Last week a group gathered from across the country to receive training from Center for Congregational Health staff in Transition Consultant Training. Developed three years ago, this training was designed to meet the growing needs of congregations during the transition time between pastors. Leaders came from Oregon, South Dakota, Minnesota, Virginia and North Carolina to participate. Some are pastors looking to help their congregations while looking to consult with other congregations, others are denominational/judicatory leaders looking to learn new models of working with congregations in transition. A partnership is emerging with one group in Oregon to utilize our training as the basis of new programing they are developing for Presbyterian congregations in transition.
The Center for Congregational Health was founded, in large part, on a solid intentional interim program. It became the established model that others used for building their own training systems. Over the years however, there has been a decline in congregations asking for intentional interims and those wanting to be trained. We still believe this is an important tool to work with congregations and we partner with institutional and judicatory leaders to offer it to specific groups. But while demand changes, the needs and complications during pastoral transition periods have become more challenging and critical. We do what we do best, we created a consulting method to work with congregations in transition.
Our transition consulting was built utilizing the best of our well established consulting work and the best of our intentional interim process. It is easily adaptable to meet congregations where they need help the most. Transition consultants are trained to help congregations face conflict, make difficult decisions, clarify identity, train search teams and more in order to help ensure congregations thrive. They can walk with congregations through the whole transition process or provide support for shorter term needs that arise. Congregations can then utilize other resources for weekly preaching and leadership responsibilities in the congregation.
Whether you are interested in transition consultant training to work as a consultant or you are a congregation needing transition support, please reach out to us for more information.
Our next transition consultant training will be February 23-26, 2027. Registration details coming soon.