Moseley Abstract

All life is interim. Moseley speaks from his personal experience of grief when he lost his wife of 31 years. Using his own grief and recovery as his model, he draws parallels for churches and interim pastors to use in dealing with the church’s grief over losing a pastor. Whether the former pastor was deeply loved or left under engative circumstances, there is still a sense of loss and grief. Congregations may experience anger or fear of building a relationship with a new pastor. One key to working through grief is remembering the past and looking to the future based on the realization of God’s presence in the present—God with us.