The Transitional Pastor Ministry

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.

Transitional Pastor Video Now Available Online
This 12-minute video includes an explanation of the Transitional Pastor Ministry and features the tesimonies of transitional pastors, pastor search committee members, a lay member, and a pastor who has followed a Transitional Pastor. Click here to go to a page with links to the video ...

Some of the skills a Transitional Pastor needs:

• Spiritual discernment
• Leading 
• Caring 
• Proclaiming
• Technical
• Listening
• Relating
• 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.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. What is the schedule?

The schedule varies with each event. However, the same basic 20 hours of training is provided in all events.

2. What is the cost?

Each participant is responsible for his own travel, meals, and lodging. The contact person for each event will provide the amount of the registration fee for that specific event. The registration fee includes a manual, other resources, and 20 hours of wisdom and experience from the seasoned pastors leading the training.

3. Who are the conference leaders?

The leaders will vary from event to event. Learn more about those who have been leading in most of the events over the past eight years: Transitional Pastor Training Leaders

4. Who do I contact for more information?

Pastoral Ministries and Consulting
LifeWay Christian Resources
One LifeWay Plaza
Nashville TN 37234-0157
615-251-2083

2010 Training Dates and Locations

February 15-17, 2010
(4:30 p.m. Monday through 5:00 p.m. Wednesday)
South Carolina Baptist Convention
White Oak Conference Center, Winnsboro, South Carolina

For information and registration for this event contact Monty Hale at the South Carolina Baptist Convention, montyhale@scbaptist.org, 803-765-0030.

February 22-24, 2010
(4:30 p.m. Monday through 5:00 p.m. Wednesday)
Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma
Baptist Building, 3800 North May Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

For information and registration for this event contact Lori Warren at the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, lwarren@bgco.org, 405-942-3000, ext. 4401.

August 16-18, 2010
(4:30 p.m. Monday through 5:00 p.m. Wednesday)
California Southern Baptist Convention
Baptist Building, 678 East Shaw Avenue, Fresno, California

For information and registration for this event contact Renate Paradise at LifeWay Christian Resources, renate.paradise@lifeway.com, 615-251-2083.

For this event please use the following Transitional Pastor Application  (PDF).

August 2-4, 2010
(4:30 p.m. Monday through 5:00 p.m. Wednesday)
Midland, Texas

For information and registration for this event contact Tracey Thomas at the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, tthomas@sbtexas.com, 877-953-7282.

December 6-8, 2010
(4:30 p.m. Monday through 5:00 p.m. Wednesday)
Grapevine, Texas (SBTC Building)

For information and registration for this event contact Tracey Thomas at the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, tthomas@sbtexas.com, 877-953-7282.