Transitional Pastor Training

Many churches without pastors need transitional pastors with experience, training, and ministry gifts that assure high-quality transitional leadership. 

Transitional pastors are prepared to lead churches through smooth transitions, rough transitions, and crisis transitions. They may serve effectively as a preacher, pastor, and consultant.

Some of the skills a Transitional Pastor needs: 
  • Spiritual discernment
  • Managing
  • Listening
  • Caring
  • Relating
  • Proclaiming
  • Leading
  • Conflict Management
The average time without a pastor in a Baptist church is 9 – 18 months. Transitional pastors are committed to remaining with the church until they call a permanent pastor. With effective transitional leadership, the period between pastors can be very productive – a time of growth in personal and congregational awareness, renewal, and celebration; and a time when people are attracted by congregational worship, fellowship, discipleship, and personal and family ministries of the church.
 
Churches passing from the leadership of one pastor to another may be well served by transitional pastors who help the passage be as positive and constructive as possible, gaining momentum and productivity in the process of changes.
 
Objectives of Transitional Pastor Ministry
 
The following objectives express the reasons LifeWay Christian Resources and CSBC assists churches by enlisting, training, and providing resources for transitional pastors to serve churches during the period between pastors. Each objective focuses on church health which results in church growth, a kingdom-of-God priority and a priority of LifeWay Christian Resources and CSBC. 
  • Churches will learn from pastor experiences, free themselves from hindering traditions, and replace discord with harmony.
  • Churches will develop more effective church practices.
  • Churches experiencing decline or a growth plateau will experience spiritual and numerical growth; growing churches will accelerate.
  • Churches will grow in their understanding of pastoral ministry and in appreciation of pastors and their families.
  • More members will become personally involved in their churches’ ministries.
  • Energy previously spent dealing with conflict issues will be redirected to expanded ministries.
  • The tenure of the next pastor will be increased, sparing the church the expense of frequent pastoral changes and making more money available for ministries.
  • Thus, the percentage of Southern Baptist churches without a pastor will decrease. Less time will be spent in the interim mode with growth plans put on hold.
  • Church members will rediscover and celebrate their spiritual passion.
Date:
August 25 - 28, 2008

Location:
California Baptist Foundation
7084 N Maple Avenue
Fresno, CA 93720

For more information visit www.lifeway.com/tp or contact:

Leslie Lee
Ministry Specialist
559.229.9533 x. 212
E-mail Leslie Lee
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