Current Conferences
“The Art of Transitional Ministry”
This year’s seminar runs three concurrent sessions (Week I, Week II, and Spouse Track)
As of Friday, August 20, 2010:
- Week I is closed to registration. No exceptions can be made.
- Week II is closed to registration. No exceptions can be made.
The interim pastor is recognized as a specialized position in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Some interim pastors enter this field straight out of seminary, others enter at mid-career and find a new enthusiasm in this more specialized kind of ministry. Still others are retired ministers who wish to continue in service for a few more years. Presbyteries increasingly encourage sessions to call an interim while the congregation is in transition between installed pastors. Interim assignments vary in length from three months to a year or more.
This specialized ministry often requires skills which include reorganizing a session or congregation, problem-solving, program maintenance and conflict management, as well as providing trained leadership through a transitional period.
The interim is one who understands and helps the congregation address the five developmental tasks: coming to terms with history; shifts of leadership; thinking denominational linkages; discovering a new identity; and commitment to new pastoral leadership and to a new future.
The curriculum for these events has been standardized at regional sites across the country. Weeks are not repeatable. However, if it has been more than six years since you attended week one training, you should take it again.
Week I is designed to
- introduce interim ministry to ministers contemplating this form of service as a valid ministry for them.
- provide the basic skills for ministers who have just begun their interim ministry and who have not completed a Week I event (or equivalent).
Week II* is designed to
*Requirements for enrollment in Week II: completion of Week I and current service as an interim or service as an interim within the last two years (since Jan. 1, 2007). At least six months time must elapse between training for Week I and Week II.
- broaden the skills of ministers who have completed week I at any one of the approved regional sites (a list of those sites and scheduled events is available upon request).
- provide a group process of reflection and learning grounded in the participant’s practice of interim ministry.
Spouse Track is designed for spouses of pastors either considering or already in interim positions. Spouses are encouraged to participate in the interim ministry spouse track. Regardless of the level of involvement in interim ministry, it is good to understand the unique characteristics of this specialized ministry. Together, through a variety of activities, spouses will develop a basic understanding of interim ministry, explore their fit within its rewards and challenges, and learn ways to strengthen their support system for ministry. Spouses are encouraged to attend some sessions with Week 1 participants, but will not be able to attend the integrative learning exercise with Week II participants.
Governing Body Representatives and Committee on Ministry members are urged to attend. It is an opportunity to become familiar with the concerns of interim ministers and learn how to develop and support a network of trained pastors to work as interims in their own area. The requirement for interim experience is waived for persons in this group who have completed Week I and wish to take Week II.
Sponsored by Montreat Conference Center, in cooperation with the Interim Ministry Consortium.
Key Leaders
Week I and Week II Seminar Staff
- Tim Jones, Delaware, OH; Tim is a former interim executive presbyter in two presbyteries; an associate in one presbytery; and an interim pastor in one conflicted congregation; He teaches Weeks I & II at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Executive Track at the Synod of Mid America/Lincoln Trails.
- Lynne Myers, Tucson, AZ; Lynne has served urban, rural and suburban churches from less than 50 to 1500 members as an installed and interim pastor. She has also served as a Presbytery Stated Clerk and is currently serving as Interim Executive Presbyter of Presbytery de Cristo. She has been an interim pastor since 1995, an Interim Ministry Specialist since 1998 and has taught Weeks I, II and Executive Training at four PCUSA sites since 1999. She looks forward to teaching at Montreat once more.
- Libby Rollins, Decatur, AL; Libby lives in Decatur, AL and has been involved in interim ministry for eight years. She has served 4 churches throughout North Alabama Presbytery during their times of pastoral transition as Interim Head of Staff, Interim Solo, and Interim Associate. She joined the teaching team in 2008. She is one half of a clergy couple with her husband serving as an installed Pastor, and they have one son. She enjoys cooking, traveling, and going to the spa.
