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.
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.
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.
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
Lead Teacher
Kevin Buchanan
Kevin has been ordained since 1980 and began as a consultant for youth ministry for the Presbytery of South Florida and served two congregations as youth minister. From there, he served as a solo pastor and an associate pastor in Missouri, Oregon, and California. When he married Astrid in 2002, he served in transitional ministry at congregations in San Leandro, San Rafael, Windsor, Turlock, and San Anselmo, California. He served in long term transitional ministry (otherwise known as installed) in Marshfield, Wisconsin. After his service at Marshfield, Kevin served at transitional positions at Central Presbyterian Church in Terre Haute, Indiana, Woodland Presbyterian Church in Woodland, California, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Yuba City, California, and is currently serving at Grace Presbyterian Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Spouse Track Leader
Annette DeBeer
Annette was born and raised in Namibia, Africa and got married to Danie in 1978. They have two grown children. Annette is a teacher by training, and has taught in various settings, and has also taken care of elderly people. She loves quilting, crocheting, and scrapbooking. She and Danie like to travel when they have an opportunity.
Faculty
Beth Wagner
Beth Wagner is serving in her 9th Transitional pastor position. Beth’s sense of call has been to serve churches in the in-between times and teach others how transitional ministry might be a perfect fit for them. Beth not only moves family every two years or so but two cats and has all kinds of tips on moving humans and felines, including how to make the next home “your best home ever!” according to her grandkids!
Faculty
Libby Rollins
Libby, born and raised in Birmingham, AL, now lives in St Augustine, FL. She is a graduate of Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC, and Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA. In her 28 years of ministry, she has served 14 congregations in various roles during times of change in Georgia, Alabama, Virginia, and Florida. She enjoys watching the sun rise over the ocean, a good cup of coffee, and anything chocolate.
Faculty
Danie DeBeer
Danie was born and raised in Namibia, Africa. He attended seminaries in Pretoria and Stellenbosch in South Africa, and Union Presbyterian Seminary and School of Christian Education in Richmond, VA. Danie has served as chaplain in the South African Defense Force, and one congregation in South Africa after ordination in 1981. After coming to the USA in 2004, he served small churches in rural Illinois, before beginning the journey of intentional transitional ministry. Danie served churches in Oak Park and Princeton in Illinois, Iowa City IA, Vancouver WA and currently in Mt Pleasant SC. He also served as temporary executive presbyter in the Great Rivers and Chicago Presbyteries.
Faculty
Sue Krummel
Sue is an honorably retired member of Great Rivers Presbytery. She has served as pastor of congregations from 30 to 1300 members and in almost every role in which a pastor can serve, including Interim Head of Staff; Interim Pastor; and Interim Associate Pastor. She also served (and is still serving in short term contracts) Mid Councils and the General Assembly as Executive Presbyter, Stated Clerk, Co-Executive and Clerk, and Director of Mid Council Relations. She has extensive training in conflict management and enjoys helping groups find ways to get unstuck. Sue has a large perennial garden; loves puzzles of all kinds; is a ballroom dancer; and has recently discovered that she enjoys fishing, especially with her six grandchildren.
Faculty
Forrest Krummel
Forrest "Frosty" Krummel received his B.A. from Butler University, his M.Div. from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and his D. Min. from McCormick Seminary. Ordained in 1980 he served churches in Iowa and Illinois. In 2020 he retired from First Federated Church, a PC(USA) and UCC federated church, in Peoria, Illinois and is currently the interim/transitional minister of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Pekin, Illinois. Frosty is married to the Rev. Sue Davis Krummel. They have two adult daughters, two sons-in-law, and six grandchildren.
Faculty
James Gale
James has served as the Executive Presbyter for the Presbytery of the Mid-South since January 2020. Prior to that, he served as the Associate Executive for Presbytery Support with the Synod of Mid-America. Before serving Mid-Councils, James pastored churches in North Carolina and Kansas. He is a graduate of The University of North Carolina and Columbia Theological Seminary. In addition, James has completed the Certificate in Executive Leadership at McCormick Theological Seminary and training through the Kansas Leadership Center. James has been involved in teaching interim ministry training, as well as executive leadership training since 2015. James is married to Rev. Mary Newberg Gale, who is also a Presbyterian minister. They are the parents of two girls, Ainsley (17) and Fiona (12) and live in Memphis, TN.
Contact
To find out more about Montreat's classes, visit them here
To register for Montreat's classes, visit them here