For years I trusted that Intentional Interim Ministry assisted congregations in finding their next pastor. I have even propagated that rumor.
Rumor? Yes, rumor. A recent Alban Institute article confirmed the lack of substantiation of that popular assertion.
If anything, requiring that congregations conduct a mission study between installed pastors robs them of the best method for stabilizing their relationship with their next pastor.
See my short e-book, Healthy Pastoral Transitions: A process for maintaining congregational leadership, for my critique of Intentional Interim Ministry and an alternative process. I have recently updated it to include a quote from the Alban Institute article with a citation. There is no charge for this download, in the hopes that some congregation might benefit by skipping the Intentional Interim Ministry and shortening their search process.