VOLUME 17, Issue 10

MAKING MINISTRY HAPPEN: FOLLOW YOUR HEART

Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) While he spoke those words to individuals in a gathered crowd, I believe they also apply to congregations and synods and denominations. We can look at our check books or our financial reports to see where we direct our treasure; that spiritual exercise shows us where our heart is.

Following our heart, The South-Central Synod of Wisconsin has established two endowment funds:

The synod endowment FUND FOR OUTREACH provides support for new or innovative mission outreach efforts by congregations or coalitions of congregations; currently this fund has $268,522.

The synod endowment FUND FOR LEADERS IN MISSION will provide support to seminarians when it builds to a minimum of $25,000; currently this fund has $17,500.00.

If your heart beats with passion for mission outreach or for supporting future pastors in their preparation to serve the church, I invite you to consider a gift to either of the synod’s endowment funds. You may choose to make an annual gift. You may choose to include one or both in your will or as a life insurance beneficiary. You may choose to share a gift of appreciated securities or real estate or establish an annuity or trust.

If you wish to discuss these or other options, you can contact Bishop George Carlson or Rev. Larry Westfield, gift counselor with Lutheran Planned Giving of Wisconsin who works with the ELCA Foundation. You can reach both at the Synod Office.

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DECEMBER 2005/JANUARY 2006

LOVING YOUR PASTOR

By Michael Rehak
Associate with the Bishop
for Congregational Health
michaelr@scsw-elca.org

Salem Lutheran was a larger congregation: 1,500 members, 200-student Christian Day School, senior pastor and an associate pastor, youth worker, as well as a visitation pastor. I was called as the associate in 1975. Mypredecessor was a very gregarious, energetic individual. In Lutheran circles the name “Rollie” is well known. He became a youth guru who, over 30 years later, still ends his presentations by walking across the stage on his hands.

From my first day I lived in his shadow and even his shadow was walking on its hands. One Sunday, about four years into this call, I walked into the sacristy to vest. Fred, the visitation pastor, who at the time had been ordained nearly 60 years, was vested, sitting in the chair. After greeting him I turned to the closet to retrieve my alb. Fred’s gruff voice broke the silence. “Rehak, Salem really loves its pastors!” he asserted.

As I removed my vestments from the hanger, my thoughts were contrary toward Fred. “What do you know? To whom are these people going to compare you, Moses? You would still come out on top? I am not accepted or loved.” I was frustrated at being compared to my predecessor. I had an empty realization that for many members, their memory of Rollie was more real than my presence.

My thoughts seemed to go on forever. In reality it was only a moment of time, a dramatic pause, from the end of that comment, “Salem really loves its pastors…” to Fred’s concluding observation, “after they’ve left.”

“After they’ve left?” How incredibly sad. How sadly true. Why is love and acceptance withheld in so many of our congregations? Why do we withhold love? I suggest that it may be as simple as a leadership issue. It is the responsibility of the pastor to demonstrate Christ’s love. It is the responsibility of the lay leadership of the congregation to both model that love and to provide avenues for members to practice loving responses. Yes, we need to practice. I believe that many congregations are not demonstrative with their love for a number of reasons; some do not want to be unfaithful to a previous pastor (like a child unable to show love to a step-parent), others are just not sure what is appropriate, and a few never have thought about it.

Being the spiritual director of a congregation is not just another job. It is first and foremost a living dynamic relationship with God and with God’s people. The primary quality, the essential dynamic, of this relationship is love. “God so loved…” A pastor is an ombudsman of love.

So, before it’s too late, some suggestions: Learn what your pastor’s real passion for ministry is and support and affirm his/her participation in it. Practice telling your pastor what you appreciate about his/her ministry. Remember the important dates: birthday, ordination, anniversary of serving, etc. Do a congregation-wide Christmas gift. In some congregations one responsibility of the president is to send out “The Letter.” About the first of December a letter goes out inviting members to contribute to the Christmas gift. The monetary gift is given on behalf of all; contributors and amounts remain anonymous. In a staff ministry the gift is divided and shared. About the only thing you can do wrong is to withhold showing love or to wait until after your pastor has left.

The information and articles in this newsletter may be reproduced in congregational newsletters unless otherwise indicated. Electronic copy can be downloaded from www.scsw-elca.org.

Volume 17, Issue 10	DECEMBER 2005/JANUARY 2006
	The South-Central Newsletter
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