Ecumenical Transitional Leadership Training

Union Presbyterian Seminary’s Leadership Institute, in partnership with Eastern Mennonite University, is excited to offer this innovative hybrid program designed to equip pastors and lay leaders across denominations for the vital work of interim ministry.

Scroll down to find FAQs and the registration link.

Program Overview

Transitional ministry—guiding congregations through seasons of change, loss, and discernment—requires a unique set of skills that go beyond traditional pastoral formation. This intensive program brings together leading voices in transitional ministry, congregational systems, conflict transformation, and spiritual resilience to provide comprehensive training for those called to serve churches in transition.

Developed with an ecumenical perspective, this program welcomes participants from all Christian traditions and emphasizes collaborative approaches to ministry that honor the diverse ways congregations navigate change. Whether you’re exploring interim ministry as a calling, already serving in transitional roles, or seeking to strengthen your skills in leading through congregational transitions, this program offers practical frameworks, theological grounding, and a supportive cohort experience.

What You’ll Learn

Over the course of this program, participants will engage with 11 modules covering essential competencies for transitional ministry:

• Why Transitional Ministry Matters: Understanding the landscape of transitional ministry today, the changing church, and ecumenical approaches to supporting congregations in transition
• The Path Framework: Exploring the stages of Entering, Dwelling, Discovering, and Emerging that shape the interim journey
• Trauma & Grief: Developing trauma-informed approaches to congregational systems and understanding how communities process loss and change
• Five Focus Points: Learning to guide congregations through examination of Heritage, Mission, Leadership, Connections, and Future
• Five Process Tasks: Practical application of the focus points framework in real ministry contexts
• Holy Listening and Sharing: Cultivating active listening skills and creating space for congregation members’ voices and experiences
• Conflict Transformation: Building capacity to navigate and transform conflict constructively within congregational systems
• Systems Thinking: Integrating family systems theory to understand congregational dynamics, anxiety, homeostasis, and change processes
• Transition Teams: Recruiting, training, and empowering lay leadership to participate effectively in transitional ministry
• Practical Matters: Addressing self-care, professional boundaries, sustainability, and denomination-specific considerations for interim pastors
• Soul Care: Grounding practices, spiritual shifts, and resilience for the demanding work of transitional ministry

Program Format & Schedule

Online Learning (May 17-23, 2026) The online course opens May 17, 2026. During Week 1, you’ll work through 11 modules in a specific sequence at your own pace, with approximately 20-25 hours of content including video lectures, panel discussions, reflection questions, assessments, and participation in peer discussion. All Week 1 modules must be completed by Saturday, May 23.

Live Q&A Sessions (May 24-30, 2026) Week 2 features approximately 7 hours of live Q&A sessions with instructors via Zoom, plus additional time for peer discussion and working through material. These interactive sessions allow you to engage directly with expert practitioners and theologians, ask questions specific to your context, and deepen your understanding of the material.

Optional In-Person Component (June 3-5, 2026) The optional in-person gathering takes place at Union Presbyterian Seminary’s Richmond, VA campus, running from lunch on Wednesday, June 3 through closing dinner on Thursday, June 4. For those staying in on-campus housing Thursday night, an optional breakfast is available Friday morning by RSVP. This intensive time together includes worship, deeper engagement with course themes, networking with your cohort, and practical skill-building exercises.

Extended Learning & Community

Participants who attend the in-person component unlock significant extended benefits designed to support your ongoing growth and connection:

• 12 months of course access: Continue engaging with all recorded content, discussion boards, and materials
• Library resources: Access to Union Presbyterian Seminary’s online library resources for one year
• Monthly content: New podcast episodes and webinars uploaded to the course throughout the year
• Cohort community: Ongoing platform for connection, support, and collaboration with fellow participants
• Continuing education discount: 10% off all Leadership Institute online courses through the 2026-2027 academic year

Q&A session recordings will be added to the course during the week of June 8. Online-only participants will lose course access on May 31, 2026.

Who Should Participate

This program is designed for:

• Pastors exploring or preparing for interim ministry
• Current interim ministers seeking to strengthen their practice
• Lay leaders involved in congregational transition processes
• Denominational leaders supporting churches through pastoral transitions
• Ministry professionals navigating organizational change

Participants from all Christian traditions are welcome. While some content addresses denomination-specific practices (Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Mennonite, Episcopal), the core frameworks and approaches are applicable across traditions.

Registration & Pricing

Multiple registration options are available to ensure accessibility:

Online-Only Options:

• Subsidized: $299
• Standard: $449
• Sustaining: $599

Online & In-Person Options:

• Subsidized: $599
• Standard: $849
• Sustaining: $1,099

All in-person expenses (meals and programming) are included in registration fees. On-campus housing is available at a discounted rate ($65 per night for single occupancy, $90 per night for double occupancy). The Sustaining tier of the Online & In-Person Option includes housing. If you indicate on your registration form that you will require on-campus housing for the optional in-person portion of the program, a separate housing registration form will be sent to you after registering. On-campus housing is limited, so register soon!

