Happy back-to-school season!
Given the time of year, I thought a little reminder of the basics from All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum might be good:
Share everything. Play fair. Don’t hit people. Put things back where you found them. Don’t take things that aren’t yours. Clean up your own mess. Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hands before you eat. Flush. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
I mean, I know there are other things that are important to know, but these are things we all do to fulfill our shared calling as members of the Body of Christ, right?
That said, there are some things that are particular to each person and the unique calling or vocation they have, and in last year’s stewardship drive: Celebration of God’s Generosity, one of the categories that was lifted up had to do with Sustaining and Growing in Ministry Excellence. In order to do that, your staff and leadership have and will continue to learn. This “back-to-school” season seems like a good time to let you know some of the ways we have done that. Over the past year:
Don and Nancy participated in the Augsburg Fortress Summer Workshop in Columbia, SC. Laura took a course to help her navigate the transition from Microsoft Publisher to Affinity (I don’t really know what that means other than the platform we had been using to publish things is going away and she had to learn how to do it a different way.). Amanda has already plugged in to the NC Synod Children, Youth and Family Network which offers resources and opportunities to connect with other leaders who share “best-practices.” She has also connected with congregations nearby with the hope of forming partnering/learning relationships. And, over this year, I have taken courses titled “Effective Staff Leadership for Pastors,” “Stewardship: The effective pastoral leader” and, along with others, I attended a seminar having to do with planned giving. I have participated (and continue to participate) in Faith In Us seminars (a national interfaith clergy initiative). I have participated in NC Synod Boundaries Training: Establishing and Maintaining Healthy Boundaries and the NC Synod Pastors and Rostered Leaders Convocation. I also participate regularly in pericope studies as well as ongoing learning around the dynamics and navigation of systems, and theology and practice.
Not only that, but your congregation council also spends time on retreat together in order to be able to listen closely and discern where it is God is calling us and how we can best respond.
All of this continuing education is one of the ways we sustain and grow in ministry excellence, and your ongoing generosity helps cover mileage, housing, registration fees, etc.
Learning is lifelong…Thank you for helping us fulfill our obligations and callings.
God’s peace and much love (and remember, warm cookies & cold milk are good for you) ~
☩ Pr. Sara