STARTING WELL: CONTRACTS, COVENANTS AND OTHER FIRST STEPS
Rev. Katrina Palan
June 20, 2023

I have heard that the way to ending a transitional ministry well is to “start well”. Starting Well means that you and the community of faith have a very clear idea about what your transitional time is all about. Having a clear contract or covenant with the congregation is the place to begin.  This workshop will lead transitional pastors to be able to craft a contract/covenant that will help both the leader and the community of faith understand the work of the leader and the expectations of the community of faith. I will suggest important aspects that should be in your contract/covenant, as well as how to personalize it to suit you and your community of faith.  I will provide some contracts for us to look at for strengths and growing edges for discussion. We will also explore the necessity of clear communication from the beginning of the time of transition, along with other first steps that are helpful when beginning a new transitional ministry. Bring your questions and your experiences of beginnings to help all of us learn from each other.  

Rev. Katrina Palan is an ordained minister with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She is in a time of transition having completed her nineth interim position, two of which were judicatory ministry positions. She is currently living in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma close to six of her eleven grandchildren. Katrina is on the Interim Ministry Network Board of Directors and serves on its conference planning team, the hybrid conference task force, the conference meditation site planning team, and the instructional design team. She is also a VSG co-host and a “Chat-With Us” co-host. Katrina is a military veteran and serves on the Moral Injury Institute Board of Directors. She has experience in hospital, police, and sheriff chaplaincy. Katrina is currently a level-3 Chaplain with the Salvation Army Disaster Team. She has extensive experience in working with people in traumatic situations. Katrina is currently working on her Doctorate of Ministry at Brite Divinity in Fort Worth, TX. Her Dissertation title and emphasis is “How Can Spiritual Practices Help to Minimize the Consequences, Responses and Feelings Encountered by Veterans Impacted by Moral Injury”.

REFLECTING ON CORE ISSUES IN THE TRANSITION FOLLOWING A LONG-TERM PASTOR

 Pastor Janet S. Peterman

Our training in systems dynamics as intentional interim pastors helps us to understand the interrelatedness of pastoral changes and other shifts in a congregation. Before beginning transitional ministry, ELCA Pastor Janet Peterman served one inner city congregation for 24 years. Four of seven of the interim placements she served after have followed long-term settled pastors. Through these combined experiences, Pastor Peterman has perceived a pattern in the core issues facing congregations and their leaders in transitions following long term pastorates. Focusing on these core issues makes transitional work more effective.

In this webinar, we will consider the typical dynamics that occur in the role of the Pastor as pastoral tenures stretch beyond 12-15 years; how that pastoral shift causes a shift in others’ roles around them; and the cluster of issues facing a congregation and its leaders as the Pastor leaves. These include grief, though not simply understood as sadness; difficulty with understanding congregational identity, apart from the departing leader; leadership struggles; boundary issues; special care needed in defining the role of the new pastoral leader sought; and difficulties often experienced when teams choose a new pastor.

The session will be interactive. Tools, best practices, and resources will be shared by the instructor. Participants are also invited to bring resources to share.

Janet S. Peterman is an inner-city ELCA (Lutheran) pastor living with her family in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the eastern US. She has served the last 16 years of her ministry in seven (7) intentional ministry settings in 3 synods. She has reached the Professional Transition Specialist (PTS) level of accreditation through the Interim Ministry Network (IMN). When not in active ministry, she gardens, bikes, hikes and takes joy in friends, family and photography.

BUILDING BETTER BEHAVIOR IN TRANSITION
The Rev. John R. Throop, D.Min.

Even in the healthiest of congregational communities, the interim or transitional pastor must deal with behaviors and norms. Whether healthy or less-than-healthy, these behaviors have an impact on discernment, communication and decision-making. The transitional pastor and team are in a unique position to question the process behind the process. This task becomes critically important when facing a setting of instability, dysfunctional conflict, trauma or hidden issues. In this webinar, you will learn some neutral methods to surface behavioral issues, provide ways to correct or accept the hidden processes at work in the congregation, and learn how to promote transparent norms and behaviors supporting a healthy future for the congregation.

