Last month, VitalChurch Ministry completed a very successful interim pastor training seminar. This three-day event held in Orlando, Florida was attended by 20 individuals from around the country, belonging to various denominations. The seminar was led by two of VitalChurch’s experienced interim pastors, Dave Miles and Gregg Caruso, who have also produced some of the leading resources on interim pastoring, which are used all over the world.
More than just a series of lectures by VitalChurch’s interim pastors, the training event was designed to equip interim pastors, denominational leaders, and others with real-world tools that will help them guide churches through seasons of transition or crisis. There were lecture periods, but those were followed by small group discussions in which attendees practiced what they had just been taught and how they could apply the information to a real church crisis situation. There was also an extensive Question and Answer time with Pastors Miles and Caruso, where attendees could ask follow-up questions and receive greater insight into specific situations they might be struggling with.
Some of the topics covered in the training seminar included:
- Diagnosing real problems (beyond the surface issues)
- Strategies to manage change
- Conflict resolution
- An effective church governance model
- The use of transition teams
- A proven method for strategic planning
Our interim pastor training seminars flow from a theology that places Christ and His purposes at the center of genuine church revitalization. Yes, we focus on the “nuts and bolts,” but even more so on the Gospel, and how it should inform everything we do as interim pastors. True and lasting change can’t happen apart from Christ, no matter how many systems we put in place or strategies we employ.
Participants left with many resources that will aid them in doing effective interim pastor ministry, as well as a new network of individuals they can call on for support and guidance in the future.
In our follow-up survey, we asked attendees what they liked most about the training. Here are a few of their answers:
[I liked] the theology behind the methodology; the broad scope of topics covered; the application discussions which occurred with a partner or group.”
Your detailed framework for helping churches seems second to none.”
I liked the case studies that made us wrestle with what we were learning.”
Other attendees said they enjoyed “hearing from seasoned practitioners” and receiving “a torrent of valuable information.”
We’d like to thank the Evangelical Presbyterian Church for allowing us to use their headquarters for the training event and for their generous hospitality.
Our next interim pastor training event is scheduled for February 2020. If you would like to be added to our email list to receive notifications as details become available for this and other events for interim pastors, please contact us through our web form, or email us at connect@vitalchurchministry.org.