Registration closes May 1, 2026. After registration closes, participants who selected online-only may upgrade to include the in-person component for an additional fee until May 8. However, registering for the full online and in-person experience at the time of initial registration offers better value.

Program Partnership

This program represents a collaboration between Union Presbyterian Seminary’s Leadership Institute and Eastern Mennonite University, bringing together expertise in theological education, peacebuilding, conflict transformation, and leadership development. Contributors include faculty and staff from both institutions, along with practitioners and denominational leaders from across the country.

Ready to Register? Click here

By registering for this program, participants agree to complete a pre-program survey, post-program survey, and follow-up survey approximately three months after the program concludes.

FAQs

Registration & Pricing

What’s the difference between the subsidized, standard, and sustaining pricing tiers?

All pricing tiers provide access to the same program content and experience. We offer multiple price points to ensure accessibility for participants with varying financial situations. Choose the tier that reflects what you’re able to contribute—subsidized pricing supports those with limited resources, standard pricing covers program costs, and sustaining pricing helps make the program accessible to others.

Note: The sustaining tier for the “Online & In-Person” option ($1,099) includes on-campus housing fees. All other tiers require separate payment for housing if you choose to stay on campus.

Can I upgrade from online-only to include the in-person component after I register?

After registration closes on May 1, participants who selected online-only may upgrade to include the in-person component for an additional fee until May 8. However, registering for the full online and in-person experience at the time of initial registration offers better value.

How do I reserve on-campus housing?

If you register for the online & in-person option and note that you will require housing, a housing request form will be sent to you after registering.

Do you offer scholarships or financial assistance?

What is your refund/cancellation policy?

Participants may cancel their registration for a full refund, minus a $25 processing fee, until May 1, 2026. Refund requests received after May 1, 2026 will not be granted except in cases of emergency or extenuating life circumstances, which will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. To request a cancellation or refund, please contact dkeyes@upsem.edu.

Program Logistics

What sort of time commitment does this program require?

The program requires approximately 27-32 hours over two weeks:

• Week 1 (May 17-23): 20-25 hours of asynchronous content, including video lectures, panel discussions, reflection questions, assessments, and peer discussion. Work at your own pace, but all modules must be completed by Saturday, May 23.
• Week 2 (May 24-30): Approximately 7 hours of live Q&A sessions via Zoom, plus additional time for peer discussion and working through material.
• Optional In-Person Component (June 3-5): Runs from lunch on Wednesday through closing dinner on Thursday, with an optional breakfast on Friday for those staying on campus at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA. Registrants for the optional in-person component are expected to attend the entire program through closing dinner on Thursday.

Do I need to attend all the live Q&A sessions?

What technology/equipment do I need to participate?

You will need a computer and internet access to participate in the online portion of the program. The online course requires consuming digital material (video and text) as well as participation in peer discussions. A camera is encouraged, but not required.

Course Content & Structure

Can I complete the modules out of order?

Modules must be completed in order in the allotted time.

Will I receive a certificate of completion?

Yes. All participants who complete the online portion of the program will receive a certificate of completion worth 3.0 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Participants who also attend the in-person component will receive a separate certificate at the conclusion of the in-person gathering for an additional 1.5 CEUs, for a total of 4.5 CEUs.

What denominations is this program designed for?

This program is designed to be ecumenical and welcomes participants from all Christian traditions. While the curriculum features content and speakers from Presbyterian, Mennonite, Episcopal, Baptist, and Methodist traditions, the core frameworks and approaches to transitional ministry are applicable across denominations. Module 10 includes denomination-specific sessions addressing practical considerations (contracting, benefits, denominational resources) for Presbyterian, Mennonite, Methodist, and Baptist contexts, though participants are welcome to view content from any or all traditions regardless of their own denominational affiliation.

In-Person Component

Is the in-person component really optional? What will it include?

Yes, the in-person component (June 3-5, 2026) is truly optional, but it’s a valuable investment for participants who want deeper peer connections and extended learning opportunities. All meals during the in-person component are included. The detailed schedule will be released no later than April 1, 2026.

Programming brings participants together at Union Presbyterian Seminary’s Richmond, VA campus and is planned to include:

• Workshops on political polarization in the church
• Mental health and trauma-informed ministry sessions
• Leading through decline: adaptive leadership strategies
• Conflict resolution case studies
• Q&A sessions with seasoned interim pastors
• Financial stewardship and generosity workshop
• Cohort circles for ongoing peer connection
• Time for informal networking and conversation

Benefits of attending in-person include 12 months of continued course access, ongoing monthly content, access to the library’s online resources, connection with your cohort through a dedicated platform, and 10% off Leadership Institute courses through the 2026-2027 academic year.

Can I commute to the in-person component instead of staying on campus? 

Absolutely! There is a section on the registration form where you can note whether or not you will require housing if you are signing up for the in-person portion

Is childcare available during the in-person component?

Unfortunately, we are not able to provide childcare during the in-person component. We recognize this may present a barrier for some participants and encourage you to make arrangements that work best for your family situation.

More Questions?

For more information about the program, contact: Deborah Keyes Leadership Institute, Union Presbyterian Seminary dkeyes@upsem.edu