The Rev. John R. Throop has been an Episcopal priest for 41 years. A graduate of the University of Chicago, he attended seminary at the School of Theology of the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. He earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California in organizational development in Christian ministries. He has served parishes in Tennessee, Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, New York, and Wisconsin. In a bi-vocational role for 17 years, Dr. Throop is currently a consultant and coach assisting churches and nonprofits in change and transition. He also was a global consultant in strategy, planning, and human resources serving non-profit and governmental agencies. Through the years, he has served as a board member of church and secular groups. He currently is board president for the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer and a member of the board of directors of Interior Ministry in the Episcopal Church (IMEC). Rev. Throop presented his workshop; Paradigm Shifts in Transition during the 2021 IMN Annual Conference.

SUCCESSFUL STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES FOR A TIME OF CHANGE

The Rev. Charles Cloughen, Jr

The Covid pandemic has changed much in our churches. But stewardship needs to continue to be founded on Biblical principles. As stewards we are to use wisely what we have been given by God. The three gifts God gives us are our time, our talents or abilities, and the money earned using our time and abilities that allows us to purchase our possessions.  How will we use these things as we seek to honor God and do the work God hopes we will do?

No longer will the six-week Stewardship Program, raise enough to fund your mission and ministries. Come and learn how to develop a year-round program of connecting people’s giving of time, talent and treasure with the vision or mission and the ministries of the congregation where you are serving.  This work is changing lives and making a difference in our world.

We need to consider several things: your congregation’s website, live-streaming worship through Facebook, Zoom or YouTube on Sunday, online giving, giving through a text message, and Electronic Fund Transfer. How should you now do the offertory?

In teaching generosity, the six most important words are, “Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.” Then through building personal relationships, you will be able to grow generous givers. No one has left a congregation during an interim period because they felt thanked and appreciated.

The Rev. Charles Cloughen, Jr. has conducted 44 Stewardship Campaigns as an interim and as a pastor. He is the author of One Minute Stewardship: Creative Ways to Talk about Money in Church, Church Publishing, Inc., 2018

STORYTELLING AS A TOOL IN TRANSITIONAL MINISTRY
Rev. Dr. Madelyn Campbell

In this webinar, you will learn about the basics of sacred storytelling and how to use storytelling as a tool in transitional ministry. You can expect to come away from the webinar with a story that you can tell, and some potential applications for that telling. You can expect to learn tools for learning a story by heart.

Rev. Dr. Madelyn Campbell is a Unitarian Universalist Interim Minister. She has been serving transitional ministries since 2014, and is currently serving as Interim Minister in Stony Brook, NY. She completed her Doctor of Ministry degree in 2022. Her doctoral project explored the use of sacred storytelling as a tool in transitional ministry. Madelyn is also a Certified Master Biblical Storyteller through the Academy for Biblical Storytelling. She has been a frequent workshop leader at the Network of Biblical Storytellers, International Festival Gathering. Madelyn loves a good whodunnit and is a massive Doctor Who fan.

The Entering/Exiting Backpack Props that Tell a Story as an Interim Ministry Begins and Ends
The Rev. Dr. William Carl Thomas

This webinar presents an approach to entering and exiting during interim time that uses props such as tissues, a flashlight, a mirror, a compass, binoculars, a stuffed otter, a walking stick and other like items to connect a congregation to, among other things, history, identity, leadership, vision, and connections. Participants need only bring their imaginations to the webinar as the shared discussion will find substance as we engage the power of telling a story through these and other humble items. Who knows what new ideas will unfold!

Participants in this webinar will receive a practical outline of the Entering/Exiting Backpack concept based on the presentation to the 2021 IMN Annual Conference by a Fieldwork Colleague Group facilitated by the webinar presenter.

 Webinar Presenter: The Rev. Dr. William Carl Thomas

Bill Thomas is an Episcopal Priest with 33 years experience who is a member of the IMN Faculty and, through WCT.coach, is of use to communities of faith as workshop leader, executive coach, transition consultant / interim rector, and pastor. Bill served in three settled parishes as rector, and worked fulltime while retired as the Interim Rector of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, Wilson NC (12/19-07/20 – during the early days of COVID). Previously he served as the Interim Rector of Christ Church, New Bern NC (08/13-03/15) and in an interim role as Priest-in-Charge of Christ Church, Middletown NJ (05/15-09/18). Bill served as the initial Team Lead for Membership Support for the Interim Ministry Network (2015-2018). He holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Virginia Theological Seminary.

