Time is spent with church leaders. A focus of ministry is provided. Financial support of ministry is provided. Financial support is received. Conflicts are honestly faced. A Support Team surrounds the pastor and spouse. Assistance is provided in making new ministry contacts. Recommendations are given. Help is offered in the candidating process. Vision is rekindled. A pastor is given a place in the church from which he can more readily return to ministry.

A six-month covenant, renewable for another six months, is drawn between the church and Pastor-in-Residence, considering the gifts and interests of the pastor and the opportunities for service in the PIR church. Financial assistance is sought from outside supporters.

Confidential inquiries from exited pastors are welcome. Churches committed to being safe-houses for displaced pastors are needed. Refuge Nets of 5-7 churches in an area, all committed to the restoration of pastors, are being established. Our purpose is to work with exited pastors of every denomination to network them with churches wanting to make pastors without a call a target ministry for them.

Pastor-in-Residence Inc. using its General Guide, Affirmation Team Packets and Especially for Pastors Manual, will prepare any church for this ministry. Seminars on the exited pastor phenomenon and the 10 steps to setting up a PIR Program are offered. We make no charge either to exited pastors or to the churches with which we work.

Where does a servant of God turn for help when the issues are pastoral burnout, a minister's struggles with identity, tensions in a church that escalate to pastoral self-doubts about calling and/or spousal strains that become sustained warfare? Pastor-in-Residence Ministries was created to provide a supportive atmosphere and a helping hand in facing those issues. It offers grace without strings and points to a compassionate Christ.

Harvie M. Conn, Professor
Westminster Theological Seminary
Philadelphia, PA

For many years now I have been familiar with Charles Wickman's passion to help pastors who, for one reason or another, are being ripped apart by being forced to leave ministry. The Pastor-in-Residence concept that Charles has developed is a compassionate response to a very deep need. Christian leaders separated from an opportunity for ministry often feel isolated and abandoned. They are literally the walking wounded who then get wounded again by insensitive churches and the very community that they seek to serve. I cannot think of any ministry more needful today and worthy of our total support the ministry to such pastors and Christian leaders.

Archibald D. Hart, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Fuller Theological Seminary
Pasadena, CA

Help Us Help You

If you are an exited pastor we would like to ask you to fill out our Confidential Survey. This information will remain confidential and will be used for the sole purpose of collecting data which in turn will help us in effective ministry. Simply click on link and follow the directions.