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Blog

Uncomfortable and Messy Faith

October 23, 2019 by Conference Office

(Leer en español)
Hiking in Colombia

“The hardest and most rewarding part of my job is the never-ending learning curve of faith and working with people,” says Marta Castillo, Lead Minister for Intercultural Formation for Franconia Conference. “I love that faith is a journey. We never stop learning, and there are times when our faith is stretched and formed in ways that are uncomfortable and messy. I am a relational person and I love being with, learning from, and working with all kinds of people. Yet I always feel like I am just learning how to relate and work graciously with people from different cultures and backgrounds in ways that are wise and Spirit-led,” she elaborates.

Marta serves as the Lead Minister for four churches (Centro de Alabanza, Nations Worship Center, Garden Chapel, and Mennonite Bible Fellowship) and she is also part of the core group of the Intercultural Team. 

Intercultural encounter has been a part of Marta’s life for as long as she can remember. She was born in Malaysia, and grew up in Vietnam and Indonesia as the daughter of missionary parents, returning to live in the United States when she was 16 years old. Over time, she learned to accept and adapt to the culture of the United States.  

Julio and Marta Castillo

After college and study in the area of elementary and early childhood education, Marta worked for nearly a decade as a teacher and child care center director in various locations. When she moved to Norristown, she also began working part-time at Nueva Vida Norristown New Life (NVNNL) as a church secretary. It was at the church she met and married a man from Colombia, Julio Castillo, and over the last 24 years has been learning and speaking Spanish. Her growing involvement in ministry at NVNNL also moved her gradually into her current pastoral calling. She adds, “My grandfather and father were both pastors and I am happy to be the first woman pastor in my extended family.”

“I love the natural connections with brothers and sisters from other cultures in my work. I continue to be stretched and learn from everyone,” Marta shares. She attended Nueva Vida Norristown New Life for 23 years and served as an Associate Pastor on the pastoral team for 10 of those years until 2017.    

Currently Marta also serves as the interim pastor of Wellspring Church of Skippack, a gem of a congregation that lost their pastor, Mike Meneses, suddenly at the end of 2018. She plans to stay in the position until they are able to call another pastor. She also works in Bilingual Parent Engagement for Norristown Area School District.

Marta with sons Andres & Daniel

Describing her work for the Conference, Marta says each day is different. She connects regularly with pastors by phone or in person, preaches at different churches, meets with leadership groups, plans the intercultural women’s gathering and other intercultural events, helps with pastoral search processes, works at conflict mediation, travels and joins calls to represent the Conference at events and gatherings, writes articles, uses her Spanish and limited Indonesian, collaborates with team members, and attends staff meetings and other meetings.

Marta’s life priorities include time with God, caring for her home and her husband, being a present mother to her sons, Christian, Andres, and Daniel (and granddaughter, Isabel).  In her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading, swimming and gardening.

Filed Under: Articles, Blog Tagged With: Marta Castillo

Capítulo 1

October 22, 2019 by Emily Ralph Servant

Terminando la cena Paty nos decía a Carlos y a mí que los sabores saben más en Honduras. Me decía: “de ahora en adelante voy a cocinar de éstas para Kevin” y terminaba diciendo que su casa no era tanto de sodas como sí lo era de jugos, recordando aquel día cuando le trajeron, para la celebración del cumpleaños de su hijo mayor, media docena de litros de gaseosa.

Mi reloj marcaba una hora y media -aunque sigue una hora atrasado- y el cielo empezaba a oscurecerse, haciendo de la noche verdaderamente noche en esos que fueron largos días de verano, cuando Paty se puso en pie y dijo “desde que Rosie aprendió español nos entendemos mucho mejor” acariciando al mismo tiempo su pelaje blanco de gata vieja.

SIN LUZ

Al momento de llegar a su casa me di cuenta que algo extraño pasaba porque las personas estaban en la puerta o por la calle. Comencé a vacilar entre un lugar y el otro hasta que una señora sentada en las escaleras de su puerta me ayudó a encontrar el número 946. De hecho, la casa estaba frente a mí, pero el número se había vuelto borroso con los años. 

