When the Spirit Moves: A Guide for Ministers in Transition

Dozens of resources help churches seeking new pastoral leadership, but what about the ministers who are seeking a specific ministry call? How can a pastor discern when to stay or where to go? Denominational leaders Riley Walker and Marcia Patton begin this practical and spiritual guide with the conviction that it is God's Spirit that guides ministry transition. Therefore, the transition process is essentially and uniquely spiritual, as ministers evaluate their current ministry settings and consider new contexts. The book does not offer to pastors and other ministry leaders a specific course but a plan for the journey. The authors identify common areas of concern, frequent pitfalls and missteps, and oft-traveled routes to a successful transition. Includes practical resources such as personal skill assessments, an overview of the typical search and call process, sample interview questions, and best practices for ending one's service with integrity and grace.

Riley Walker, DMin, MDiv, has been Executive Minister of American Baptist Churches of the Dakotas since 2002. Prior to assuming this denominational position, he served as Area Minister for the American Baptist Churches of Indiana and Kentucky, and pastored churches in those two states since 1974.

Dr. Walker’s areas of expertise include:

Conflict mediation and prevention

Spiritual formation and development

Effective leadership skills

Marcia J. Patton, PhD, MDiv, MAR, is the first executive minister of the newest American Baptist Churches USA region, the Evergreen Association. Evergreen Association is unique among American Baptists because it is organized around ethnic caucuses and does its work by consensus.

Prior to this appointment in 2004, she spent thirteen years as Associate Executive Minister with the American Baptist Churches of Northwest, and served as associate minister for churches in Pennsylvania, Utah, and New Jersey. Dr. Patton serves on the transition team with American Baptist Churches USA, and as a delegate to the National Council of Churches Assembly.