Research Project Chapter One Introduction

Drumroll please….here’s the first of five posts sharing research findings from my doctoral project. I’m thrilled to unveil insights (along with links to full project paper) to shine a light on the crucial role church leaders play in guiding change. May your engagement here (and on social media) spur conversation about the support these leaders deserve as they navigate transformation in the church and beyond.

Introduction: now, more than ever, mainline Protestant churches in the US need pastors who are skilled not only in transitional ministry but also short-term transitional ministry—a critical, yet under-supported, subspecialty with unique demands and rewards. My own varied stints as a short-term transitional pastor gave me a deep sense of the personal qualities and leadership support that helped me thrive in my roles, and they also exposed the gaps I needed to fill to sustain my enjoyment and success. With this project, I sought to learn how other pastors felt about their transitional ministry training, including its impact on their success and well-being in short-term callings and their desire to take on others in the future. My great hope was that a storyline would emerge and allow me to offer concrete suggestions for how the church might increase the number of pastors willing to do the work of short-term transitional ministry and improve their job satisfaction.

Chapter One summary

Moving beyond simply who will do the work, the church must also ask: What training and support do effective leaders need to help the church shape a more hopeful future?

The first chapter, shared below, presents the foundational issues that led to the study, including declining membership and aging populations in mainline Protestant churches; the changing landscape of transitional ministry and the shortage of pastors willing to meet the rising demand of short-term transitional roles; and the lack of research about the experiences of short-term transitional pastors, particularly the impact of the training they receive. The chapter also briefly highlights my background, the research questions I sought to answer, and the methodology I employed, all of which will be presented in-depth in upcoming posts. 

As a storyteller at heart, I conclude the chapter with an imagined story of a Commission on Ministry | COM team discussing the value of transitional ministry training and pastors who are willing to serve short-term calls. Perhaps you will identify with one of the characters and be inspired as you continue reading to help improve this critical aspect of the PC(USA).

Practical Outcome One: stay curious about what needs to change.
LINK to Research Project Front Material

LINK to Research Project Chapter One

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