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Virtual CAFÉ
IMN VIRTUAL CAFÉ IMN is more than an interfaith association of transitional colleagues working with congregations during times of transition. IMN is a community of practice. Members have knowledge, expertise, stories, successes, and challenges to share about working effectively with congregations during times of transition. The IMN Member Support Team offers a new opportunity for…
Education
Education Opportunities The education of clergy and congregations in the interim time has proven to be essential in the life of the congregation. IMN seeks programs that enhance this ministry for the clergy and the lay leaders. Many programs are developed around the framework of the Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry training. Time to time IMN…
Healing Spiritual Wounds: Reconnecting with a Loving God After Experiencing a Hurtful Church
Click on book image to order. Healing Spiritual Wounds: Reconnecting with a Loving God After Experiencing a Hurtful Church by Carol Howard Merritt An effective plan to help those suffering from wounds inflicted by the church find spiritual healing and a renewed sense of faith. Raised as a conservative Christian, minister and author Carol Howard…
January 31
January 31 (with inclusive language) God called forth a people and we responded to God’s call, ‘Rebuild this ancient ruin, restore My city walls.’ As we built, brick by brick we discovered the cornerstone and as we let God mould and fashion us, God built us up in love. Now we have seen, and we…
Inappropriate Behavior, No Long Acceptable – By Alan Mead
Inappropriate Behavior, No Long Acceptable By Alan Mead It would be almost impossible to read any news source over the past few days and not be aware of people, formerly silent, speaking up, revealing incidents of past abuse or misconduct. In many cases, at least those that are making the national news, it is not…
Preparing for and Recovering from Un-natural Disasters
Preparing for and Recovering from Un-Natural Disasters by The Rev. Martin Homan Click on book image to order. With the unnatural disasters occurring in New York City and now in a church in Texas do we as pastors and churches need to prepare for such occurrences even at our own doors? Westminster John Knox Press…
Learning New Skills
Our grandson is five. He is beginning to want to help, with things like baking pumpkin muffins, which I think he experienced in kindergarten over Halloween. Anyway, he came into the kitchen and saw all the ingredients being assembled on the counter. “Can I help?” he asked. Have you ever seen a five year old…
Don’t Just Talk About Mission-Act With Passion! By Susan Beaumont
Don’t Just Talk About Mission-Act With Passion! By Susan Beaumount Congregations waste precious time forming mission statements that fail to inspire action. Writing a mission statement produces clarity, but rarely generates energy. It’s time to move beyond mission and start focusing on the passion that compels us to make a specific difference. We often think…
All Saints – By Rev. Alan Mead
For Christians today is All Saints’ Day. It is a day that we pause to remember and give thanks for those who are no longer here. Of course we remember those who have had strong faith and who have accomplished remarkable achievements; but increasingly I find myself remembering those who have touched my life in…
Sad News – By Rev. Alan Mead
It is with great sadness that we have learned of the sudden death of our dear friend and colleague the Rev. Gary Goldacker yesterday afternoon (Oct 24, 2016). Gary was a long time member of the IMN Faculty, and served Episcopal congregations in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Cleveland Heights, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Newport and several other places.…
Monday Morning – By Rev. Alan Mead
It is Monday morning. Many of us who practice interim ministry may be taking a moment to reflect on the congregation we are currently serving, a pause between the ending of one week and the beginning of another. Is this a time to plan our activity and schedule for the coming week? How will our…