The Lutheran Transitional Ministry Association (LuTMA, formerly NALIP) Basic Education curriculum is designed for clergy and lay professionals to introduce participants to the practice of intentional interim ministry. Although focusing on Lutheran theology and polity, the event is open to all lay leaders and clergy desiring or called to this special ministry in congregations during a pastoral transition.

This course is designed in three phases (Planting, Cultivating and Harvesting), covering a period of about six months.

A residential week focusing on the theory, theology, leadership skills and congregational systems related to intentional interim ministry. We examine the interim journey through scenarios (propositional learning) including the dynamics of entry, pre-entry, stages and tasks of the congregation, emotional systems, conflict, grief, power structures, and leadership skills necessary to lead the congregation, and exiting/closure issues.

A six-month experience in a parish or institutional setting, ideally in a leadership transition, in which the participant in this program "puts into practice" the material learned in Phase I. During this time, you will learn contracting (covenanting), work on personal learning goals, and write two critical incident reports, all under the supervisor of your chosen fieldwork supervisor.

The second residential week (exact dates and location TBD), in which through a group process you will share one of your critical incident reports, review material learned in Phase I, and learn more about the dynamics of congregations in pastoral transition, and your leadership skills and needs. You will also discuss the biblical and theological connections in this special ministry as specifically related to the Lutheran church.