Welcome to Transitional Ministries Association of Australia
For a church - the time between permanent pastoral leadership can wisely be used as an opportunity for re-focusing of ministry. TMAA trains and provides support and supervision for Intentional Interim Ministers. Intentional Interim Ministers are placed through the leadership of particular denominations.
This site provides:
- General information
- Resources for registered Intentional Interim Ministers
- Access to register for courses run by TMAA
Intentional Interim Ministry is a process for a church to improve the church's health in the interim between permanent pastors. The "intention" refers to the deliberate choice by a church to engage in a structured process of self-reflection through the processes outlined in these courses.
The process involves developing a fresh focus by the congregation to determine the best way forward into its future. It examines five developmental tasks:
- Coming to terms with history
- Dealing with leadership and decision-making concerns
- Re-thinking linkage with other churches and the denomination
- Developing a new identity
- Committing to new leadership
The methods of working with the tasks are unique to each church. The result of the process can assist a search committee in finding a new pastor or determining an alternative appropriate direction for its future pursuit in biblical ministry.
The Australian association was formed to facilitate on-going training and development of Intentional Interim Ministries in Australia. In the first 3 years of Intentional Interim Ministry in Australia, training was carried out by the Center for Congregational Health. In 2001, 4 Australian pastors were equipped as trainers.
The association works with Intentional Interim Ministers and Interim Ministers, including Baptists, Churches of Christ, Uniting, Anglican, Presbyterian, independent Pentecostal.