Le escribí un mensaje a Paty y al instante abrió la puerta. Nos saludamos. Al entrar noté con claridad qué es lo que sucedía en toda la cuadra: la sala estaba oscura y sofocaba, por un corto que había sucedido pocas horas después del medio día. Carlos estaba en el fondo, sentado como si fuera un utensilio más sobre los muebles. Para él era peor, porque no sólo soportaba el calor de la tarde sin la ayuda del AC, además acababa de perder esa mañana una de sus muelas derechas, la anestesia perdía efecto y el hambre le imprimía un deseo suicida por masticar algo. 

CON FUEGO

Recosté la bici sobre un mueble, me descolgué la maleta y saqué la harina de maíz precocida. Paty trajo, proveniente de diferentes zonas de la casa, unos velones amarillos y verdes que usamos para iluminar la cocina y prender el fogón. Entonces empezó el trabajo que nos reunía: la tarea de mezclar la harina con la leche, el agua tibia, la sal y el queso. Con “su-avena y su pitillo”, para evitar grumos, como decimos en Colombia; pensamos por un instante en lo similar que era el proceso de hacer una masa al proceso de preparar el cemento para la construcción. Entonces sentí que un animal me saludaba desde el suelo con un hocico húmedo: era Duke, un perro grande de 5 años.

Sin molde empezamos a darle forma de arepas a la masa, que es la forma de un disco, y las fuimos poniendo una a una en la plancha sobre el fuego a media intensidad. El plan eran 4 pero nos salieron 6. En esos pequeños minutos, a luz de vela y sonido de fuego y olla, daba la impresión de haber calma en el sur de Filadelfia. Preparábamos la cena sin modernidad, hablando de nuestras comidas en cada paìs, Honduras y Colombia; yo le hablaba un poco de los milagros recientemente descubiertos en la comida Indonesa, mientras esperábamos con paciencia el trabajo del fuego para darle vuelta a la arepa. 

LAS CUENTAS NO FALLAN

En la casa de Paty y Carlos casi todos hablan más de una lengua. Paty lleva 25 años en los Estados Unidos mientras que Carlos lleva 21 desde que se vino del Salvador. Además Carlos sabe el lenguaje de la música, que le suma, y lo comparte cada domingo con sus hermanos de la iglesia Menonita Centro de Alabanza. Por su lado, Paty dice que habla español pero entiende muy bien el inglés y Kevin es un joven que podríamos meterlo perfectamente en la categoría de los que tienen dos lenguas madres. 

Lo más extraordinario es la cualidad casi políglota e intimidante de su gata Amanda,vieja y mañosa, que aprendió el inglés en sus años mozos con su primera familia cuando comenzó a reconocer “Come, time to eat”, pero luego tuvo que aprender el español “ven a comer” para sobrevivir en sus años de adulta en la casa de Paty; y de antemano se sabe que siempre a manejado el lenguaje felino con absoluta naturalidad.

Por ahora el inventario es el siguiente: Paty: español-inglés. Carlos: español-inglés y el lenguaje de la música. Kevin: español-inglés. Amanda: inglés, español y el lenguaje de los gatos. Y el perro Duke… hasta el momento no se le ha comprobado otro lenguaje al de ladrar hasta cuando llega la luz y suena que empieza a andar la nevera.

CASUALIDADES

El Salvador y Honduras son países de centro América mientras que Colombia es un país suramericano. Pero no solo nos une el vasto territorio de las Américas, también nos une la familiaridad de buscarle chiste hasta a los dolores de muela, el gusto por las playas y ese gusto frenético que tenemos por las tortillas y las arepas, hermanas mellizas. 

Esta noche comíamos arepas pero el día que conocí a Paty y a Carlos comíamos tortillas luego del servicio dominical de la iglesia. El pretexto era el mismo: la comida; el lugar igual: la mesa; y el objeto el mismo: encontrarnos. 

