem. A graduate of Wake Forest and Southeastern and Union, he also pastored several churches in North Carolina and Virginia. He can be reached at 540-375-2910

David Henry recently retired from the pastorate after serving churches throughout Virginia and has moved to Roanoke. He is a graduate of the University of Richmond and Southeastern. His number is 989-6884.

Charles Hoffler served as a pastor for 29 years in Virginia.  He has served as a bi-vocational minster at Cooper's Cove and Cedar Bluff and as a full time pastor including 10 years at Waverly Place.  He is a graduate of Gardner Webb College and Southwestern Seminary.  His phone number at Carilion Hospice is 224-4814 and the home number is 890-3275.  His email address is choffler@carilion.com.

William E. Hungate is a native of Roanoke and a graduate of Southern Seminary. He served on the staffs of First Baptist Waynesboro, Vinton, and Main St.,Christiansburg. Bill has served as an interim in three churches in our association. His phone number is 540-362-1116.

Marvin E. Jacobs pastored at Waverly Place in Roanoke for ten years as well as in several other Virginia Baptist churches. He is a graduate of Roanoke College, Southern Seminary and has a D.Min. from St. Mary's Seminary. His phone number is 540-890-2283 or e-mail sssmjaco@rev.net.

Vernon V. Jennings is a native Virginian, educated at the University of Richmond, Southeastern Seminary and holds a diploma in Biblical Studies from Seminary Extension. He has been pastor of Hunton Baptist Church (Richmond), Saltville Baptist, and Pleasant Hill Baptist in Roanoke Valley. He is retired. His phone number is 540-366-6533.

Harold Lewis retired from Villa Heights Baptist after nearly 20 years. He is a graduate of the Univ. of Richmond and Southeastern. He pastored churches in Virginia prior to moving to the Valley. His phone number is 540-989-6730.

Philip E. Motley is a native of Danville, Virginia and was raised in Norfolk. He is a graduate of Georgia Inst. of Technology, Duke Divinity School, and School of Pastoral Care at N.C. Baptist Hospital. He served as pastor at Grandin Court for six years. His number is 540-774-6247.

Rick Painter lives in Troutville.  He has 25 years of full-time ministry experience.  He has served as a Church Planter, Pastor, Minister of Education and Youth.  He graduated from Bluefield College with a Bachelors of Arts, Voice and Southwestern with a M. Div.  His phone number is 977-1924.  Email:  crossroads6@netzero.com

R. Jack Richards, Jr. lives in Salem and attends Catawba Baptist Church. He is active there and just completed a Masters in Arts and Religion from Liberty. He enjoys working in the church and preaching. His phone no. is 540-384-8052. E-Mail is cdrjr@juno.com

Ronald Salyer is a recently retired CPA. He has been licensed to preach by Windsor Hills. He has taken Bible classes, has some experience in preaching and would enjoy speaking in churches. He can be reached at 540-772-7770 (O) or 540-774-8135 (H).

E. Wayne Sellers was ordained by Trinity Baptist Church (Natural Bridge Association) October 1971.  He served several Baptist Churches as a bivocational pastor from 1971 through 1999.  From 1999 through 2007 he served as full-time pastor of Victory Community Church, Roanoke, VA (Non-denominational).  He is a graduate of Bethany Bible College and Seminary (Dothan, AL).  He can be reached at 540-362-5505.

Helping Churches Find Staff...and Staff Find Churches

The following vacancies are currently available in RVBA churches.