Bethany Lutheran Church

Will the church just be in a “holding pattern” while Pastor Ron is away?

• -Our church is in a healthy situation.  We are moving toward our church’s future by working with a consultant from the Grand Canyon Synod, Rev. Rick Rouse, to assist us in creating an action plan that aligns our mission, vision and goals with our budget and staff configuration as well as volunteer ministries.
• -We believe that building lay leadership makes significant steps toward helping BLC serve the community. Rather than being passive consumers of the Word, we are activated to live the Word and realize our vocations and spiritual gifts.   Pastor Ron has led us in broadening our liturgy and brought new opportunities for us to connect with Christ through art and ritual. Without a doubt, he has equipped us for a meaningful experience in concert with one another and our wonderful associate Pastor Ruth Ann, while he is away.

What will we be doing?

• -We have a plan so our congregation will benefit from a renewal experience that parallels Pastor Ron’s experience:
• *Dr. Paul Hill, Executive Director of Vibrant Faith Ministries, will lead the congregation in exploring two topics: Rituals and Traditions: Finding God in Everyday Life, and Sabbath: Rediscovering God’s Spiritual Oasis in a World Traveling at Warp Speed.  Dr. Hill will be at BLC during the weekend of January 28 and 29, 2012.  CLICK HERE to view Dr. Hill’s special message to the congregation of Bethany!
• *Dr. Mary Hinkle Shore will be at BLC during the weekend of February 25 and 26, 2012.  Her book, Signs of Belonging, will direct our six-week Lenten Journey.  We have already trained 30 BLC members to help lead discussions and activities during Lent based on Shore’s primer of Lutheran theology and the Small Catechism. Signs of Belonging is our theme for Lent 2012.  CLICK HERE or HERE to view Dr. Shore’s special message to the congregation of Bethany!
• Each of our 80 Confirmands and their mentors will spend the six weeks of Lent exploring this theme.  Every Sunday in Lent and each midweek service in Lent will also focus on this theme.

What will Pastor Ron be doing on his sabbatical?

• -As the website for the Rocky Mountain Synod states, “A sabbatical offers opportunity to get off the treadmill and provides an opportunity for renewal of vision and hope. It’s more than just a chance to recharge your batteries for another year. It can be a life and soul-changing time, a time when perspective and the Holy Spirit can come together.” In other words, this is a unique opportunity for the congregation and the pastor.

As Pastor Ron has written in his grant application to the Lilly Endowment:

• -“My plan is for a three-month journey of study and participation in church life at St. Martin-in-the-Fields (SMITF), located on London’s Trafalgar Square, in order to understand how SMITF has made itself increasingly relevant to its larger community that for years has been turning away from traditional church. My plan is to be rooted in the worship and arts of SMITF community while participating in its surrounding theater and museum district.  I will seek commonalities and differences that can facilitate how my congregation and I fulfill our goals to worship meaningfully, grow spiritually, and serve purposefully in a variety of liturgical and creative ways in Denver.  I want to discover and uncover elements of the Gospel in culture, especially as experienced in plays, concerts, and various artistic media, so that I can utilize them in fulfilling my personal mission which is to ‘enlighten, entertain and evangelize.’ Additionally, this time of renewal will provide me with experiences for intentional healing and nurturing of body, mind and spirit.”

More specifically, Pastor Ron has written in the grant application about what he plans to study and pursue while on sabbatical:

• -“Pastoral leaders at SMITF have invited me to utilize SMITF as my spiritual home base.  I plan to observe some of SMITF meetings and planning sessions, as well as attend daily prayer services and weekly Eucharist.  I want to have purposeful and meaningful conversations with leaders at SMITF, London churches at large, and with the seven religious organizational leaders by asking questions such as:

• -How does a Christian person rationally live in church and culture today?
• -Jesus talked about being light, leaven and salt. Often we see this as the role of church.  What if the paradigm flips to see culture offering light, leaven and salt to the church?
• -How do I, as a leader, help my church navigate conversations in culture and vice versa?

• -I am re-energized and my spirit renewed by theater, art and music.  I believe that stage plays and other artistic media serve culture and church as being a kind of ‘dramatic conscience’ and ‘ethical mirror.’  Together the mix of the divine drama experienced in liturgy and the secular drama of live theatrical and musical performances should provide fruitful sustenance for my quest and questions to study during sabbatical.”

Below is an outline of events and activities for

Pastor Ron’s sabbatical, January 1, 2012 – March 31, 2012.

A Note from Pastor Ron: 

Beginning on January 1, 2012 at 12 noon I will be on sabbatical until April 1, 2012. Most of my time will be spent in London where I’ll be going to morning prayer at St. Martin in the Fields, attending plays and catching lectures at London School of Economics.

I have created a blog http://rtgmtg.blogspot.com (to represent Ronald Theodore Glusenkamp- Minding The Gap). I’ll be posting reflections, reviews of plays and experiences.

Blessings + Cherrio
rtg

Who will pay for the sabbatical?