Autor:  B. Javier Márquez

 

Filed Under: El Blog de las Pequeñas Cosas, News

Welcoming New Conference Related Ministries

October 22, 2019 by Conference Office

by Sharon K. Williams, Nueva Vida Norristown New Life

What does Indonesia, India, Honduras, and Allentown have in common? See if you can figure it out!

At our upcoming Conference Assembly (November 1–2), Franconia Conference will welcome four exciting and unique organizations as Conference Related Ministries (CRMs).

Taproot Gap Year is a ministry with post high school young adults who are seeking a different way of living and exploring the world. Students can take a semester or a full year to live in Indonesia with homestay families, learn a new language, go to class, serve in internships, explore new places, and learn tools that help develop one’s faith and identity.

Taproot focuses on guiding students on their journey to understand who they want to be in this world, so what they do is fully professional, hands-on, and rooted in love and their calling. Taproot is a ministry of Philadelphia Praise Center, led by Pastor Aldo Siahaan, Lindy Backues, and staff of young adults who are passionate about supporting the witness of Christian young people in the world.

Peace Proclamation Ministries International (PPMI) is an evangelistic and church planting ministry with those living in India and in the USA. PPMI’s vision is to minister to and serve the unreached with God’s Word, which can lead into a personal encounter and relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. PPMI focuses on training pastors, pastors’ wives, and youth through annual conferences, retreats, and gospel meetings. PPMI also supports the ministry of congregations through eye clinics and borewells, and practical ministry tools such as megaphones, bicycles, and sewing machines.

PPMI is led by Paulus and Sumatha Thalathoti (Plains congregation) and a very enthusiastic board of directors.

Healthy Niños Honduras focuses on helping children and their families beat the ravishes of malnutrition and poverty. The child survival programs include a residential nutrition center, deworming, water filtration systems, medical and construction brigades, and preventive health education. Currently, Healthy Niños works in the San Francisco de Yojoa, Cortes, area of Honduras. 

Healthy Niños is one of the outgrowth ministries of the MAMA Project. Herman Sagastume serves as the executive director, with board members representing several Franconia Conference congregations.

Ripple Community Inc (RCI)  is guided by its vision of Allentown as a community where everyone has a role to play, a diverse network of social support, and a connection to the place they call home. Its programs serve over 150 Allentown residents. RCI’s Community Building Center is the only day center in Allentown that is open to the public. RCI Village is the first permanent, community-supported, affordable housing program in Allentown. RCI uses restorative practices to foster a safe, healthy, and supportive community among its participants.

RCI emerged from the work of Ripple Church, which ministers with people who are on the margins of society in Allentown to restore critical relationships, build community, and address material and relational needs. RCI was founded in 2015 to take the work of Ripple Church into the broader community. Sherri Brokopp Binder serves as executive director, along with staff and board members from Ripple Church and the Allentown community.

These four organizations are manifestations of the growth of God’s kingdom in our midst! Each ministry, in its own way, is sharing the gospel of Christ in an appointed area, as well as building relational bridges with our conference community. Join us at our Conference Assembly (worship on Friday, November 1, 7 p.m., and business sessions on Saturday, November 2, 9 a.m., Souderton Mennonite Church) to celebrate this movement of God among us!

Filed Under: Articles, Blog Tagged With: Conference Related Ministries, CRM, Healthy Ninos Honduras, PPMI, Ripple Community Inc, Taproot Gap Year

EL BLOG DE LAS PEQUEÑAS COSAS

October 21, 2019 by Emily Ralph Servant

 

No es este exactamente un blog dedicado a la música de Latinoamérica, aunque sí la ambición de reproducir un gusto similar a los sonidos que recorren estas tierras de recónditos caminos y sentidos igualmente exóticos. 

Sonidos evocados por la misma fertilidad de las almas que tienen su fugaz existencia en esta parte del continente, entre una naturaleza en contraste viva y desoladora, y nos hace percibir con asombrosa facilidad una variedad de sensaciones que originalmente provienen de las sustancias de la vida, como lo son el aire, el murmullo del mar o del río, los pasos bailadores, la nostalgia y la fascinación del corazón.

