INTERIM PASTORATES

Hill Crest Baptist Church, Raeford, N.C.

Raft Swamp Baptist Church, Lumberton, N.C

Great Marsh Baptist Church, St Pauls, N.C.

South Berkeley Baptist Church, Inwood, W.V.

Berkeley Baptist Church, Berkeley Springs, W.V.

First Baptist Church, Martinsburg, W.V.

Greencastle Baptist Church, Greencastle, Pa

Virginia Ave. Baptist Church, Hagerstown, MD

Emmanuel Baptist Church, Great Cacapon, W.V.

Pilgrim Baptist Church Ellenboro, N.C.

Maranatha Baptist Church Forest City, N.C.

Cane Creek Baptist Church Union Mills, N.C.

High Shoal Baptist Church Henrietta, N.C.

West Memorial Baptist Church Rutherfordton, N.C.

Lavonia Baptist Church Mooresboro, N.C.

Fellowship Baptist Church, Silvers Lake Rd., Rutherfordton, N.C.

Rev. Edward Rogers is a graduate of East Texas Baptist University, and holds a BD degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  He experienced a call from God to Christian ministry in 1946, and was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1953.

Since 1952 until his retirement from the active pastorate in 1990, Ed served as pastor of churches in Texas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Colorado, North Carolina and West Virginia.  Since retirement from the active pastorate, he has had an active ministry as interim pastor in churches in North Carolina, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

In addition to his pastoral ministry, Ed has been active denominationally, both at the Associational and State Convention levels.  He worked in Pioneer Missions with the Home Mission Board (now North American Mission Board) in Wyoming and Colorado.

Ed was born in Fayetteville, NC, and grew up in Spartanburg County, SC.  He and his wife, Laverne, currently reside in Bostic, NC and are members of the Cliffside Baptist Church, where he is now serving as a Deacon.

The church list at the left are those I have served as Interim.  The ministry of Interim Pastor is a very needful ministry when a church has lost their pastor and one that I feel God has called me to do since retiring from the active pastorate in 1990.

Why Call an Interim Pastor?

One of the most crucial times a church will ever face is the time spent between the time a pastor leaves and a new leader is sought out and called to the church. Sometimes when a local church finds itself without a pastor, they may choose to just used various "fill in" speakers rather than call an interim to fill the pulpit as they search for a new leader. There are many reasons why it is wise to call an interim to handle this responsibility of leadership during this time.

(1) It gives the pastor search committee the needed freedom to go out in search of a new man to shepherd the flock.  Often, a search committee is made up of several of the main leaders of the congregation who need to be there every Sunday if a pastor is not present.  With a good interim in place, they feel more at ease about being away.

(2) It gives the church the experience of a seasoned leader.  Sometimes a church may be left with a lot of unrest and difficulty after a long term pastor who was loved and appreciated by the people, or if the former pastor has left in a time of controversy.

(3) It gives the church someone who can minister to them in times of sickness, distress, bereavement. They have a man in place who has "been there and done that," and will be there for them until a new pastor is called.

(4) It gives the congregation good solid Bible preaching and teaching from one who has many years of study and experience in the past.