Review and Update Governance Documents
Rev. Chris Hart

There are lots of reasons to change your bylaws and the urgency of this work is pressing harder upon us than ever before. The most compelling reason to undertake this work is that most of the systems our bylaws were built on predate the glory days of the 1950’s. While many churches have since revised their bylaws most have only amended a preexisting definition of church. I believe these models to be ill equipped to handle the complexity of ministry in the twenty-first century.  The premises our structures were built around have shifted so dramatically that we need to reimagine how to organize for ministry so we can thrive in the future. BUT HOW do we approach such a task. During our time together we will highlight why the work is critical to effective ministry and approaches to undertake the task, participant will get both an overview and practical skills for the task. 

Pastor Chris is a poet, storyteller,  process theologian, Professional Transition Specialist, consultant, revitalization pastor, artist and a frisky fusion of science and faith. He is committed to helping the church of today emerge into the twenty second century. Pastor Chris is dedicated to the excellent Transitional Ministry and is a faculty member with the Interim Ministry Network.  He uses an empowering and adaptive leadership style to help communities of faith to grow, and change. He is passionate about worship that is fresh, creative, engaging, and participatory.

When Full-Time Costs Too Much: Creating Part-Time Pastorates for Full-Time Churches

Rev. Dr. Ruth Shaver

Many congregations face the financial reality that compensating a pastor for full-time ministry is unsustainable. This could be the “beginning of the end” for a church. Or, with careful and creative discernment, it could be a moment of resurrection for the entire congregation as lay members are empowered to use their gifts alongside a part-time pastor to continue and enhance vital ministries without the anxiety provoked by unsurmountable budget challenges. In this webinar, we will discuss resources and tips for the conversations with leadership groups and the congregation as well as pros and cons, examples of part-time models, and concerns to address during the planning process.

Helpful resources for attendees are “Part-Time is Plenty: Thriving Without Full-Time Clergy” by G. Jeffrey MacDonald (2020, Westminster John Knox) and denominational guidelines for compensation and work expectations.

About the Presenter:
Rev. Dr. Ruth Shaver is a United Church of Christ (UCC) pastor who has made transitional ministry her specialty after discovering that much of her life has been about transitions and problem solving for businesses and congregations. She is currently the ¾ time Interim Pastor and Teacher at The Congregational Church of Mansfield, UCC, in Mansfield, Massachusetts, where she worked with the transition/profile team to create a part-time profile for the new settled pastor search, which is ongoing. Previously, she served as Interim Pastor and Teacher at First Church of Christ, Congregational, UCC, in North Conway, New Hampshire; and as pastor in Schellsburg, Pennsylvania and as associate in Attleboro, Massachusetts, in both cases doing work similar to that of an interim at the beginning of the calls. Between seminary and ordination, she was known as the “system fix-it woman” in two different temporary placement agencies for her ability to assess and correct office operational systems and dynamics that led to rapid turnover in administrative personnel. Rev. Shaver earner her M.Div. at Boston University School of Theology and her D.Min. at Lancaster Theological Seminary. She resides in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and fills the other quarter of her work time with course writing and course facilitation for PATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc., a non-seminary program for lay education, ministry preparation, and clergy continuing education.

Beyond Wishful Thinking: Leading Congregations with Unsustainable Futures
Presenter: Rev. Diane Kenaston 

Interim ministers can find themselves leading congregations with a reality gap: the congregation is not facing reality for the present and/or the future. Congregations in denial about the current state of their congregation can have identity issues.  What they see in themselves fails to match today’s reality. This occurs, for example, when a clergyperson enters a congregation and realizes they can’t afford to be staffed at their current level. When congregations do face their current reality, they can still have a reality gap as they think about their future. Struggling congregations can suffer from “wishful thinking” where they pin their hopes on a magical “turn-around” future. These congregations in numerical decline create unrealistic expectations for their next pastor. Others approach the future more realistically but they feel hopeless and don’t know what to do next. The congregation waffles between “positive thinking” (wishfulness) and “negative thinking” (hopelessness) – and in either case, they don’t feel they have any agency over their future. This webinar will make the case that perpetuating wishful thinking is a betrayal of the theological claim of hope.

Ministers who suspect that closure, merger, or other major changes could be in their congregation’s future must hold up a mirror to the congregation, help them to face reality, and move from wishful thinking to the hope grounded in their sacred stories. They will need to equip congregations with the spiritual practices that will sustain them through massive upheaval. Some interim ministers will be laying the groundwork for the next settled pastor to lead changes like closing, merging, restarting, or relocating. Other interim ministers, however, may need to lead an intentional discernment process and guide the congregation through dissolution. There is a continuum of possible responses. Regardless of where they find themselves on this continuum, interim ministers who enter these conversations must expand the concept of “healthy farewell” from the exit of one clergyperson to facilitating healthy farewells for an entire congregation and its institutional identity.