Pero sí recurro a uno de sus clásicos como lo hizo de la misma forma un estudiante prematuro y un maestro experimentado. Un clásico compuesto por los poetas y músicos argentinos César Isella y Ármando Tejada, por allá en los años del siglo pasado: “Canción de las simples cosas”, y que fue a través de la voz potente y dulce de Mercedes Sosa, también argentina, que esta canción pudo viajar desde el sur hasta las montañas de Colombia y así serme posible escucharla por vez primera.

Esta canción profetiza “Uno vuelve siempre a los viejos sitios donde amó la vida”, haciendo referencia, según entiendo, a aquellos sitios donde caminamos en algún momento mientras respiraba el alma; los mismos sitios que nuestro recuerdo llama, muchas veces sin hacerlo específicamente texto, hogar; y más adelante nos dice, como el consejo de una abuela a su nieto: “Demórate aquí a la luz mayor / de este mediodía, / donde encontrarás  / con el pan al sol la mesa tendida”. 

Entonces, se me ocurrió la idea de este blog para la Conferencia de Franconia, donde buscaré ser un cazador de estas simples cosas que conviven con nosotros y nos otorgan constantes manantiales de significados y que están presentes en la vida diaria de nuestros hermanos de la vida , que es todo ser humano, y por supuesto, están presentes también en el diario vivir de nuestros hermanos menonitas. 

Y puede que llegue más lejos, como el resultado de un impulso aleatorio de la buena suerte o un regalo de la divinidad, y logre hacer de las líneas y párrafos en este blog una metáfora … no, mejor que una metáfora, una expresión sensible de lo que contiene en significado esa práctica histórica de mantener la puerta abierta y compartir la mesa. 

 

Autor: B. Javier Márquez.

Filed Under: El Blog de las Pequeñas Cosas

Capítulo 2/Chapter 2

October 21, 2019 by Emily Ralph Servant

 

PICANTE Y COMIDA INDONESA EN EL SÓTANO DEL 1232 DE TASKER ST 

 

El pasado domingo 13 de octubre se podía ver cómo las personas que viven en el sur de Philadelphia asistían al sótano de la iglesia menonita  Indonesian Light Church llenos de un ánimo devoto y comprometido, como cualquier feligrés ¿La razón? La venta de comida Indonesa, que a impulso de sus sabores asiáticos y su competitivo picante, toma cada vez más fuerza entre los vecinos de esta zona de la ciudad.

El propósito de la fiesta-banquete indonés fue recoger fondos necesarios para esta comunidad de fé, que desde el viernes estuvo trabajando en cada casa, sobre cada fogón hogareño, para contar al final con una carta variada y rica en sabores típicos de esta tierra que es también el archipiélago más grande del mundo.

 Es desafortunado que ahora sea demasiado tarde para comprar algo, no obstante el autor de este artículo, que además es un nuevo fan de esta cocina, se da el permiso de publicar los nombres de los platos para que los lectores puedan anotarlos en su tablero de las oportunidades perdidas: Soto Betawi, Cireng, Bubur Ketan Hitam, Bala-Bala, Cendol, Pisang Coklat/Keju.

Ayudan todos y todas. Marina, una de las protagonistas, me escribe: -Me siento feliz porque con el talento que Dios me ha dado, estoy contribuyendo con el Reino de Dios. Para mí esto es muy importante porque actualmente no hay muchas cosas que yo pueda hacer por el ministerio, pero yo puedo bendecir a otros cuando cocino-. A Marina la hace feliz ver cómo cada uno, con sus diferentes talentos y su buena voluntad, puede servir como parte del cuerpo de Cristo. Marina no es médica, pero como mujer y buena cocinera, sabe bastantes secretos del alma y sabe que la comida puede: -hacernos sentir como en casa; es una cura para la nostalgia-.

Aquel día fue un encuentro familiar e intercultural. Como los grandes eventos el rumor voló generando un tornado de visitas, no sólo Indoneses sino personas de diferentes partes del globo terráqueo. Fue un concierto de buenos sabores y buenas sonrisas.

