The TiM program connected me with extremely useful resources even before starting my first appointment, but especially in those first few key months of the appointment when you are establishing your leadership identity and getting to know the congregation, the context, and the conference. The ...
Calling: Your Pastoral Identity and Formation, Identifying your gifts Most of all, TiM has given me the opportunities to think about my call on ministry through retreats, meetings, resources, and fellowships. As a beginner pastor, it was easy for me to focus on my daily routines only. There were ...
When taking a look at the prompts for a narrative reflection for the TiM program experience so far in the context of my ministry and experience, I absolutely loved the idea of sharing with others who might be interested about my own journey in this process. Thinking back to when I first...
I have experienced the gifts of the TiM program throughout my first year. There have been high points and low points during my first appointive year at Silver Lake UMC. There are many facets of the program that have greatly benefited me during my first year. Two of those gifts have been the ...
One of the realities that I’ve become accustomed to, though still not comfortable with, in this wild world of church leadership and clergy life is the presence of a feeling of competition among colleagues. I remember hearing in seminary about this as an unfortunate but unshakable fact of our shared ...
As I am journeying through my second year of pastoral ministry and second year as a TiM pastor I find myself more and more grateful for this program. When I speak with colleagues from Seminary in different conferences I feel grateful for the TiM program, the clergy excellence staff and the ways I ...
The very first TiM gathering I attended was at a pizza parlor in Kearny, NE. Fresh out of seminary, there were boxes still waiting to be unloaded in the trunk of my vehicle from the long journey from Washington, D.C. back to the Midwest. To say that I was apprehensive or nervous about meeting my ...
As I consider my time in the TiM program, I begin to think of the connections that I have made in the past four years. By being part of the TiM program, I believe my connection within the conference has strengthened and there is a sense of belonging between myself and other participants in the ...
I’m an externally motivated person, something that I’ve learned through the Ordination Process and through my time in Transition into Ministry (TiM). Things and people in my local setting direct and energize me. TiM has helped me realize I need a calendar to boss me through the day. I ...
In an age when Christianity is in decline, defying a call to pastoral ministry may be wise. After all, according to the Lewis Center for Church Leadership new clergy last on average just 5 years in full time vocational ministry. Yet, someone who has felt called to any vocation understands the ...
The TiM program has been a wonderful blessing for me for these first few years of full-time pastoral ministry. Coming fresh out of seminary, I was inexperienced and had a lot to learn as I transitioned from being a student to being a pastor. Being part of TiM afforded me with many opportunities to ...
I look back into the past two years of my journey in the TiM program which started at Aldersgate UMC, Wichita, KS, [hereinafter Aldersgate] and what comes to mind is the word “PROCESS”. As Wesleyans, we have a healthy and robust perspective on how God enables us to develop and live a God-shaped ...
The Rev. Emily Cannon, pastor at First UMC in Auburn, Nebraska, responds to: What would you share about your TiM journey to those interested in the program? As I embark upon year four of my “Transition into Ministry” journey, I can honestly say that this program has been energizing, challenging and...
In Bill Gepford's previous blog the TiM associate pastor at Colby (Kanasa) UMC, shared how and why he started a youth program at Colby UMC. In this second of a two-blog series, Gepford explains the steps he took in preparation of the youth ministry kick off. I arrived shortly before July 1. These ...
Bill Gepford is currently serving as a TiM associate pastor at Colby United Methodist Church, Colby, Kansas (2013-2015). Bill Gepford, TiM associate pastor at Colby (Kansas) UMC, shares how and why he started a youth program at Colby UMC. In this first of a two blog series, Gepford explains why he ...
Pastor Andrea Beyer served as a TIM Associate Pastor at West Heights United Methodist Church, Wichita, Kansas from 2013-2015. It is hard for me to believe, but I am nearing the end of my first stage of the Transition into Ministry program. It seems like it was just a couple of weeks ago that I ...
Pastor Aaron Duell is currently serving as a TIM associate pastor at First United Methodist Church, Columbus, Nebraska (2014-2016). We humans were designed to be in relationship. We are really a chip off the old (Trinitarian) block. Ultimately, human meaning and purpose come from our ...