Rev. Diane Kenaston (she/her) is a United Methodist elder with ten years of experience pastoring churches in West Virginia and Missouri in the United States. She is now a clergy coach based out of Cambridge, United Kingdom, and a founding member of the Good Friday Collaborative, a ministry supporting congregational leaders whose churches are faithfully concluding existing ministry.

REFLECTING ON CORE ISSUES IN THE TRANSITION FOLLOWING A LONG-TERM PASTOR

A workshop led by Interim Pastor Janet S. Peterman
Our training in systems dynamics as intentional interim pastors helps us to understand the interrelatedness of pastoral changes and other shifts in a congregation. Before beginning transitional ministry, ELCA Pastor Janet Peterman served one inner city congregation for 24 years. Four of seven of the interim placements she served after have followed long-term settled pastors. Through these combined experiences, Pastor Peterman has perceived a pattern in the core issues facing congregations and their leaders in transitions following long term pastorates. Focusing on these core issues makes transitional work more effective.

In this webinar, we will consider the typical dynamics that occur in the role of the Pastor as pastoral tenures stretch beyond 12-15 years; how that pastoral shift causes a shift in others’ roles around them; and the cluster of issues facing a congregation and its leaders as the Pastor leaves. These include grief, though not simply understood as sadness; difficulty with understanding congregational identity, apart from the departing leader; leadership struggles; boundary issues; special care needed in defining the role of the new pastoral leader sought; and difficulties often experienced when teams choose a new pastor.

The session will be interactive. Tools, best practices, and resources will be shared by the instructor. Participants are also invited to bring resources to share.

Janet S. Peterman is an inner-city ELCA (Lutheran) pastor living with her family in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the eastern US. She has served the last 16 years of her ministry in seven (7) intentional ministry settings in 3 synods. She has reached the Professional Transition Specialist (PTS) level of accreditation through the Interim Ministry Network (IMN). When not in active ministry, she gardens, bikes, hikes and takes joy in friends, family and photography.

CHALLENGES, PROBLEMS AND CONFLICTS IN THE SYSTEM
REV. LIEVE VAN den AMEELE

When do we need Adjustment thru Conversation and when is Mediation appropriate?

As a matter of fact, we tend to see problems all around: Major problems – minor problems, and what to do? The narratives of our day and age tend to thrive on problems, whereas oftentimes a serious conversation could lead to workable adjustments. And thus add to more happiness and satisfaction down the road.

My primary goal as a Congregational Consultant is to slow down the process, look more carefully and facilitate deep listening. As a trained Transition Minister, my focus (regarding potential problems) is on: what can we handle within the system and what needs an all sided view from the outside (= facilitator)?

On the other hand, a lack of resources or different opinions about how to deal with occurring issues, is not necessarily a reason to call on Mediation or any other big problem solving. In fact the simple idea of having a problem, may send the anxiety beyond measuring. More so in belief an conscience  based systems.

In this webinar/workshop we will look at the difference between normal outcomes, tasks, challenges and problems. We will also look at the flow that brings us down the scale and eventually up again.

In the second part we will look at Mediation. How does it work in different steps and when is it applicable and promising enough to give it a try?

Rev. Lieve Van den Ameele is an ordained minister in the Protestant Church in Hesse and Nassau, Germany – partner church to the UCC (New York Conference). She is a trained Interim Minister and Professional Transitional Specialist with IMN. Lieve has served as a local pastor in Belgium and Germany. And has been a settled pastor as well as an Interim Minister. She is a trained Congregational Consultant and has facilitated in many congregational settings. She is a co-host to an VSG and also to the International VSG with IMN. She lives in Bad Ems – in the Koblenz area.

Intellegent Transistion
Rev. John Throop

We know from interim ministry training—especially through IMN—that there’s a defined process for congregational transition hidden within the process are dynamics of change requiring attention by the interim minister and judicatory supervisors. There’s a transitional quotient. We’re familiar with IQ (intelligence quotient) that measures how a person deals with “hard data.” More recently, we have learned how to gauge EQ (emotional quotient), known as “emotional intelligence.” One more practice: SQ (spiritual quotient)—the spiritual readiness of a congregation. This webinar explores how these three approaches can bring about effective and lasting transition—and, perhaps, transformation.

