“Are you coming back?” That is the question that leaks out when talking about the upcoming sabbatical July 1 through November 16. Of course, I am coming back. That’s why I am leaving! Life is paradoxical, and this time away is a good example of that. Kathy and I are leaving so we can stay—God willing.
Why did the Lilly Endowment, Inc. give 164 congregations $6,315,854 in grants ranging from $11,000 to $45,000 each in 2005? The purpose of the Endowment’s National Clergy Renewal Program is to strengthen Christian congregations by providing opportunities for pastors to step away briefly from the persistent obligations of daily parish life and to engage in a period of renewal and reflection. Renewal periods are not vacations, but times for intentional exploration and reflection, for regaining the enthusiasm and creativity for ministry, for discovering what will make the pastor’s heart sing.
One year ago Kathy and I spent a week in Santa Fe where I drafted the pastor’s section of the application to the Clergy Renewal Program. The application was completed by David Hollrah, president, and Bill Mintz, vice president, and forwarded to the Executive Committee who then forwarded it to the council, who then forwarded it to the congregation who on June 19 unanimously approved the application. David Hollrah was notified in September that the Clergy Renewal Program had awarded our congregation over $43,000.
The primary purpose of a time of renewal is to get some distance so that a pastor can see more nearly and therefore more clearly. Kathy and I will be in Leipzig, Germany. That should be enough distance for a different perspective. Pastors are not unlike other leaders who get so wrapped up in their work that they cannot imagine things working without them. The time away will demonstrate that Christ the King Church was running before I got here. It will be running while I am gone, and it will run when I return. We have a strong Church Council, strong commissions, strong committees and a strong staff.
Under Pastor Liebster’s leadership the staff will operate under the same policies and customs that have guided us thus far. Two guests will enhance congregational life during the sabbatical. Professor Gordon Lathrop of Philadelphia will serve as Theologian-in-Residence. Dr. Lathrop has been a leader among international professors of liturgics. He will teach, preach, and preside at the table during the fall. Pastor Peter Stockmann will arrive on August 10 and be guest pastor until June 2006. Peter will help with the German-language ministry and the youth ministry in addition to general pastoral duties.
Our personal goals are to improve our German. Four and a half months immersed in Leipzig society should make that possible. We will take a three week intensive German course at the University in order to “jump start” the process. Serving as guest pastor at St. Thomas Church will give me a chance to observe pastoral practice in Germany in a way that I have not in the past. I am already scheduled to preside and preach on July 24 at St. Thomas Church while the pastors are away. It will be a shock to the tourists that day.
Kathy and I are looking forward to time together. Our apartment will be fifteen minutes by foot from the church and 100 yards from Rosental, a big park where we plan to walk the dogs each day. Yes, the dogs are going too! Their German is not up to standard. One friend asked us if we had talked to our therapist about this. Kathy responded, “They are our therapists.”
As most know, I am very active in the Houston-Leipzig Sister City Association. In the last ten years we have made many acquaintances and friendships in Leipzig. We want to deepen these relationships, enhance the sister-city relationship, and improve our German in the process.
We will do some short trips while living in Leipzig. We will visit Pastor Drigsdahl in Denmark and Pastor and Mrs. Eilert in Malmö, Sweden. Plans include a week in Taizé, France and a week in Tübingen where the faculty members at the University have invited me to participate.
When we return, we will celebrate the Sixtieth Anniversary of Christ the King Church. We have invited the former pastors to gather with us November 20-22 on Christ the King Festival. Two new bells will have been added to the belfry. They will be dedicated and rung officially for the first time that weekend.
It is my desire that I serve well the community of Christ the King Lutheran Church until called to other responsibilities. This time away should enable that process. Yes, life is paradoxical. Kathy and I are leaving so we can stay.