Responding to an “overwhelming need in our churches,” the Worship & Music Office of the South Carolina Baptist Convention in October 2014 launched a transitional worship pastor ministry.

In adapting LifeWay Christian Resource’s transitional pastor manual, Mark Powers, director of the SCBC Worship & Music Office, worked with Monty Hale, SCBC Pastoral Ministries director, to develop the training program.

Five participants were trained and are now available to South Carolina Baptist churches as transitional worship pastors, and more are to come. Training will be offered in both the spring and the fall of 2015.

“Transitional worship pastor ministry is a challenging and rewarding way to contribute to the advancement of God’s kingdom through the building up of his churches,” said Powers. He said methods taught in the training reflect understandings developed by LifeWay and the SCBC through research.

“A transitional worship pastor is trained to assist pastors and churches through a healthy year-long process between the departure of one full-time or permanent-part-time worship pastor and the arrival of a new worship pastor,” Powers said.

For more information, contact Powers at markpowers@scbaptist.org or call 803-227-6166.