Transitional Ministry Education

The 2024 Transitional Ministry Education will be Monday, May 13-17. The in-person program will be hosted at the Mercy Conference and Retreat Center in Saint Louis, Missouri.

About

We live in a time of great transition in our churches and culture. Transitional Ministry Education is not limited to those presently engaged in or inquiring about the nature of transitional ministry. Anyone interested in learning about transitions in ministry is welcome to apply.

Basic Transitional Ministry Education consists of 60 contact hours plus a practicum. The contact hours are divided equally between two residency weeks: Week I (30 hours) and Week II (30 hours), separated by a practicum that combines reflection on, and experience in, some aspect of interim/transitional ministry.

The Mid America/Lincoln Trails (MALT) "Art of Transitional Ministry" training offers education for both Weeks I & II. Participants must complete both Residency Week I and all practicum assignments before taking part in Residency Week II. Those who complete the first week of basic education at another site must complete all MALT practicum assignments prior to attending Residency Week II.

If you desire to receive a Statement of Completion for any of the training programs offered, you must actively participate in all sessions in their entirety (30 hours for Weeks I and II).

Orientation Schedule

The Art of Transitional Ministry - May 13-17, 2024

  • Week 1: Introduction to Transitional Ministry

  • Week 2: The Practice of Transitional Ministry

Program Fee: $1,000 (includes lodging and most meals) Location: Mercy Center Conference and Retreat Center, 2039 N. Geyer Road, Saint Louis, Missouri 63131.

Check-in for both Week I and II will begin at 10am on Monday, May 13, 2024. Please schedule your return flights to depart after 1pm on Friday afternoon, May 17, 2024.

In the event the program cannot be held in-person safely, the program fee will remain the same should the training be held virtually.

LODGING

All lodging for the 2024 Art of Transitional Ministry programs will be located at the Mercy Conference and Retreat Center, 2039 N. Geyer Road, St. Louis, MO 63131. Registrants can expect simple yet comfortable retreat-style accommodations in a suburban neighborhood with lush grounds for outdoor exercise and contemplation.

While most rooms are available for single occupancy, there are a limited number of double rooms for couples or roommates. Spouses, while welcome, will be charged the full program rate for lodging and meals even if they are not participating in the training.

Persons needing to arrive in the St. Louis area on Sunday, May 12 due to flight or train schedules should indicate this on their registration and plan on checking into Mercy Center no earlier than 3:00pm or later than 7:30pm. Participants must check out of their rooms by 9:00 am on Friday, May 17.

MEALS

Daily breakfast, lunch, and most dinners will be available at Mercy Center during the week. For persons arriving on Sunday, May 12, please note that no dinner will be served at Mercy Center that evening, and dinner will be on your own. Breakfast at 7:30am on Monday will be reserved for early check-ins.

Wednesday dinner will be on your own (Weeks I and II) and offers participants an opportunity to experience the St. Louis dining and nightlife scene at their leisure. Week I and II participants not willing to venture off-campus on Wednesday evening may arrange to dine at Mercy Center by prior reservation. Those wishing to have boxed lunches prepared may request them in advance for pickup after 11:30am.

All meals will be served buffet style. Persons with specific dietary restrictions or requirements MUST make those known during registration. The food staff has done an excellent job of accommodating specific needs.

Staff

The Art of Transitional Ministry programs engage in Equipping Church Leaders for Ministry on the Edge. Both active and retired pastors and mid council executives experienced in Transitional Ministry provide educational training for pastors and elders interested in Transitional Ministry. All of the staff members have years of experience (in some cases, decades!) in transitional ministry settings as interim or transitional pastors, associate pastors, or interim/transitional mid-council and governing body executive staff.

Rev. Dr. Tassie Green joined the MALT faculty in 2019 and serves as the team leader. Tassie has served congregations from 70-4000 members. She is currently Interim Senior Pastor at First Presbyterian in Evanston, IL, an historic, 550-member congregation on Chicago's Northshore. She has served 7 other interim roles and worked for the Presbytery of Chicago as a trainer and coach, plus served large congregations in Hinsdale, Indianapolis, and Philly as installed associate pastor for families. Tassie's vision statement is, “Helping make Jesus real in people’s lives, beginning with our own family.” Tassie and her husband Ken are a clergy couple who live in Palatine, IL. Ken serves with the PC(USA) Board Of Pensions as regional church consultant. Carlina and Michael are their two, grown? children in their 20s.

