The Art of Transitional Ministry: Part 2 (Fall 2026)

This course educates pastors to think about change from a leadership perspective as we seek to guide systems from where they are to God's promised future. How do I lead a congregation through change effectively? How do I analyze the ministry context in which I find myself? How do I navigate through complex systems and conflict? Course begins with a live session on October 8, 2026.

About this course:

This course is part of the Transitional Ministry Education Consortium (TMEC) offerings for transitional ministry education. This course qualifies as Part 2 of Interim Training. Taking Part 1 with Transitional Ministry Pathways or another TMEC or Interim Ministry Network (IMN) site within the last five years is a prerequisite for taking this course. 

We meet for 3 hours each week, plus additional time in a cohort group to share case studies. Cohort groups and facilitators will work through strategies for real, on-the-ground situations. By completing this course, you will gain a greater understanding of systems, processes of change, and with have a cohesive plan to engage in the next steps of ministry. 

This course exceeds denominational standards for Interim/Transitional Ministry Education and awards 4 CEUs to students seeking Continuing Education credits. The certificate meets The Diamond Standard for CEU Certification™ for religious, social, and civic professionals.

What's included?

You will learn how to think about yourself more intentionally as a congregational leader through change. 

Seasoned Teaching Team

Our three member teaching team has decades of combined transitional ministry experience.

Weekly Live Sessions and Cohort Support Groups

Our team hosts weekly Zoom sessions and our cohort groups work through actual ministry situations

Hybrid Online Course Format

This course combines weekly synchronous Zoom sessions with self-paced, asynchronous learning experiences.

Accreditation Requirements

This course exceeds denominational standards for Interim/Transitional Ministry Education.

Private Online Chat Forum

Learners in the chat forum share thoughts and ideas, increase connection, and receive help with problem areas.

Continuing Education Units

Successful completion of this course results in 4 CEUs based on The Diamond Standard for CEU Certification™.
transitional ministry pathways

Meet the Teaching Team

Rev. Dr. Jan Nolting Carter
Co-lead Instructor and Program Leader

Jan approaches Transitional Ministry with a nuanced understanding of systems, training in Healthy Congregations, coaching and mediation, and a curiosity about the intersection between context and living theology. 
Ordained for nearly 29 years as a minister in the Presbyterian Church USA, for  18 years, Jan served 8 different congregations in a transitional capacity-large and small, rural and urban, thriving and questioning sustainability. For the last two years, Jan and Paul have worked with three different churches by consulting through transition, an emerging model they are developing. Jan sees, teaches, and coaches through the lens of a woman in leadership being attentive to the particular experiences of women. Informed by her early work bringing ethnography to the classroom, Jan has worked with Paul and our team to curate a learning experience that is sensitive to adult learners and our yearning to grow in community. 


Jan holds degrees from Duke University (AB), the University of Pennsylvania (MSEd), McCormick Theological Seminary (MDiv) and Columbia Theological Seminary (DMin). 


Rev. Paul Rhebergen
Co-lead Instructor and Program Leader

Paul serves as the unofficial dean of Transitional Ministry Education. With thirty-six years of experience interim and transitional ministry and over 46 years of ordained ministry in the Presbyterian Church USA. 

Paul has served 13 different churches and has been a part of the evolution of thinking about leading change in congregations. Much of his ministry in transition has been in complicated situations following conflict and misconduct. Filled with a knowledge of history, Paul approaches teaching transitional ministry with a learner's heart and a questioning soul.


Paul is well versed in systems and change theory. Paul is a conflict expert, experienced as a trained mediator, a Healthy Congregations Facilitator and a continuous learner in understanding of working with complex systems in the midst of conflict. 


Paul holds degrees from Lafayette College and Andover-Newton Theological Seminary. 

Rev. Bart W. Edwards
Co-lead Instructor

Bart's gifts in transitional ministry are connected to his 20 years of experience in the corporate world through manufacturing management and total quality assurance training in both large and small corporations. As a second-career pastor, he has been an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church USA for 19 years and has served three churches in the mid-Atlantic states. Bart's keen interest is in applying systems theory to the areas of work and church and looking at how the relationships within the two areas co-exist. For Bart, it is within our work life and church life that we can find purpose and fulfillment. As a facilitator and leader, Bart has guided several churches through the Healthy Congregations program. After completing the Transitional Ministry program, Bart was asked to join the Transitional Ministry teaching team.

Bart holds degrees from the University of Arkansas (BA-History) and Columbia Theological Seminary (MDiv). He has served as an Adjunct Professor at Mount Olive College (New Testament) and is a certified Healthy Congregations Facilitator.