New Vision for the Long Pastorate

The seminar is scheduled to begin at noon with lunch on the first day and end after lunch on the last day.

"I used to think that long pastorates were a good thing. 
I now think that they're not just good but necessary!"

There are no guides more qualified than Alban consultant Ed White to show you the way to a new vision for the long pastorate.   In his own long and distinguished career he has served as general presbyter for the National Capital Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA) (PCUSA) and was at various times chair of the Alban Institute’s board of trustees, president of the Council of Churches of Greater Washington, and president of the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington.

Don't miss this opportunity to join Ed at the Palisades Retreat Center, located on 39 secluded acres of woods on a beachfront bluff overlooking Puget Sound just outside Seattle, Washington.

Rediscover the virtues of long pastoral relationships:

• - Developing a community of trust
• - Growing and changing with continuity
• - Learning and developing in relationship
• - Modeling mutual commitment

"In a culture of instant gratification, where long term commitments to anyone or anything are an exception to the rule, a long term pastorate can be a profound countercultural witness to the values of commitment and faithfulness."

Congregations need the perspective, patience, and perseverance that only sustained leadership can provide.   

The challenge is how to do this without becoming complacent.

How can a long pastorate continue envigorate a congregation and provide leadership and vision?

In this seminar, you will learn how to:

• Practice self care physically, mentally and spiritually -- and cultivate healthy expectations by your congregation -- in order to prevent burnout and nourish your life with God. 
  
  
• Become the kind of empowering leader that creates partners in leadership in the congregation and prevents unhealthy overdependence on the pastor. 
  
  
• Connect your own spiritual journey with that of your congregation. 
  
  
• Channel the inevitable conflicts into spiritual growth instead of community erosion. 
  
  
• Use your history with your congregation to provide them with the courage and vision to clarify their identity, purpose, and core values in ways that engage the emerging generation.

About Ed White 

An encouraging presence, Ed White has spent twenty years as a Presbytery Executive working with congregations followed by twenty years as an Alban consultant working with congregations. That long involvement with congregations and their leaders has led to have deep convictions about the value of long term pastorates. He sees a correlation between long pastorates and healthy congregations.