PREMIOS DEL DÍA:

BRONCE: 

La medalla de bronce es sin duda para Judah, por esta fotografía que lo descubre como un niño con madera artística. No es una foto perfecta pero si tenemos en cuenta que había muy poca luz y que las manitas de Judah no le alcanzaban para sostener la cámara y al mismo tiempo tomar la foto, entonces sin dudarlo le daremos los puntos que se merece. 

PLATA: 

La medalla de plata es para el pastor Hendy -el fantasma: esta foto fue tomada mucho tiempo después, porque aquel día Hendy Matahelemusl tuvo que entregar comida más rápido que cualquier vendedor de pizza en la ciudad y me fue imposible encontrarlo desprevenido. Sin embargo aquí les dejo esta foto para que se familiaricen con los gustos estéticos y el estilo moderno de Hendy. Made in IKEA store. 

ORO: 

La medalla de oro es sin duda alguna para la hermana Marry, por ese talento medio enigmático de estar siempre en el sitio correcto ¿cómo lo hace? ¿Será un super poder?

SPICY INDONESIAN FLAVOR IN THE BASEMENT OF 1232 TASKER ST

Last Sunday, October 13, neighbors living in south Philadelphia went to the basement of Indonesian Light Church (Mennonite church) full of a devoted and committed feeling, like any parishioners would have. The reason? The sale of Indonesian food, which, because its Asian flavors and its spicy appeal, has become more and more popular among the residents of this area of ​​the city.

The purpose of the Indonesian feast-banquet was to collect necessary funds for this faith community. Since Friday, church members were working in each house, on each stove, to have a varied menu rich in the flavors of this land, that is also the largest chain of islands in the world. Unfortunately, today it is too late to buy something, however the author of this article, who is a new fan of this cuisine, has been given permission to publish the names of the dishes so that readers can save them on their dashboard of missed opportunities: Soto Betawi, Cireng, Bubur Ketan Hitam, Bala-Bala, Cendol, Pisang Coklat/Keju.

Everyone helped. Marina, one of the cooks, wrote to me: “I feel happy because, with the talent God has given me, I am contributing to the Kingdom of God. For me this is very important because there are currently not many things I can do for the ministry, but I can bless others when I cook.” Marina is happy to see how each person, with their different talents and goodwill, can serve as part of the body of Christ. Marina is not a doctor, but as a woman and a good cook, she knows many secrets of the soul and knows that food can “make us feel at home; It is a cure for nostalgia.”

That day people came together as a family, across differences of culture, religion, and language. Like every big event, rumors flew, generating a tornado of visits–not only by Indonesians but also by people from different parts of the globe. It was an explosion of good flavors and good smiles.

PRIZES OF THE DAY:

BRONZE:

The bronze medal goes undoubtedly to Judah, for this photograph that reveals him as a child with an artistic eye. It is not a perfect photo, but if we consider that there was very little light and that Judah’s hands were not big enough to hold the camera and at the same time take the photo, then without hesitation we will give him the points he deserves.

SILVER:

The silver medal goes to Pastor Hendy – the ghost: this photo was taken a long time later, because during the day, Hendy Matahelemual had to deliver food faster than any pizza delivery guy in the city; it was impossible for me to find him off duty. Here I leave you this photo to familiarize yourself with the aesthetic tastes and modern style of Hendy (taken in Ikea). He deserves rest.

GOLD:

The gold medal is, without a doubt, for Sister Marry, because of that enigmatic talent of always being in the right place. How does she do it? Is it a superpower?

Autor: B. Javier Márquez

Traducción: Emily Ralph

Filed Under: El Blog de las Pequeñas Cosas

Sacred Conversations

October 21, 2019 by Conference Office

by Donna Merow, Methacton congregation      

Our Fall Equipping on September 19 began with a reading of Psalm 139 and a discussion about the nature of God, the foundation of the psalmist’s trust in God’s presence and providence.  The responses offered ranged from God’s inescapable scrutiny to a comparison with the pursuing mother in The Runaway Bunny.  Our speaker reminded the gathered clergy that while we are not the only reflection of God in the world, we are powerful representatives, called to reflect the divine character as fully as possible.

