Meet Montreat
Montreat Conference Center is one of three national conference centers affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), annually visited by over 35,000 people seeking physical and spiritual renewal in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina. The beauty of this place makes it the ideal place to retreat and reflect on ministry in congregations and communities experiencing transition.
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Week 1, Week 2, and Spouse Track are all offered simultaneously during the Art of Transitional Ministry conference which is held the week before Labor Day (late August or early September) each year.
Art of Transitional Ministry at Montreat
Leading a congregation and faith community through transition is challenging and rewarding. It is recognized both in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and in other denominations as a specialized ministry. It takes knowledge, skill, resilience, and spiritual strength to navigate the waters of transition in a way that allows a congregation and its leaders to be open to possibilities, go deeper, and thrive. Curious about what it takes to be a transitional pastor? Energy, the ability to understand you are not the quick fix, or healer or change agent that will come in and in two years, turn a church around and are willing to let the spirit lead using intelligence love and imagination.
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The Art of Transitional Ministry offers education in the skills and understanding necessary for leading a congregation and faith community in transition. Week One is designed for persons curious about reflecting on practice, those already engaged in transitional/interim ministry, those who are considering serving in transitional settings, and members of Presbytery staffs, Committees on Ministry, and comparable representatives from denominations beyond the PC(USA). Week Two is designed to help you process your experiences of serving in transitional settings by working together in small groups. It will help you look at your own leadership style and skills.
Spouse track is designed for spouses of either week to learn about transitional ministry and how it differs from a called position.
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.
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Art of Transitional Ministry Virtual with Montreat
If traveling to Montreat is not the best fit for you right now, you can still experience the Art of Transitional Ministry, Week One or Week Two, from the comfort of your own home (or office). Participants will follow a slightly modified schedule from the participants who are in residence and will be required to do more advance preparation for the event. One or more faculty members from the team will be online with the participants to help field questions and support the conversations (or break-out rooms). We ask that you to consider this option if you have not been fully vaccinated, or if there are other reasons that travel and housing/meals with those outside of your immediate family are of concern.
Leading a congregation and faith community through transition is challenging and rewarding. It is recognized both in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and in other denominations as a specialized ministry. It takes knowledge, skill, resilience, and spiritual strength to navigate the waters of transition in a way that allows a congregation and its leaders to be open to possibilities, go deeper, and thrive. Curious about what it takes to be a transitional pastor? Energy, the ability to understand you are not the quick fix, or healer or change agent that will come in and in two years turn a church around and are willing to let the spirit lead using intelligence love and imagination.
​
The Art of Transitional Ministry offers education in the skills and understanding necessary for leading a congregation and faith community in transition. Week One is designed for persons curious about reflecting on practice, those already engaged in transitional / interim ministry, those who are considering serving in transitional settings, and members of Presbytery staffs, Committees on Ministry, and comparable representatives from denominations beyond the PC(USA). Week Two is designed to help you process your experiences of serving in transitional settings by working together in small groups. It will help you look at your own leadership style and skills.
Spouse track is designed for spouses of either week to learn about transitional ministry and how it differs from a called position.
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.
Meet the Team
Faculty
Barbara Wilson
Rev Dr. Barbara Wilson is new to MALT faculty and 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. Connect: bwilson@chicagopresbytery.org
Support for Week One Online
Libby Rollins
Libby is a lifelong Presbyterian, born and raised in Birmingham, AL, who now resides in Virginia Beach, VA. She is a graduate of Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC and Columbia Theological Seminary. After stumbling into Interim and Transitional Ministry over 20 years ago, she was hooked. She has served a total of 12 churches in Georgia, Alabama, and Virginia in various roles during times of transition. She and her husband have one son. She enjoys watching the sun rise or set over the ocean, good coffee, and anything chocolate.
Contact
To find out more about Montreat's classes, visit them here
To register for Montreat's classes, visit them here