• -As part of Pastor Ron’s call he will receive his salary and benefits during sabbatical.
• -Pastor Ron has recently been awarded a Lilly Endowment grant. This grant covers his expenses for travel, housing, educational events and other items. As part of this grant, approximately $15,000 comes to Bethany so that staff hours can be increased during the sabbatical, as well as pay for guests like Dr. Hill and Dr. Mary Hinkle Shore.  Click HERE to read more about the National Clergy Renewal Program.

Will the parish budget need to be increased to cover any expenses?

• -Any expenses incurred by Pastor Ron during the sabbatical are covered by the generosity of the grant from the Lilly Endowment. As previously stated, an additional $15,000 is coming to Bethany from the Lilly Endowment to assist with coverage and special programs like Dr. Paul Hill and Dr. Mary Hinkle Shore.

Cost to Congregation

• -The congregation will continue to pay full salary and benefits for the staff person who is on sabbatical. Car allowance and ministry expenses may be negotiated.  Accrued continuing education dollars can be used for the educational costs of the sabbatical. Continuing education dollars can only be accrued for three years.
• -Similar to the time of transition between pastors, the sabbatical period can be an excellent time for the congregation to be creative in addressing ministry and worship needs.

Budget Costs

• Travel   – airline & train travel for day trips
• Transportation – Monthly Oyster card for Underground
• Housing & Food
• Cell phone in country
• YMCA membership
• 2 retreats
• Plays
• Concerts
• Walking tours
• Lectures – FREE
• Museums & Libraries – FREE
• Community contacts – No cost

Eligible Staff

• -Full time ordained clergy, commissioned associates in ministry and consecrated diaconal ministers.

When is Sabbatical Appropriate

• -Historically, the RMS has recommended that sabbaticals be taken after every sixth full year of service in the same congregation. In 1997, the ELCA adopted a recommendation that “rostered persons will plan an extended study and renewal period of a minimum of one to three months every three to five years in the present call.” In other words, one month every three years or three months after five years.  Vacation time should not be included as sabbatical time. Planning should begin the calendar year before the sabbatical so that the congregational budget can allow for additional expenses.

 Planning the Sabbatical

• -The responsibility for planning how the sabbatical will be used is up to the staff person in consultation with the synod office. For a three-month sabbatical, the bishop encourages one month of total rest and relaxation, one month of learning for the sake of learning, and one month of learning that will directly benefit the congregation. Staff normally commits to at least one year in the parish following a sabbatical.
• -When Bethany issued the call on October 16, 2005 to Pastor Ron Glusenkamp, as Senior Pastor, part of provisions contained in the call was the commitment to a “three month paid sabbatical during the sixth year of call; course of study and timing to be approved by the executive committee.”  Pastor Ruth Ann has the same commitment in her call as well. Sabbaticals are quite routine in ELCA congregations.
• -Pastor Ron has now entered his sixth year of service with Bethany. A committee was appointed to work with Pastor Ron. The committee consisted of: Jack Lindsey, Sherri Koelbel, Stacie Schubert, Bob Pote, David Furgason, and Ron Gusé, ex officio. Initial discussions indicated that the sabbatical would begin in early 2012 (January 2, 2012-April 2, 2012).
• -The bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod strongly encourages congregations to adopt policies allowing for sabbaticals for clergy, full-time associates in ministry, and diaconal ministers. There is excellent information at the following link at the Rocky Mountain Synod website regarding sabbaticals: http://www.rmselca .org/leaders/sabbaticals/index.htm

January 1, 2012 – A Note from Pastor Ron:  “The congregation blessed me and sent me today. Council members, sabbatical team members and parishioners all prayed and conveyed good wishes for me.  I too, promised to remember them in my prayers.  My faithful colleague, Pastor Ruth Ann Loughry wrote the following piece of couplets.”

• On the Occasion of Pastor Ronald T. Glusenkamp’s Departure for Sabbatical – Bethany Lutheran Church, January 1, 2012

• Here is our little blessing, to send you off Pastor Ron,
• Away, away to London town for three months to be gone.
•  — —
  
• Some Sabbath rest is long over due,
• We’re sure you’ll drink English tea, eat crumpets too!
•  — —
• To begin the journey a brief visit,
• To Plum Village, not to miss it!
•  — —
• Daily mornin’ prayers at St. Martin in the Fields,
• Rich Holy Spirit conversations, surely will yield.
•  — —
• Books, theater, walks, and sitting by the Thames,
• Will certainly offer up a new and vibrant ministry lens.
•  — —
• We know you’ll ask great questions.
  
• That you always do!
•  — —
• About church and culture, Sabbath rest,
  
• people in and out of pews!
•  — —
• How does the connection work -  God in daily life?
• For people to sense the Holy through their hopes, joy and strife?
•  — —
• During our separation, we’ll be praying each Sunday just for you,
• Trusting our Lord to protect, bless and enrich your spirit, through and through.
•  — —
• We promise to do our part on this Sabbatical trail,
• To grow and listen and stretch, God will not let us fail!
•  — —
• We’ll be excited to catch God’s vision,
• And hear of your renewed sense of mission.
•  — —
• Blow the Queen a kiss for us, yet don’t forget who is Lord!  We’ll miss you in your seat.
• May God keep us connected through Word and Sacrament, until again we meet.