Our experienced presenter for this Fall Equipping was the Rev. Dr. Virginia Samuel Cetuk.  Her topic was Sacred Conversations, focused on the vital importance of confidentiality in our pastoral interactions.  A Pennsylvania native, Ginny was ordained in the United Methodist Church 45 years ago and currently serves as the Administrative Pastor at Princeton UMC.  Ginny has also served as an associate dean at Drew University and as a hospital and hospice chaplain (and with the FBI through her husband’s work and connections).  It was her years co-chairing Drew’s Sexual Harassment Committee that shaped her strong convictions about the need for confidentiality and the harm that is done when it is not kept. 

Ginny engaged us in a lively conversation about the meaning, values, expectations and limits of confidentiality, one of the pastoral issues addressed in both the United Methodist Book of Discipline and our own Shared Understanding of Ministerial Leadership.  Etymologically, trust (“fid” in Latin) is at the center of “confidential.”  Ginny used the language of betrayal to capture the internal experience of being exposed when confidantes break one’s trust and share confidences with others. 

The common understanding of confidentiality equates it with role of the parish priest—who tells no one what is shared in the confessional, often at great personal cost.  We struggled with this idea of “absolute confidentiality” and its implications for sharing with our spouses.  

Ginny offered case studies from her ministry context for discussion and invited us to do the same.  Participation was both wide and deep as we shared our stories and posed questions without easy answers.  One pastor spoke of the discomfort of keeping a confidence that was not extended to the sharer’s own family members, a decision he honored despite his disagreement.

Another pastor asked about generational shifts.  Our older members maintain a trust in their pastors that may not be true of the Boomers and beyond.  In an age of widespread therapy, struggles are often acknowledged and addressed elsewhere.  The very public life that social media affords also raised questions about our youngest members’ reality.

What are the assumptions and expectations of those who share intimacies with us?  If they don’t say, “Keep this confidential,” are we at liberty to add them to the prayer list or to announce them at church?  We were encouraged to engage with the mutual understanding that “If you are telling me, then you are telling me.”  Several pastors reported learning the hard way of the need to assume a private conversation and to ask for permission before sharing its contents wider. 

Does the disclosure come with expectations that we will do something?  One pastor cautioned that we need to be aware which of our many hats we are wearing to respond appropriately. 

Ginny affirmed that she wanted to leave us with many questions.  In this regard, her presentation was a resounding success!

Listen to the podcast on our Audio Gallery page!

Filed Under: Articles, Blog Tagged With: Donna Merow, Equipping, formational, Methacton Mennonite Church, Virginia Cetuk Samuels

Enjoy and Relax

October 21, 2019 by Conference Office

by Aldo Siahaan, Leadership Minister

At the beginning of October, I returned to Jakarta, Indonesia with my wife Viviani and my son Eden. It had been almost three years since my last visit.  It was a short visit, but I knew I would love to see the location of my parents’ new grave. Originally, both my parents were buried in the Pondok Rangon Cemetery, but two years ago, their graves were moved to a new place called the San Diego Hill Cemetery. The distance to the San Diego Hill Cemetery was only 40 miles.

Aldo and family, visiting his parents’ gravesite

On the appointed day, Vivi, Eden, and I were joined by two of my nieces and three of my siblings; my sister Lita drove us. Before leaving, Lita had warned us: “Get ready—this will be a long journey. San Diego Hill Cemetery is in a suburb of Jakarta and we may get caught in traffic jams.”

On the way there, the journey to San Diego Hill Cemetery took only 90 minutes! Those who knew the traffic jams in Jakarta said, with joy, “Wow, our trip was very fast this morning!” After visiting my parents’ new grave, we returned to the car to go home.      

Coming out of the cemetery complex, we were immediately confronted with traffic.  When we checked the GPS, it said it would take 2.5 hours to get home. In the end, we had to travel 4 hours for the 40-mile distance.

