2023 Offerings
“I’d like to encourage all professional ministers to take TMWorkshops– whether you intend to serve in an intentional interim role or not. All congregations are in transition. All of them need leaders who understand how to navigate those transitions.”
— REV. DR. JAN EDMISTON GENERAL PRESBYTERPRESBYTERY OF CHARLOTTE CO-MODERATOR,
222ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA)
FAQ
IS THIS INTERIM MINISTRY TRAINING?
Yes and No. Ministry has changed substantially since the 1980s when interim ministry began. Even though there is still a need for interim pastors, most churches need pastors who are able to help them make meaningful change to orient them toward the future. These pastors are called by all sorts of names now. We talk about all the various transitional settings in this training event, not just the interim setting.
IS THIS THE TRAINING THAT USED TO BE AT MENUCHA (IN PORTLAND, OR)?
Yes. This is the online version of that training event that we did for about 5 years at Menucha. We never planned to do this training online, but COVID forced us to change our plans. Because there is high demand for these workshops, we’ve decided to 1). keep it online to increase access and affordability, and 2). plan our first ever TMW retreat for those who have completed TMW1 and TMW2.
I WAS TOLD TO TAKE “INTERIM TRAINING,” WILL THIS COUNT?
Yes. But we’re not going to spend all of our time talking about the transition from one pastor to the next — that’s an old modality. If you want a more traditional interim training event, you might check out the Interim Ministry Network or some of the other PCUSA sites.
SO WHAT MAKES THIS TRAINING DIFFERENT?
Interim ministry focuses on preparing a congregation for a change of pastor. Our training starts with the need for change in every congregation, regardless of the status of the pastor. Our framework focuses on how to lead a congregation through the Elements of Change.
WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS OF CHANGE?
The Elements of Change is a framework that describes the dynamics of change in congregations. It is a concept that the lead presenter of TMWorkshops, Scott Lumsden, developed based on his 20 years of working with congregations in both interim, transitional, and conflictual settings. It’s based on the concepts and readings we’ve used in interim ministry training for decades, but it’s adapted for our current ministry setting.
WILL I GET A CERTIFICATE?
Certificates of completion are given when participants complete all the requirements of each workshop. We find however that most participants are more interested in putting these concepts into practice than in getting a certificate. But we understand that some judicatory bodies want the old fashioned certificate.
Want to learn more?