Hiding in Plain Sight: The Spirituality of Martin Buber
Rabbi Dennis Ross

Theological Worlds
Rev. Holly MillerShank

It’s Not Your Parents’ Church 
Norman Bendroth

Church Amalgamations
Rev. Helen Prior

CIRCLES OF TRUST:
TRANSITIONING MINISTRY OUTREACH, PERSONAL SPIRITUAL PRACTICE

Rev. Dr. Barbara Coeyman

“Circles of Trust” is a small group ministry which explores the inner teacher in each of us and builds compassionate relationships with others. Through personal reflection, deep listening, open and honest questions, and clearness committees, we build trust in our authentic selves and in one another. “Circles of Trust” draws from the spiritual writing of Quaker Parker Palmer.

This webinar will be an introduction to some of the practices in the “Circle of Trust” method, to include explanation of the Touchstones, the covenant on which this program is built; habits of deep listening; and discernment of a reading or poetry which invites exploration of the theme of “transitioning.” This practice which expands habit of compassionate communication offers helpful resources for the toolbox of interim ministry and also builds interpersonal connections among participants in the Circle. For more about the “Circles of Trust” practice, see Parker Palmer, A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward An Undivided Life.

Rev. Dr. Barbara Coeyman is an Accredited Interim Minister in the Unitarian Universalist Association. She is also a credentialed Facilitator with the Center for Courage and Renewal (CCR), the sponsoring institution of “Circles of Trust.” A member of IMN for the past decades, she has led several workshops during annual IMN conferences. She is completing a two-year interim at the UU Church of Muncie Indiana, her eighth transitioning ministry position. For more on CCR, see www.couragerenewal.org.

Agreements and Contracting
Rev. Arlen Vernava

How Well Can You See Your Story is a ninety minute ZOOM based practical application that builds a reflective skill set that, with practice, puts the participant both on the dance floor and in the balcony. Bill Thomas teaches holding a short written narrative in conversation with a visual expression of the stimulus and response found within that story. The dance floor is the experience of the story and the visual expression (found in Thomas’ Anxiety Response Chart) interprets the story as if observing from the balcony with a wider perspective. The webinar participant will develop a competence in self-reflective practice that delivers a visual balcony perspective while engaged in the action of the dance floor.

Thomas will demonstrate a basic visual practice that interprets stimulus and response from the narrative using the tripartite brain (Automatic Pilot, House of Emotion, Thinking Cap). Using  Core Values / Guiding Principles as well as Systems Theory, the Capacity Challenge is identified and a Learning Statement developed.

An eleven minute video from the movie Adventure in Baltimore serves as a case study and recaps the fictional story set in 1905 of Dr. Andrew Shelton, an Episcopal Priest. How well participants can see Dr. Shelton’s story will help them see their own story.

Biblical Stories on Transition
Rabbi Michael Remson

Change Theories of Transitional Ministry
Norman Bendroth

Understanding Your Congregational Finances – “An utterly basic view”
Rev. John Keydel

THE DYNAMICS OF POLARIZATION
Rev. Cynthia Vermillion-Foster
Coming Soon

Our culture is experiencing more and more polarization, deepening our sense of isolation and causing rifts in our society and our spiritual communities.  In this 1.5-hour workshop, we will explore the dynamics of polarization, and how it forms and discuss methods of staying present and engaged when we find ourselves in polarizing conversations.

Rev. Cynthia Vermillion-Foster creates spaces for individuals and communities to discover, and unleash their full potential. An ordained Unity minister of 25 years, Cynthia served as the Director of Member Services for Unity Worldwide Ministries for 5 years.  Prior to this, she served as the Regional Consultant and Regional Representative for Canada for 10 years.  In these roles, Cynthia had the privilege of supporting, coaching and consulting with ministries throughout the US and Canada.  Cynthia also served on the UWM’s Ethics Review Team for 10 years including 2 years as Chair of the team.  With her husband, Rev. Don Foster, Cynthia served ministries in Chantilly, VA and Hamilton, ON.  She is the 2016 recipient of Unity Worldwide Ministries’ Myrtle Fillmore Award and Unity Canada’s 2017 Northern Lights Award.

Strategic Planning for Congregations
Rev. Fred Darbonne

WORLD CAFÉ
Rev.Arlen Vernava

BONUS VIDEOS/WEBINARS/SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS