August 26 Update from Co-EP Eliana Maxim
Seattle Presbytery
Dear Friends,
Despite being in the midst of a pandemic, with many working from home, and our usual extracurricular activities limited severely, some things don’t change. Students are preparing or already engaged in virtual or hybrid schooling. Most of us are clinging to whatever sunshine we can in these waning days of summer. And congregations in our presbytery are embarked on pastoral transitions.
Yes, even in a pandemic, pastors discern calls either to serve elsewhere or to retire, and we currently have 6 churches seeking head of staff or senior pastors.
If you have ever been in this process either as a candidate seeking a call or member of a pastoral nominating committee, you can imagine how social distancing complicates matters. Everyone involved has had to draw on deep reserves of patience, grace, and faithfulness. Folks have found creative ways to learn about each other. And the entire process has slowed as the uncertainty of what comes next and how long this season of nationwide coronavirus contagion will last becomes reality.
This has meant that we have leaned on our interim and transitional pastors more so than usual, and are so very grateful for their call to this specialized ministry. We are blessed to have these leaders maintain a steady hand with congregational worship and life, while at the same time engaging the church with challenging questions and work around identity, purpose, mission, and change.
Interim and/or transitional pastors are specialized in this area of ministry, and we are fortunate to be one of the few centers in the PCUSA for this training right here in Seattle. Usually an in person week of workshops, Transitional Ministries Workshop Training has now gone virtual with its first session scheduled for October. If you or someone you know are interested in this program, please contact us.
In the meantime, I ask each of you to hold our congregations* in prayer as they journey through pastoral transition. Pray for wisdom and patience; for the congregation to remain faithful to the process; for the sessions and Pastoral Nominating Committees to discern together the will of God; and for the interim/transitional pastors to continue ministering and caring for the congregation with energy, imagination, and love.
In peace and hope,
Eliana Maxim
Co-Executive Presbyter
*Congregations in pastoral transition: