How can Amish forgive?

32 Pages·2006·4.27 MB·English

www.TheMennonite.org October 17, 2006
Page 8
14 An average Joe
16 It’s a great ride
18 Mennonite Macedonias
32 Jesus was no zealot
GRACE AND TRUTH
The dying white horse
I
n July I went to Nicaragua on a two-week dele- policies whose aim seems to be the subjugation of
gation with Witness for Peace. The delegation’s humanity for the sake of profit?
purpose was to learn about the effects of U.S. One need not go to Nicaragua to see the effects
economic policies on the people of Nicaragua. We of these policies. Consider the state of post-hurri-
spent time with a variety of folks, from farmers to cane New Orleans or the conditions of your local
doctors to government officials, hearing stories of public school system or the lack of affordable
hardship caused in large measure by our govern- health care for your neighbors and you will see
ment’s policies. this policy of profits over people.
In Managua we met with Santos Amador, a Since coming home I have pondered the mean-
Mennonite pastor and an advocate for consumers ing of that dying white horse and the words of my
of privatized electricity. Since privatization, con- brother Santos. Is the empire on its last leg? Is
sumers report increased cost for decreased or U.S. power already fading? If so, what does that
even nonexistent service. Santos and others help mean for me as a citizen of the dying empire?
consumers seek justice from the electric company. Perhaps it is time we Christians reconsidered
Santos spoke at length and with great passion our allegiance to our nation and its policies.
Ron W. Adams to our group. He offered a long, winding mix of Perhaps it is time to return to the symbols of the
is pastor at East history, politics and theology. He called us to deep- early church to recall our true identity.
Chestnut Street
en our awareness of how our government and our The early church exchanged the white stallion
Mennonite
lifestyles impact his fellow Nicaraguans. It was an for the donkey Jesus rode into Jerusalem, a sym-
Church in
Lancaster, Pa. intense, emotional and challenging meeting. bol of humility and peaceful intent. Early Chris-
In the midst of this astounding display of knowl- tians claimed citizenship in the reign of God and
edge and the ability to synthesize varied streams understood themselves to be strangers in a
of information, Santos told us he had a word of strange land whose allegiance was first and always
prophecy for us North Americans. The U.S. to the Prince of Peace. Early Christians confessed
empire, he told us, is dying. It had, at most, anoth- that Jesus was Lord, not Caesar.
er 20 years. His words made me tremble. If my brother Santos is right, a dramatic change
Some days earlier, while leaving the rural com- is coming. A change that will impact everyone. His
munity of Ramon Garcia, I had seen a white horse. words ought to stir us to rethink our priorities, our
It staggered down the road, weaving back and relationship to the nation and our connection to
forth, barely missing our bus. Riderless, it looked sisters and brothers around the world whose lives
to be on its last leg. are made more difficult because of the policies of
It occurred to me that the white horse was a our government. And even if Santos is wrong, isn’t
sign. From ancient times the white horse has been it long past time for us to be that contrast commu-
a symbol of empire. The conquering king came nity we read about in our Scriptures?
riding in on a white stallion and vanquished his I pray that we Mennonites, who understand bet-
enemies with military power. What better symbol ter than some what it means to be in but not of the
is there for the American Empire, which has world, take the lead in becoming such a communi-
added economic policies to its arsenal of weapons, ty—for the sake of the gospel. TM
TheMennonite
Vol. 9, No. 20, October 17, 2006 The Mennoniteis the official publication of Mennonite Church USA. Our
mission is to help readers glorify God, grow in faith and become agents of
Editor: Everett J. Thomas Offices: healing and hope in the world. The Mennonite(ISSN 1522-7766) is normal-
[email protected] 1700 S. Main St. ly published on the first and third Tuesdays of each month by the board
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2 TheMennonite October 17,2006
CONTENTS
7
8 Making the heart sing
14
Sabbaticals for pastors—Keith Harder
10 A kind of crazy thought
How one congregation helped its pastor ride 4,190 miles and
raise $50,000—TimSchrag
12 A longtime dream
This pastor took time to learn Spanish.—Heidi Regier Kreider
12 14 An average Joe—and proud of it
Freedom from the need to compare oneself to others and hide
one’s weaknesses—Marlin Birkey
16 It’s a great ride
Why Mennonite pastors survive—Robert Hartzler
19 MPN sells last four Provident Bookstores
Proceeds will pay off $3.1 million debt, allow let network to
focus on publishing.—Everett J. Thomas
20 Bartel inaugurated into ‘house of God’
21 Harder becomes ninth Bluffton president
17 22 Holy Spirit conference in Phillipines
DEPARTMENTS
2 Grace and truth
The dying white horse—Ron W. Adams
4 Readers say
6 News digest
18 Leadership
Mennonite Macedonias—Diane Zaerr Brenneman
24 For the record
30 Mediaculture
Love and suspicion in a time of war—Gordon Houser
32 Editorial
Jesus was no zealot—Everett J. Thomas
Cover: Courtesy photo of Tim and Sue Schrag
October 17,2006 TheMennonite 3
READERS SAY
Is the church asleep? Let the dead bury the dead
I was thankful for Elaine Bryant’s article “Blessed Several of your articles tend to link us with our
Are the Dead Who Die in the Lord”(Grace and government. I have never voted in a political elec-
Truth, Sept. 19). This article reminded me of some tion or even registered to vote. It is my sincere
lessons I learned and continue to learn through belief that there are two different realms in which
the unexpected death of my father when he was people abide. There are those who are in this
This publication wel- 48. Death has had a way of putting life into per- world but not of this world and those who are of
comes your letters,
spective. I have realized that there is both a physi- this world as well as being in this world. Jesus
either about our con-
tent or about issues cal and spiritual death that we face. As we learn to said, “Let the dead bury the dead.” He assumed
facing the Mennonite
die to ourselves, time and again, we allow our- there were plenty of people of this world to take
Church USA. Please
keep your letters selves to be transformed more into the likeness of care of the business of this world. This includes
brief—one or two
Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit. running the various governments with all their
paragraphs—and
about one subject One result of our spiritual death is that problems and the routine business necessary to
only. We reserve the
Christianity, as a belief, becomes more than just a keep up their infrastructures.
right to edit for
length and clarity. “right way to think.” Christianity becomes a behav- Christians have a higher calling, a more impor-
Publication is also
ior, or “the right way to live.” We move from sim- tant mission. We are to go into all the world and
subject to space limi-
tations. Send to ply being in the presence of God to allowing the make disciples. Yes, we are also to pray for our
Letters@TheMenno-
Spirit of God to transform us in those times of leaders and support them. Even Jesus said, “If a
nite.org or mail to
Readers Say, The being into a disciple who also does. soldier asks you to carry his baggage for a mile,
Mennonite, 1700 S.
Bryant challenges us to find rest. I agree; we carry it two miles.”
Main St., Goshen, IN
46526-4794. Please need to rest. However, sometimes in the church I Even though Jesus gave them his support,
include your name
wonder if we are already asleep. As a church we those same leaders were responsible for Jesus’
and address. We will
not print letters sent are called to be clearly visible in the world by crucifixion. Yes, he got a rotten deal and an unfair
anonymously,
being a people who are different from the world: trial. The question remains for each of us:Are we
though we may with-
hold names at our faithful to our promises, a people who love our able to answer that higher calling and be vulnera-
discretion.—Editors
enemies, tell the truth, honor the poor and suffer ble like him? Or do we want to stay in the back-
for righteousness. Are we actively doing these ground and let the government do our work for
things? us? The harvest awaits, so let’s get to work.
Maybe as a church we need to encounter the —Ronald Seiler, Spencerville, Ind.
reality of death more often so that we can put our
life, as the body of Christ, into perspective. Response to Oct. 3 articles
—Lana Miller, Harrisonburg, Va. Thank you for the honest journalism you share
with us readers. Having just looked through the
IN THIS ISSUE Oct. 3 issue, Valerie Weaver-Zercher’s article on
anger and parenting was spot on for all of us who
Leadership development is one of four long-term goals for have ever taken on that high calling (“One Mean
Mennonite Church USA—especially pastoral leadership. Mennonite Mama”). Parenting needs to be on the
This issue addresses that goal by focusing on sabbaticals list of spiritual disciplines.
for pastors as well as a troubling trend in pastoral placements. Arthur Paul Boers bares his soul struggle about
Two pastors describe what they did with their sabbaticals: Tim becoming Mennonite in “Dwelling Among Those
Schrag (page 10) took a cross-country bike ride. In doing so, Who Hate Peace.” In this time of compromise,
he raised almost $50,000 for local helping and peacemaking complacency and complicity among “peace
agencies—and “thrust the congregation squarely into the com- churches,” this article stirred something deep
munity spotlight as a peace church.” Heidi Regier Kreider within me. If there is anything redeeming about
(page 12) used her sabbatical to learn Spanish through immer- those who march off to war at the command of
sion in a church plant in San Antonio, Texas. By the end of her President Bush—who purports to speak for God—
sabbatical she was able to preach a sermon in Spanish—and it is that they are ready to die for something they
translate the pastor’s Spanish sermon into English in her own are committed to and a noble, if tragically wrong,
congregation. Diane Zaerr Brenneman, denominational minis- motive to make our world a better place.
ter for congregational and ministerial leadership, addresses a These are times that try our very souls—to
growing problem: empty pulpits in regions where the paraphrase an earlier call to arms. These are times
Mennonite population is sparse while there are waiting lists for that call for renewed commitment to the Lamb’s
pastorates in high-density Mennonite areas (page 18). Finally, War. Again, thanks for what you are doing to clari-
retired pastor Robert Hartzler (page 16) offers counsel about fy the issues and stimulate deeper thinking and,
how pastors can survive and have “a great ride.”—Editor perhaps, a deeper commitment to the peaceable
kingdom.—Joe Haines, Amherst, N.Y.
4 TheMennonite October 17,2006
READERS SAY
How can Amish forgive? the home of the bereaved to share quiet words
The blood was barely dry on the floor of the and simply the gift of presence. After the burial,
West Nickel Mines (Pa.) School when Amish adult women who have lost a close family mem-
parents sent words of forgiveness to the family ber will wear black dresses in public for as long
of the killer who had executed their children at as a year to signal their mourning and welcome ONLINE POLL
the school on Oct. 2. visits of support. RESULTS
Forgiveness? So quickly, and for such a Amish faith and culture provide profound
heinous crime? Out of the hundreds of media resources for processing the sting of death. Regarding pas-
queries I received during the following week, Make no mistake: Death is painful. Many tears toral sabbaticals,
our congregation:
the forgiveness question rose to the top. Why are shed. The pain is sharp, searing the hearts
(31 votes)
and how could they do such a thing so quickly? of Amish mothers and fathers as it would those
Was it a genuine gesture or just an Amish gim- of any other parents. But why forgiveness?
Has provided
mick? The world was outraged by the senseless Surely some anger—at least some grudges—are
them (68%)
assault on 10 Amish girls. Why would a killer justifiable in the face of such a slaughter.
Has not but
turn his gun on the most innocent of the inno- But a frequent phrase in Amish life is “forgive
plans to (10%)
cent? Questions first focused on the killer’s and forget.” That’s the recipe for responding to
Has not and does
motivations: Why did he unleash his anger on Amish members who transgress Amish rules if
not plan to (10%)
the Amish? Then questions shifted to the they confess their failures. Amish forgiveness
Not sure (13%)
Amish: How would they cope with such an also reaches to outsiders, even to killers of their
unprecedented tragedy? children. As pragmatic as they are about other Check out the new
In many ways, the Amish are better equipped things, the Amish do not ask if forgiveness poll question at
to process grief than are many other Americans. works; they simply seek to practice it as the www.
TheMennonite.org
First, their faith sees even tragic events under Jesus way of responding to adversaries, even
the canopy of divine providence, having a higher enemies. Rest assured, grudges are not always
purpose or meaning hidden from human sight at easily tossed aside in Amish life. Sometimes for-
first glance. The Amish don’t argue with God. giveness is harder to dispense to fellow church
They have an enormous capacity to absorb members, whom Amish people know too well,
adversity—a willingness to yield to divine provi- than to strangers.
dence in the face of hostility. Such religious Forgiveness is woven into the fabric of Amish
resolve enables them to move forward without faith.That is why words of forgiveness were sent
the endless paralysis of analysis that asks why, to the killer’s family before the blood had dried
letting the analysis rest in the hands of God. on the schoolhouse floor. It was just the natural
Second, their historic habits of mutual aid— thing to do, the Amish way of doing things.
such as barn-raising—arise from their under- Such courage to forgive jolted the watching
standing that Christian teaching compels them world as much as the killing itself. The trans-
to care for one another in time of disaster. This forming power of forgiveness may be the one
is why they reject commercial insurance and redeeming thing that flows from the blood shed
government-funded Social Security, believing at the Nickel Mines school.—Donald B.
that the Bible teaches them to care for one Kraybill,Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist
another. Hundreds of friends and neighbors visit Studies, Elizabethtown (Pa.) College
Pontius’Puddle Joel Kauffmann
October 17,2006 TheMennonite 5
NEWS DIGEST
IN BRIEF
Preheim named Missionary Harriet Rutschman dies at 82 Committee volunteers had been present.
interim director They next served from 1977 to 1982 in Costa
NEWTON, Kan.—Teaching music was a theme
for Historical Rica at the Latin America Biblical Seminary, a lead-
throughout Harriet Rutschman’s ministry in four
Committee ing theological training center with students from
Latin American countries, spanning four decades.
Rich Preheim, many countries. They returned to Colombia in
Known for her focus on relationships with people,
Elkhart, Ind., has 1983 and spent two years relating to Mennonite
been named interim she worked alongside her
churches and a Presbyterian seminary where sev-
director of the husband, Laverne, in church
eral Mennonite students were enrolled. Then they
Historical Commit- planting, pastoral ministry
tee, effective Oct. 11. served in Costa Rica from 1986 to 1988.
and education.
He will serve in a She is survived by her husband, Laverne; sons
A resident of North
half-time role for the David, Robert, Tom, Richard and daughter Ruth
next eight-10 Newton, Kan., Rutschman
Holliday; 17 grandchildren and five great-grand-
months and work died Sept. 7 at age 82.
children.—Mennonite Mission Network
with staff in both Rutschman and her twin
North Newton, Kan.,
sister, Suzanne, were born in Amish School Recovery Fund receives gifts
and Goshen, Ind.
Columbus, Ohio, on Aug. 9,
Preheim is a former Harriet Rutschman LANCASTER, Pa.—In the wake of the Oct. 2
staff person for both 1924, to Carl and Luella
shootings at the Amish school in Nickel Mines,
Mennonite Weekly Dupre Fischbach. She grew
Pa., Mennonite Financial Federal Credit Union has
Reviewand The up in the Methodist church, where she developed
Mennonite. He is a received telephone calls and emails from credit
her skills as a pianist. While attending Wheaton
1989 graduate of unions throughout the United States and Canada
(Ill.) College, she met Laverne Rutschman, from
Bethel College, expressing concern and asking how they can help.
North Newton, in Whitewater, Kan. They were married shortly after
Mennonite Financial president, Larry Miller, is
history and a 1992 graduation in 1942 and served one year at Comins
directing those wishing to make contributions to
graduate of Indiana (Mich.) Mennonite Church.
University with a the Amish School Recovery Fund set up by
Harriet and Laverne responded to an opportuni-
master’s degree in Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and
ty to minister in Colombia in 1947 with the
journalism. He is cur- Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS). As of Oct. 10,
rently writing a book Commission on Overseas Mission of the former
more than $140,000 had been contributed.
on the history of General Conference Mennonite Church. This first
Mennonite Financial donated $5,000 to the
Indiana-Michigan international assignment was in a school and
Mennonite Confer- Amish School Recovery Fund from its “rebate for
home for children whose parents suffered from
ence. Rich will work missions” program, through which the credit
leprosy.
primarily from the union tithes 10 percent of its interchange income
Mennonite Church In 1955 they helped begin a Mennonite theolog-
from its Visa credit cards. The Pennsylvania Credit
USA Historical ical seminary in Montevideo, Uruguay. Later they
Union Foundation has matched this grant of
Committee office in taught at Freeman (S.D.) Junior College and
Goshen.—Mennonite $5,000, and the Pennsylvania Credit Union
Academy, they went to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, in 1974
Church USA Association has authorized an additional $2,000 to
to follow up in villages where Mennonite Central
be sent to MCC.
Zambia BIC
MDS is acting as a conduit for financial dona-
Church turns 100
tions to the Amish community. Monies collected
The Zambia Brethren
will be distributed by an Amish accountability
in Christ Church and
group. Donations can be made at mds.mennon-
Brethren in Christ
World Missions held ite.net using a credit card or checks may go to
a centennial celebra- MDS with the words “Amish School Recovery
tion Aug. 16-20 at Fund” in the memo line.—Mennonite Financial
Macha Mission. More
Credit Union and Mennonite Disaster Service
than 2,000 people
from 150 congrega- And the award goes to …
tions across Zambia,
along with guests A plethora of awards has gone to various
from Malawi, o Mennonite organizations and individuals in the
Zimbabwe, the hot
p past month.
NNoetrhthe rAlamnedrsi caan,d urtesy The Swedish Fellowship of Reconciliation
o
including church C (SWEFOR) has awarded the SWEFOR Prize for
leaders and former Footprints on the cross Nonviolence 2006 to Justapaz for its work in
missionaries, trav- On the final day of Commitment Week, 188 Lancaster Colombia. Justapaz is the acronym for the
eled to Macha for (Pa.) Mennonite High School students responded to the Christian Center for Justice, Peace and Nonviolent
the celebration. question Where am I being sent? by attaching “foot-
Action, a ministry of the Mennonite Church in
—Mennonite World prints”to a wooden cross.—Fern Clemmer
Conference Colombia for the past 16 years. Jenny Neme, direc-
6 TheMennonite October 17,2006
NEWS DIGEST
IN BRIEF
Gunden Champion of Character Award went to Peace activists
Sally Hunsberger ’86 of Washington, and the Dr. acquitted in Ireland
Roman Gingerich Champion of Character Award Five peace activists
went to Don Jantzi ’72 of Goshen.—Mennonite dubbed the “Pitstop
Ploughshares,”who
World Conference, MEDA, Eastern Mennonite
belong to the Catholic
University, Goshen College
Worker movement,
went on trial in
Congolese representative calls for support
Ireland on charges of
AKRON, Pa.—The people of the Democratic damaging a U.S. mili-
tary transport plane
Republic of Congo need the support of the interna-
during the run-up to
tional community during their current struggle to
the invasion of Iraq in
form a democratic government, according to 2003. Two earlier tri-
M
atth Epampia Mbo Wato, a Mennonite Central als collapsed, but in a
ew Committee (MCC) representative in the country. 12-day trial in July,
Lester Congo is preparing for a runoff presidential tghueil tfiyv, ea rpgleuaindge dth neoyt
Better living through less smoke election in late October after more than 40 years of inflicted the damage
rule by unelected leaders. Wato, who is Congolese, to prevent the deaths
Leovijilda de Jesus García’s Mennonite Central Committee
spoke about this political situation during a month- of Iraqis, men and
stove releases far less smoke than her previous stove and uses
less firewood. The stove, which has a pipe that sucks smoke up long visit to churches, advocacy groups and con- women serving the
U.S. military and Irish
and out of the house, is part of MCC’s efforts to improve fami- gressional offices in the United States.
civilians in danger of
lies’lives and health in this rural village in the Mexican state of “What we want is that the international commu-
retaliatory attacks by
Guerrero.—MCC
nity be fair to the two candidates and accept the terrorists. A Dublin
candidate people choose and work with him,” jury of seven men and
Wato says. five women agreed
tor of Justapaz, traveled to Sweden to receive the
and acquitted all five.
The Congolese people have suffered greatly
award in Stockholm on Sept. 23. —The United Church
under decades of dictatorship and two recent wars,
Mennonite Economic Development Associates Observer
and Wato suggests that the United States bear
has made the short list for the $1 million Alcan
some responsibility for this because of its longtime Poor women have
Prize for Sustainability. MEDA, based in Waterloo,
support for Mobutu Sese Seko, the late Congolese more unwanted
Ontario, was selected one of 10 finalists out of a
dictator.—MCC pregnancies
field of 200 applicants from 55 countries. The
According to research
prize, one of the most prestigious in the develop- Tuesdays with Sunnyside Mennonite Church
by the Guttmacher
ment community, is sponsored by Alcan Inc, a
Institute (www.