- Harris Schultz, Nashville, TN; Harris retired at the end of 2006 after serving small, mid-size, and larger congregations, the last five as interim pastor of program or corporate congregations. He has been a leader in interim ministry education for over 10 years, having taught in several sites related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He is editor of The Bridge, the quarterly newsletter for the Association of Presbyterian Interim Ministry Specialists. He received the D.Min degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in 1996, where he focused on pastoral care with attention to transitional ministries.
- Jan Schultz, Nashville, TN; Jan served five congregations as an interim Christian Educator/Youth Director prior to her retirement as Interim Christian Educator at First Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. She has been the coordinator for the Association of Presbyterian Interim Ministry Specialists (APIMS) for the last nine years, and the coordinator for the Interim Ministry Education Consortium. For the past 5 years, she has team taught the Interim Ministry Spouse Track with her spouse Harris at Montreat Conference Center and Zephyr Point Conference Center.
- Charles Svendsen, Los Angeles, CA; Charles is the interim pastor of the Wilshire Presbyterian Church in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles. He has served seventeen interim pastorates in California, Washington, New York and New England including three overseas positions. Charles enjoys travel, American history and motoring about LA in his 1969 MGB roadster.
Spouse Track Leaders
- Dick and Sue Neelly, Dalton, GA; Dick has been an interim minister in 6 churches after having been an installed pastor for nearly 30 years. In the past he has served on the faculty of interim training at Montreat. Sue has participated in the spouse track and has been active in each of the churches where Dick has served. Throughout their professional lives she has worked as a registered nurse. They have been married 39 years.
Program Fee
- On or before July 10: $407 – clergy only; $447 – clergy and non-clergy spouse
- After July 10: $432 – clergy only; $472 – clergy and non-clergy spouse
Scholarships are available for this conference.
Cost of Housing & Meals
Housing and meal rates are per person and include all charges for room and meals for the entire conference (Sunday supper-Friday lunch. NO WEDNESDAY SUPPER). Additional charges will apply for any extended stay. Children 5-11: $66.50. Children under 5: no charge. No room charge for children under 12 in the same room with parent(s).
Assembly Inn
- Single, Private Bath $575.75
- Single, Connecting Bath $480.75
- Double, Private Bath $380.75 per person
- Double, Connecting Bath $355.75 per person
Reynolds Lodge
- Single, Hall Bath $330.75
- Double, Hall Bath $305.75 per person
Learn more about these and other housing options available in Montreat…
Registration Information
Seminars begin Sunday, August 29, with check in, 3:30-5:30 PM, Assembly Inn Lobby (program begins at 7 PM). Seminars end Friday, September 3, with closing worship that begins at 11 a.m.
Each seminar has limited enrollment. Please register early. Registrations for Week I must be postmarked by August 1 in order to be accepted. Registrations for Week II must be postmarked on or before July 10 in order to be accepted.
The dates listed above are required because of advance reading and papers which must be prepared before your attendance at the event. If you feel you can accomplish the work after the dates listed and before the event, please call for an exception at 800.572.2257, ext. 331.
Child care is not provided during this seminar.
If you would like conference information mailed to you via U.S. mail, please email carolo[at]montreat.org. Questions about the conference? Email Tracy Taylor Bailey at tracyt[at]montreat.org.
Cancellation Policy
Registrations and housing cancellations for the Assembly Inn must be received by July 15 in order to receive a refund. The $100 deposit is completely non-refundable. All requests must be in writing and received via email, fax or US mail. Cancellations received by July 15 will receive a refund of all funds paid, minus the $100 deposit. Cancellations received between July 15 and August 15 will receive a 50% refund of conference fees and all payments made toward room and meals, minus a $40 service charge. No refunds will be issued after August 15.
Sponsored by Montreat Conference Center, in cooperation with the Interim Ministry Consortium.
Learn more about other opportunities offered by The Center for Faith & Life…