What is interesting for me is how my sister Lita, the driver, stayed calm. No matter how many times other family members or I complained about the length of the trip or the traffic jams that didn’t move, Lita always said, “Just enjoy it” or “All passengers just relax!” How many times did Lita share stories or engage us in conversation so that we wouldn’t focus on the traffic? She made jokes or asked us to sing, reminding us to “just enjoy.”  There was nothing we could do to get out of the 4-hour traffic jam—it was a tough test for someone as impatient as me.

In today’s world, people want everything to be instant. The word patience is easy to speak but hard to live. Many people don’t want to be matured by God. What would have happened if Noah had been impatient or disobedient to what God had told him to do? What would have happened if Joseph had been impatient waiting for God’s promises through his dreams? Or Abraham, David, and others?

Maybe these heroes in the Bible said to themselves, “Just enjoy, just relax, engage in the process.” Yes, God wants me to learn to be patient, enjoy this life journey, and not run away from the process. I will say to myself, “Aldo, just enjoy the problem you have, relax, and engage in the process.”

“[It is] better to be patient than a warrior, and better to have self-control than to capture a city.” (Proverbs 16:32, CEB)

Filed Under: Articles, Blog Tagged With: Aldo Siahaan, formational, intercultural

Appreciate Your Pastor

October 17, 2019 by Conference Office

(reprinted with permission from Mennonite World Review)

by Stephen Kriss, Executive Minister

October is Pastor Appreciation Month. While one month is not enough to show appreciation to pastors, it’s an opportunity to focus on the work, ministry and difficulty of being a pastor.

I was called to a pastor role in my 20s. I threw my young energy into the life of the congregation. I wasn’t paid for full-time work. But that didn’t keep needs from arising at all hours of the day and night.

I worked other jobs. I went to grad school. What our young team lacked in experience we made up for in passion, care and long hours. Truth be told, I am not sure I have ever worked so hard and so long as those six years at Carpenter Park Mennonite Church in Davidsville, Pa. Now, in my conference-level role, there are rarely emergency calls at midnight or odd times.

Pastoring congregations in Anabaptist settings is not for the faint-hearted. Because of our understanding of the shared priesthood of all believers, we’re quick to share opinions and responses. To pastor and preach is to put your thoughts and actions to the test for public commentary on a weekly basis. Communities share feedback about the cars we drive, the clothes we wear, our haircuts and weight gain or loss.

But there are privileges in pastoral work. The schedule is often flexible. We get glimpses into people’s hopes and dreams, intimate moments of life’s critical passings. We carry the goodness and the best of community.

There are pitfalls. Demanding schedules disrupt family life and rhythm. Salaries are often unsustainable without second jobs. The cultural conflict that rips through our congregations often puts pastors on defense. It can be lonely and exhausting.

At the same tine, recent research indicates the pastoral role’s significance is on decline. There’s an erosion of trust due to abuses of the role and changes in our sociopolitical reality. The work of making those abuses public is essential for clergy to have any respect, but it can further erode trust. The humanity and fallibility of clergy can become all too real.

With all of that on the table, how might we appreciate pastors? Each pastor is his or her own person. But as I listen to pastors who feel close to burnout, sustainable salaries and expectations help. Acts of appreciation that go above and beyond expectation underscore value. Cutting back on criticism and heightening words of honest encouragement matter.

Let’s allow pastors to live into their role, to speak the words they feel the Spirit has given them, even when it makes us uncomfortable. Treat pastors as people with valid training and experience who can’t be debunked by a Google search or something we read on Facebook.

Let’s share honestly with pastors in our life struggles and experiences. This has been some of the most holy work for me. It requires pastors to settle ourselves enough to listen to the wildness of the soul — and depends on church members to be brave enough to bring forth more than “Good sermon, pastor.”

Whether or not your congregation marks this month, I hope we can extend appreciation for pastors. When we can’t figure out the right words or actions, there’s chocolate, coffee, plants, beef jerky, simple expressions to acknowledge the hard work.

Taking care of pastors extends the Good News, because leadership longevity contributes to the growth of faith communities.

Stephen Kriss is a teacher, writer, pastor and follower of Jesus living in Philadelphia.

Filed Under: Articles, Blog Tagged With: formational, Mennonite Weekly Review, Steve Kriss

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