It’s a topic that crosses denominational lines: the often overwhelming move from being a solo pastor serving a smaller congregation to being a savvy “team player” on the staff of a larger congregation. The conference Solo Pastor to Multi-Staff Pastor, being offered April 26-May 1, at Montreat Conference Center, will address some of the leadership issues faced by pastors making challenging pastoral transitions to corporate or program congregations.“Many first call pastors gain their identity and understanding of ministry from the context of the smaller congregation,” explained one of the conference leaders, Harris Schultz. “After gaining experience there,” he continued, “they often discover that moving to a larger congregation requires them to change the ways in which they do ministry.” The conference will focus on a variety of pastoral situations: pastors considering a move to a congregation with pastoral and program staff; pastors of mid-size or larger congregations discerning a need to hone skills as staff leaders; and pastors simply puzzled by some of the experiences they’ve had serving in mid-size or larger congregations. “It can be an eye-opening moment when, as a pastor accustomed to doing it all by yourself, you realize you’re part of a whole team,” said co-leader Deborah Fortel. “This conference is designed to help pastors make that personal transition.”
Both Schultz and Fortel are pastors in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and have successfully migrated to larger congregations.
The registration deadline for the “Solo Pastor to Multi-Staff Pastor” conference has been extended to April 16. Advance reading for the conference, When Moses Meets Aaron: Staffing and Supervision in Large Congregations, by Gilbert Rendle and Susan Beaumont, is included and will be mailed with registration confirmation. Learn more or register online now. You may also call 828.669.2911, ext. 339.
Montreat Conference Center is a national conference center serving the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Located just 15 miles east of Asheville in the mountains of western North Carolina, it welcomes approximately 35,000 guests annually for rest, renewal, and recreation.
