Starting Well Trainings
Starting Well Trainings for Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committees and your new Pastor are offered in each district. If you cannot attend the training in your district you are welcome to register for another training. Click the links for registration information:
Maumee River District Starting Well Training - Tuesday, July 9, 6:30 - 9:00 pm at North Baltimore St. James UMC
Maumee River District Starting Well Training- Thursday, July 11, 6:30 - 9:00 pm at Wauseon Christ UMC
Scioto River District Starting Well Training - Saturday, July 13, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Tyler Memorial UMC (call District Office to Register 740-851-5243)
Great Miami River District Starting Well Training - Thursday, July 18, 6:00 - 9:00 pm at Sharonville UMC
Great Miami River District Starting Well Training - Thursday, July 25, 6:00 - 9:00 pm at Sulphur Grove UMC
Olentangy River District Starting Well Training - Wednesday, July 31 9:00 am - noon at Worthington UMC
Western Lakes District Starting Well Training - Sunday, August 18 at 3:00pm at Grand Lake UMC
Sunday, August 18 at 6:00pm at Cridersville UMC
Sunday, August 25 at 6:00pm at Springfield Northridge UMC.
Ending Well and Starting Well
Saying good-bye to your current pastor/congregation and preparing to begin ministry with a new pastor/congregation is part and parcel of the itinerant ministry of United Methodist Church. Whether this is the first pastoral transition you have experienced or the tenth, the season of transition is one of much work, many emotions and great opportunity. The change of pastoral leadership is an important time in the life of the congregation and a pastor’s ministry; and we want to help you handle it well. We are praying for you, your congregation, your pastor and for the pastor whom God is preparing to serve in your congregation next.
As Regional Missional Specialists for the West Ohio Conference, we have gathered resources and weaved in our experiences and learning to create these Ending Well and Starting Well resources for you. They include:
- Ending Well Transition Packets, one customized for the local church and one customized for the pastor. They include individual pages on topics such as Communicating Well, Recognizing the “Lasts,” Welcoming Your New Pastor, and helps for navigating the first weeks of an appointment. There is also a Transition Checklist to assist in transitioning ministry and an Introduction Checklist to assist with the administrative tasks. These are available for download below.
- Starting Well Equipping Sessions will be offered throughout the conference and designed for the pastor and SPRC/Lead Team members to attend together. While scheduled per district, you can register for the session when your team is available.
Please take advantage of these resources and share them with the leadership in the local church. We are available to support you in developing your plan and navigating your particular transition.
Prayers for the journey,
Wendy Lybarger (Great Miami River District and Scioto River District, wlybarger@wocumc.org)
Mary Sullivan (Maumee River District and Western Lakes District, msullivan@wocumc.org)
Sara Thomas (Hocking River District and Olentangy River District, sthomas@wocumc.org)
Regional Missional Specialists
All documents below are for the church's use, with the exception of those labeled with Pastor in the title.
All documents below are for the pastor's use, with the exception of those labeled with Church in the title.