LANCASTER, Pa.—Every Tuesday night, rain or
Montreal-based global aluminum and packaging guttmacher.org),
shine, an extended-cab pickup pulling a trailer
products company. Alcan created the prize in 2004 nearly a half million
to recognize outstanding contributions in econom- stops at Sunnyside Mennonite Church. Volunteers unwanted pregnan-
fire up a grill, and soon children and adults from cies, including
ic, environmental and social sustainability by not-
the neighborhood gather under the carport and in 200,000 that would
for-profit, nongovernmental and civil society
end in abortion, could
the basement for a feast.
organizations. be prevented each
Tuesdays at the House (T.A.T.H.) has been
Howard Zehr, a professor of restorative justice year if Medicaid cov-
at Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, going on for over a year. Begun by Darryl and erage were expanded
Janice Weaver, it is part of the missional outreach to include contracep-
Va., is the 2006 recipient of the annual Community
of Sunnyside. Often 30-40 children and adults gath- tion for low-income
of Christ International Peace Award, one of the
women. Previous
er on Tuesdays. They do crafts and play table
world’s top awards for work in the peace field. The research by the insti-
games.—Brian Miller
award comes with $30,000, which will go to EMU’s tute showed that the
Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. In addition, —compiled by Gordon Houser unintended pregnan-
cy rate for poor
The Journal of Law and Religiongave Zehr its
women went up 29
Lifetime Achievement Award at a ceremony on
percent between
Oct. 5 at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn. Fall enrollment numbers at Mennonite schools 1994 and 2001, while
The Goshen (Ind.) College Alumni Board has 2005 2006 it decreased 20 per-
given the 2006 Culture for Service Award to BethelCollege 514 539 cent among more
Goshen College alumni Ed Metzler ’52 and Ethel Bluffton University 1,211 1,155 affluent women.
Yake Metzler ’46 and Glen E. Miller ’57, all of Eastern Mennonite University 902 916 —The Christian
Century
Goshen College 922 951
Goshen. On Oct. 6, Lisa Koop ’99, a lawyer at the
Hesston College 477 462
National Immigrant Justice Center in Chicago,
Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary 185 192
received the second annual 2006 Decade of Eastern Mennonite Seminary 141 114
Servant Leadership Award. The 2006 Dr. Ruth
October 17,2006 TheMennonite 7
Sabbaticals for pastors
Making the
by Keith Harder
H
eidi Regier Kreider and Tim Schrag (see pages 10-13) represent a
growing number of pastors and the congregations they serve who
are benefiting from sabbaticals. Sabbaticals have had a long tradi-
tion in academia, but increasingly congregations are also seeing the value
of granting sabbaticals to their pastors. Over 40 percent of the pastors
who responded to the 2005 Mennonite Church USA Pastor Compensation
Survey indicated that they have had or are expecting to receive a sabbati-
cal. It appears that the recommendation in the Mennonite Church USA
Pastor Salary Guidelines that pastors receive a three-month sabbatical is
ti
being followed increasingly.
D
8 TheMennonite October 17,2006
Sabbaticals require planning and preparation—for the pastor
and the congregation.
As Heidi and Tim’s stories indicate, sabbaticals used in pastoral ministry provides a refreshing
require planning and preparation—for the pastor and rewarding sabbatical experience. Sabbaticals
and the congregation. The congregation must plan sometimes combine these various elements.
for how pastoral tasks will be covered during the The Lilly Endowment has generously funded
sabbatical. In some congregations this may involve the National Clergy Renewal Program. It invites
engaging an interim replacement, perhaps at less proposals in response to the question What will
than full time. It may also involve mobilizing make your heart sing? The program’s purpose is
resources within the congregation for worship to “strengthen Christian congregations by provid-
planning, preaching and administration, with other ing opportunities for pastors to step away briefly
pastoral resources on standby for pastoral emer- from the persistent obligations of daily parish life
gencies. In some congregations this has provided and engage in a period of renewal and reflection.
new opportunities for people to test gifts for min- Renewal periods are not vacations but times for
istry. Some congregations have a line item in their intentional exploration, for regaining the enthusi-
budget every year for sabbatical expenses to help asm and creativity for ministry, for discovering
pay for these expenses during the sabbatical year. what will make the pastor’s heart sing.”
