Dr. James Pence

     I have worked with over 100 congregations and faith-based agencies in eighteen states as a full-time consultant since 2007.  Previously, I served for twenty years in executive leadership positions in colleges and universities, both public and private, including positions as the  Chief Academic Officer at Wartburg College (Waverly, IA), St. Olaf College (Northfield, MN), and Pacific Lutheran University (Tacoma, WA).  With a doctorate in English and experience as a college professor, I bring both administrative and teaching skills to my work with clients.  My special areas of interest and expertise include planning, organizational development, and assessment.  

     I  began my career as a church consultant with Kairos and Associates, a Christian Resource Development group headquartered in St. Paul, MN.  While with Kairos, I provided consultation on capital funding and annual stewardship appeals in a variety of congregational sizes and locations.  

     Since 2013, I have been the President of Walkalong Consulting, a consulting practice I formed to focus exclusively on evidence-based forms of planning. I was trained in Organizational Intelligence (OI) and evidence-based discernment by J. Russell Crabtree, the founding President of Holy Cow! Consulting.  My intent is to advance the application of OI n in congregations, faith-based agencies, and regional associations in mainline Protestant denominations.   My primary focus in the past four years has been pastoral succession planning.  

     I have been an active member in Lutheran and Presbyterian congregations in the five states where I have lived. Whenever possible,  I attend worship services at my client churches, giving me the opportunity to experience congregational life and culture directly.  I now live in Alexandria, Minnesota with my wife Janet.  We are happy to be near our children and grandchildren.

“Transitioning from a congregation is never easy when there has been a healthy relationship between pastor and congregation.  As I retire (after 45 years of parish ministry), Jim Pence has provided practical, positive, and purposeful direction for both the congregation and me.  I couldn't imagine a better process to move from strength to strength.”

Pastor Ron Qualley, Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Fairfax, VA (ELCA)

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“Dr. Pence has been a true blessing to our congregation to help our church through a transition period that needed the eyes of experience and wisdom.  I have served Christ the King for 35 years, and the congregation needed a carefully guided plan to deal with my leaving within the year, and have a smooth transition for the next senior pastor.  Jim’s model of a “bridge” and a “passing of the baton”, and a very thorough congregational assessment survey to get an accurate picture of our congregation…it’s emotional and spiritual health, as well as its wants and needs for a pastor to lead them into the next phase of their ministry….proved to be just what we needed.  Though we were unable to bring a new pastor on board while I was still here to form the “bridge” we wanted to build, Jim’s work was hardly in vain.  He provided essential tools and perspectives that guided even a change of plans midstream.  I can’t tell you how grateful I am for Jim’s personal investment in everyone involved in the process, from the transition team to the call committee, church council and church staff, and finally to myself.  His strong faith and experience helped us keep moving forward in faithfulness, every step of the way.  Jim is an expert ministry coach who can bring out the best in a congregation going through a complex change of leadership, and enable it to tap into the best God has to give to strengthen it for servant hood.”    

Pr. Jon J. Lindekugel, Senior Pastor Christ the King Lutheran Church, Hutchinson, MN (LCMC)

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"When I was the Moderator for our church,Jim was our Capital Campaign Consultant.  His ideas and guidance were extremely valuable to us in planning and executing the capital campaign.  Jim has a professional approach and used strong assessment and communication skills (including strong listening skills) to tailor his guidance for our congregation.  We had a very successful campaign and I am thankful to Jim for his valuable guidance and counsel!"

Michael H. Knutson, Lay Leader,  Cedar Hills United Church of Christ, Portland, Oregon

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“I have had the privilege to work with Jim Pence in two planning processes.  Our first encounter was when our congregation utilized his expertise in our Mission Portfolio Development.  Based on that positive experience, a few years later he led our Pastoral Succession Planning efforts.  In both instances I was continually impressed with Jim’s command of the subject matter, facilitation abilities and grace filled manner.  At a particularly critical juncture for our Call Committee, Jim’s keen observations, insights, and counsel enabled the committee to move forward and reach a very positive outcome.  Jim has been, and continues to be, a true blessing for our congregation.”

 Ron Tuvey, Lay Leader, The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd. Olympia, Washington

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“Jim Pence consulted with my congregation in putting together a three year strategic plan.  Jim’s knowledge and experience, along with his thoughtful and personal approach, proved invaluable to the process.  I would highly recommend Jim to other congregations who are looking for a professional partner to lead them through a time of growth and change.”

Pastor Mark Johnson, St. John Lutheran Church, Belle Plaine, MN (ELCA)

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“Dr. James Pence provides experience, wisdom, excellence, and churchly faithfulness to congregations in pastoral transition.  Unlike the dinosaur model that insists upon and inserts, for every pastoral transition, a “death-burial-time of grief” pattern before any new pastor can be called (a process which halts all continuity in a congregation’s life and ministry), Pence’s model provides a path for continued growth and vitality in congregations through transition, while at the same time paying close attention to important transitional, change, and call-process issues.  His system provides a ‘bridge’ through transition, rather than a ‘coffin’.”

Pastor Mark J. Richardson, Christ the King Lutheran Church, Hutchinson, MN (LCMC)