Rev. Gail Doering joined MALT faculty in fall 2021. Gail has served in 7 different transitional calls ranging from small solo pastorates, associate pastor in large multi-staff setting, head of staff of a medium sized church supervising one other pastor and now as a Transitional Executive Leader of the Presbytery of Southern Kansas, while living in Wichita, Kansas. Since preparation for ministry, she also has experience in or with 4 different Presbyteries. Gail's passions and interests are wide and varied - arts of all kinds, choral singing, hiking, travel and spending time in nature as well as being the emotional support human to her nutty rescue dog (terrier, chihuahua, corgi mix) Iggy who is named primarily for her favorite NBA Player, Andre Igoudala, not St. Ignatius or Iggy Pop. In her spare time she serves on the board of directors for Pilgrims of Ibillin (pilgrimsofibillin.org), and just began to sing again with the Wichita Symphony Chorus. Gail's preferred pronouns are she/her/hers, she is married to David and has two Millennial daughters who both work remotely from Santa Barbara, CA and the greater Denver, Colorado regions. Gail loves developing spiritual practice experiences and creative worship.

Rev. Dr. Barbara Wilson is also on the Montreat faculty. Barbara is the Associate Executive Presbyter, Chicago Presbytery. She leads in increasing internal capacity with leader teams and congregations to strengthen congregational vitality and mission impact, via building healthy collaboration and sustainable partnerships. Barbara is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC), International Coaching Federation (ICF), a trained practitioner of presencing (Theory U) and ToP Facilitation Methods. She is an adjunct professor, and master trainer of ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Interface and Trauma-Informed for Faith Communities curricula. She is a Qualified Administrator (QA) for the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), Healthy Congregations Facilitator and Transitional/Interim Ministry Instructor. She has 13+ years of investigative experience in the federal criminal justice and child welfare systems and 26+ years in pastoral ministry as an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC). She holds B. A. and M.S degrees in Criminal Justice, Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from McCormick Theological Seminary. Barbara endeavors to live with integrity and joy.

Rev. Mason Todd has been an ordained minister of word and sacrament for 12 years. A graduate of Union Presbyterian Seminary (Charlotte Campus), he has served congregations all over the United States. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and an avid Gamecock fan. He is currently serving in his third transitional ministry position at New Hope Presbyterian Church in Lexington, NC. Mason lives in Greensboro, NC with his partner in life, Rev. Katie Barrett Todd, and their two children, Luke (12) and Lilly (11). He loves art, music, and soccer, and loves to be outdoors or gardening. His goal in life is to one day grow up and figure out exactly what God is calling him to be, but in the mean time he’s happy to be a husband, daddy, friend, and pastor (in that order).

Rev. Erin Marth (she/her/hers) is an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA). After a decade of community organizing, Erin served as a chaplain, Christian education director, and installed pastor before weaving all that experience together in transitional ministry. A favorite part of her ministry is supporting congregations as they discern their vision for the future and put it into action. Erin is currently serving as the Intentional Transitional Pastor of Christ Church UCC Chicago.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Transitional Training?

Transitional Ministry Education is intended for those presently engaged in or inquiring about the nature of transitional ministry. This includes Temporary Transitional Ministry positions; which may include interim ministry, designated ministry, other temporary ministries, or Installed Transitional Ministry which includes all other parish ministry positions.

Does this training qualify for continuing education credit?

We offer a full thirty (30) hours of instruction for Weeks I and II, and twenty hours for Executive training. If you desire to receive a Statement of Completion for this event, you must actively participate in all sessions in their entirety (30 hours - Weeks I and II).

What is covered in Week 1?

  • The dynamics of our context of ministry in transitional times

  • Their self as a leader and leadership for the congregation in transition

  • The dynamics of the congregation in a time of transition and the work of the transitional leader

  • Working with the congregation as a system, processing change issues, and managing conflict

What does the Practicum incorporate in Week 1?

  • Reflect on leadership style

  • Use analytic skills for reflecting on ministry situations

  • Integrate interim/transitional ministry concepts into ministry situations

What is covered in Week 2?

  • The dynamics of the transitional period utilizing integrated learning conversation from ministry context

  • Living with and in the congregation as a system and the Transitional Pastor as a self-differentiating leader

  • Transitional as a possibility for congregational transformation reframed purpose and growing ministry capacity

I have a funeral. Can I arrive late or leave early if necessary?

The answer is no. If you are planning to get a certificate of completion, that requires 30 contact hours of education. Please arrange for coverage to address any pastoral emergencies that may arise during your time away.

What is the refund policy for the program fee?

  • Until Wednesday, March 13, 2024 a 100% refund

  • Until Friday, April 12, 2024 a 50% refund

  • As of Saturday, April 13, 2024 no refund

In the event the programs cannot be held in-person for any reason, registrants will becontacted with information about rescheduling and virtual options.

THANK YOU!!!

For more information please contact Ms. Orlandra Brown, Administrative Assistant at office@synodma.org or call (913) 608-7662.