Pastor Brenda Kostner is currently serving as a TIM associate pastor at Stillwell United Methodist Church, Stillwell, Kansas (2014-2016). Whenever I consider the phrase pastoral authority, I flashback to my first year in seminary, to an early morning class called “Pastor and People”- a survey of ...
Pastor Emily Cannon is currently serving as a TIM associate pastor at Saint Paul United Methodist Church, Lincoln, Nebraska (2013-2015). When I enter my office on Monday morning, one of the first things I do is glance down at my (cheerfully color-coded!) calendar and look at all of the events and ...
Rev. Austin Rivera reflects on some of what he learned in serving two years as a Transition into Ministry (TiM) Associate Pastor at First United Methodist Church in Emporia, Kansas from 2012-2014. He is currently in his first year as a Ph.D. student in the Ancient Christianity program of Yale’s ...
Rev. Andy Frazier is in his first year as Pastor at Frontenac (KS) United Methodist Church after serving for two years as Transition into Ministry (TiM) Associate Pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church in Lincoln, NE from 2012-2014. Andy writes about lessons that he has learned in the transition...
Rev. Wendy Mohler-Seib served as a TiM Associate Pastor from 2012-2014 at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in Wichita, KS. We interviewed her to learn more about some of what she experienced in her two years as a part of the Transition into Ministry (TiM) program. What are some ways that your ...
Pastor Wendy Mohler-Seib served as a TIM Associate Pastor at Chapel Hill Fellowship United Methodist Church, Wichita, Kansas from 2012-2014. I dislike fighting. I avoid hockey because of the bloody noses and flying fists. In high school, I ran away and hid from fights while others gathered around...
Pastor Emily Cannon served as a TIM Associate Pastor at Saint Paul United Methodist Church, Lincoln, Nebraska from 2013-2015. Looking back, I think that I was being called to pastoral ministry long before I started consciously considering it. There are so many examples from my early years where I ...
Pastor Andrea Beyer served as a TIM Associate Pastor at West Heights United Methodist Church, Wichita, Kansas from 2013-2015. As I embarked upon my journey into Seminary, I was somewhat conflicted about what I would do once I graduated with my master of divinity. My call to go to seminary was very ...
Pastor Wendy Mohler-Seib served as a TIM Associate Pastor at Chapel Hill Fellowship United Methodist Church; Wichita, KS from 2012-2014. Seminary prepared me to identify the four steps of practical theology, thoroughly exegete a passage for sermon preparation,use Lowry’s loop, ancient perspectives...
Pastor Austin Rivera served as a TIM Associate Pastor at First United Methodist Church, Emporia, KS from 2012-2014. He is currently a Ph.D. student in the Ancient Christianity program of Yale’s Religious Studies Department. When Ambrose of Milan set out to write on the virtues to be cultivated by...
The Rev. Bill Gepford, pastor at Fremont First UMC in Nebraska, shares about the tools learned in Seminary and how those tools are shaped by an experienced mentor. Seminary gave me a lot of tools. But it took experience under a mentor pastor to start using the right tool at the right time. ...
Stefanie Hays, pastor at Ord First and Sargeant First in Nebraska responds to the following: What would you share with other entering young clergy regarding what you have learned about calling, mentoring, collegiality, and visioning? Ministry can be difficult. Yes, that would seem like a “duh” ...
The Rev. Emily Cannon, pastor at Auburn UMC in Nebraska, reflects on her time in the TiM program by writing a letter to her younger self. Dear Emily-in-2013, Congratulations! You’ve just graduated from seminary! For the last three years, you’ve been immersing yourself in the ...
Kayla Mangrich, pastor at Plainville UMC in Kansas shares her experience in the TiM Program. In March of 2016, I received a phone call from (at that time) Hays D.S. Rev. Jim Akins informing me of an appointment in Plainville, KS. Soon after, I accepted and was officially appointed to Plainville UMC...
The Rev. Brenda Kostner Johnson, pastor at Anthony UMC in Kansas shares her reflections on Calling, Mentoring, Collegiality, and Vision. Calling Isn’t Static I could never have predicted how many times I would have to tell my “call story.” At each milestone (beginning seminary, entering the ...
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