Transitional Ministry Education
October 20-24, 2025
This year Couples in Ministry, Small Church Pastor’s Retreat and Transitional Ministry Education will be offered all in the same weekend, known as Bread for the Journey.
This introductory course delves into how to navigate a congregation through a time of change.
Leading a congregation and faith community through transition is both challenging and rewarding. Whether it is a change in leadership or a changing neighborhood, it takes knowledge, skill, resilience and spiritual strength to navigate the waters of transition in a way that allows a congregation and its leaders to be open to possibilities, go deeper and thrive. Transitional Ministry Education offers education in the skills and understanding necessary for leading a congregation and faith community in transition. Leaders and participants come from several mainline traditions, which creates rich opportunities for additional learning.
This education is offered by the Transitional Ministry Education Consortium, a 20-year old group dedicated to offering up-to-date educational ministry for the PCUSA and other mainline denominations.
Renée Rico, Leadership
The Reverend Renée Rico confesses to be both excited and challenged by the opportunities of ministry in these times in the church. She considers herself an “accidental intentional interim” minister for the past 25 years, serving in churches across the West as interim solo, head of staff and associate pastor positions in both the Presbyterian Church and United Methodist Church. Renee has served on leadership teams for the Art of Transitional Ministry events in Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina and Texas. She currently serves as Transitional Pastor for First Presbyterian Church in San Leandro, CA.
Outside of church, Renée has many interests, including a love of Mexican food, knitting (she teaches and designs her own line of patterns) and fiber spinning.
Special 75th Anniversary Guest: David Lamotte
David LaMotte is a songwriter, speaker, author, and activist. As a singer, David has performed over 3500 concerts and released thirteen full length CDs. He has toured in all fifty states and on five of the seven continents. His most recent album, Still, was in the top twenty on Folk Radio for six months, and his song, September Me, reached number one in September of 2022. David has been a featured performer at top tier music festivals worldwide, including the Kerrville Folk Festival, Lake Eden Arts Festival, Merlefest, the Auckland Folk Festival (NZ) and the Australian National Folk Festival.
David was a Rotary World Peace Fellow, which enabled him to study International Relations, Peace and Conflict Resolution at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. As part of that study, he also spent time in rural Andhra Pradesh, India working with a Gandhian development organization. David and his wife Deanna are founders of the nonprofit Senderos, which supports Guatemalan children through education, music and mentoring projects. He also created the Let’s Be Neighbors campaign to encourage community-building at the neighborhood level. David has authored four books and presented two TEDx talks. The most recent, based on his book, You Are Changing The World Whether You Like It Or Not, was recently featured as a TED Editor’s Pick, enabling a larger audience to hear David’s message on movement work and meaningful change.
This conference is a certification course designed specifically for those serving in an interim, transitional or designated pastor role.
ATM 2022 Letter & Reading List Cost and Housing
Rates include tuition, meals and housing. After receiving your registration, a member of our team will contact you within seven business days to confirm additional details such as housing requests (roommates), dietary needs, etc.
Single occupancy: $900
Double occupancy: $700
Spouse rate: $140 (after a single occupancy reservation)
Commuter rate: $450
Scholarships are available! Click here to learn more.
As advanced reading is required, please plan to register well in advance so that you will have adequate time to prepare.
Cancellation
Full refund minus administrative fee up to $75 per person will be made if cancellation is received more than 30 days prior to the conference. There are generally no refunds for cancellations received on or after 30 days prior to the start of the event nor any applying of the amount paid toward other charges or future conferences.
Packing suggestions:
- Comfortable/casual clothes
- Comfortable walking shoes (close-toed shoes recommended)
- Flashlight (it is very dark here at night)
- Bible
- Journal
- Toiletries
- Sunblock, sunshades and hats
- Rain jacket
- Water bottle
- A clean face mask for each day, and or full face shield.
- Beds are ready upon arrive; hotel rooms do not have mini-fridges, microwaves, TVs or hair dryers, so please plan accordingly.
- Towel are in rooms, and river towels are at the river and pool.
Transportation
Mo-Ranch is 90 miles one-way, or a 2-hour drive from the nearest airport (SAT), allow 3 hours travel/check-in time for departures. We recommend generally scheduling arriving flights before 3 p.m. and departing flights after 3 p.m. to be sure you do not miss any of your event.
If you are in need of shuttle service to Mo-Ranch, call Kars for Hire in Kerrville at (830) 890-8200 at least 15 days in advance to arrange transportation from San Antonio International Airport.
Click here for directions to Mo.
Bookstore
Make sure to stop by the Presbyterian Mo-Ranch Assembly bookstore during your conference to pick out a souvenir!
Questions
We’re happy to help! Contact us at 1.800.460.4401 ext. 246 or registrar@moranch.org.