Sabbaticals are especially useful in keeping the Renewal is what characterizes the best sabbati-
pastor-congregation relationship fresh and vital cals—renewal of one’s call to ministry, renewal in
over a long tenure.Intentionally disrupting estab- one’s relationship with God, renewal of the imagi-
lished routines and expectations can be refreshing nation of what God is doing in the world through
and revitalizing for pastors and congregations. The the church and renewal of strength and vitality for
most fruitful sabbaticals are those seen as mutually ministry.
Intentionally disrupting established routines and expectations
can be refreshing and revitalizing for pastors and congrega-
tions. The most fruitful sabbaticals are those seen as mutually
beneficial—to the pastor and the congregation.
heart sing
beneficial—to the pastor and the congregation. Tim and Heidi and hundreds of other pastors
There is great variety in what pastors actually and the congregations they serve can testify to the
do during sabbaticals. For some, the time is renewing affect of a deliberately planned time
focused on formal education, perhaps working on away—time dedicated to renewal. May other pas-
or completing a seminary degree or another tors and congregations who could benefit from a
course of study. It may include formal classes, sabbatical also have that opportunity.
assignments and the development of specific min-
istry skills. For others it is a time for informal Keith Harder is director of Congregational and
learning that may involve seminars, reading, visit- Ministerial Leadership for Mennonite Church USA.
ing other congregations, developing proficiency in
a new language or exposure to another culture. Sabbatical resources
Yet another focus may be an intentional focus on
m being quiet, prayer, meditation, extended Pastor Sabbatical Program at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary
o
e.c retreats—a period of rest and being fallow. Some (Pastoral Sabbatical, Church Leadership Center at www.ambs.edu)
m
msti have found that a service assignment that involves The Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program for Indiana Congregations at
Drea learning new skills or using skills not normally www.lillyendowment/religion.html.
October 17,2006 TheMennonite 9
A kind of
How one congregation helped its pastor
ride 4,190 miles and raise $50,000
by Tim Schrag
P
astoral sabbaticals ideally generate payoff for both pastor and
congregation. Personal rest and renewal activities help energize
the pastor. Congregations benefit from sabbaticals, which fur-
ther congregational goals. My sabbatical (May-August 2005)
from Mennonite Church of Normal (Ill.) paid off in both ways.
At first glance, my core sabbatical activity may seem a crazy idea with
benefit to no one. With wife Sue and cousin Wendell Miller (from
Bluffton, Ohio), I spent 11 weeks bicycling 4,190 miles across the coun-
try. However, this Virginia-to-Oregon adventure had a name and a focus.
We called our odyssey Pedaling for Peace. We raised almost $50,000 for
a variety of local helping and peacemaking agencies, as well as Chicago
Mennonite Learning Center in Chicago and Associated Mennonite
Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Ind. For us it fulfilled a major dream and
became personal renewal at its best. It also thrust the congregation
squarely into the community spotlight as a peace church.
Looking back, the following factors seemed integral to the success of
the sabbatical:
There was a sense 1. The sabbatical planning was rigorous and intentional. Twice we
applied for sabbatical funding from the Lilly Foundation, and twice we
that “this is
were turned down. But the application process goaded us into thorough,
our project,
purposeful planning. We were challenged to articulate how sabbatical
not just activities matched congregational goals. What evidence is there of con-
gregational support? How will the pastor’s family be involved? How does
Tim’s sabbatical
the sabbatical fit the persona of the pastor and the congregation and the
in which he
applicant’s family? Does the sabbatical include elements of physical,
leaves us emotional and spiritual renewal? Answering these questions caused us
to think through the sabbatical from every angle. The bottom line was,
to do his thing.”
How will this make you a better person and a better pastor for this par-
ticular congregation at this particular point in time? Great questions for
any congregation to ask prior to a sabbatical. This disciplined thinking
produced a sabbatical “owned” by the Mennonite Church of Normal.
There was a sense that “this is our project, not just Tim’s sabbatical in
which he leaves us to do his thing.”
10 TheMennonite October 17,2006