“We weren’t interested in a canned program. We wanted something uniquely our own. Tom worked with us to find what that was.” - A Presbyterian Governing Body Leader “Out West”
“I want to extend a very sincere thank you. The energy generated by your empowering leadership has continued unabated among our leaders.” - A Pastor of a Church in Major Transition
“This has been the best retreat/workshop I have ever been a part of. Part of my professional work is leading/developing workshops. I wish I had had this experience five years ago.” - A Church Leader in Troy, New York
“We thought we were ready to talk about merger. You helped us discover this “answer” was really a way of avoiding our responsibility for the ministry God has given us. Someday, we may talk merger but not now.” -An Interim Pastor in Ohio
“You integrated prayer, Bible study, humorous stories and examples in a very beneficial way as you prodded us toward an objective we never thought we could reach. Thank you. We are off and running.” - A Church Leader in an Ohio Cluster of Churches
“We asked you to help our mission council work better together. We didn’t accomplish that. You sure helped us discover why that is the case. We have a lot of work to do.” - A Pastor in a Multi-Cultural, Multi-Congregational Partnership in Yonkers, N.Y.
“I really needed to hear your words about starting strategic planning with our strengths instead of our weaknesses.” - A layperson Involved in Congregation Strategic Planning in Troy, Ohio
“I had no clue what was happening in our congregation. Thank you for helping me understand how the world has changed and we haven’t.” - A Youth Elder in a Program-sized Congregation
“Tom Castlen carries a tool kit filled with relevant experiences useful when trying to negotiate through the process of change. He gently shoves the willing into change processes and stands in the shadow waiting to guide and support if necessary.” - An Urban Pastor and Consultant
“Tom’s experience across many years of ministry in congregations and governing bodies makes his workshops and consulting engagements full of practical wisdom, spiritual depth and hopeful vision.” - Regional Presbytery for Congregational Transformation
