Dear Grace Community,
As I look to my final two Sundays with you, I write to answer some questions. One question that I am asked is about my involvement with you and Grace when I am no longer your pastor. I can’t attend events or worship at Grace when I’m no longer your pastor, nor can I lead worship, including funerals.
I won’t stop caring for you and about you, but it’s important to draw these lines. When I hear that you are sick or having surgery, I will pray for you, but I can’t call or visit. On occasion, you may see me in the church building when I come to volunteer with Alice’s Brownie Troop in the Fellowship Hall, and of course, I look forward to saying a brief hello.
In that same way, Wichita is not all that big, and I imagine that I’ll see you in town. There was a day recently when I saw three of you at Trader Joe’s on one shopping trip. When we run into each other, I look forward to saying hello.
Another question I get a lot is about the new call I’m taking: what is it exactly? That’s a good question, and I’m not 100% sure. It’s a brand-new position, so I’ll be part of creating it. Of the 50 PCUSA churches in the Presbytery of Southern Kansas, fewer than 20 have pastors with MDiv degrees from seminary. A few have Commissioned Pastors (like Scott Randle) who have taken seminary courses. The majority do not have consistent paid/trained leadership.
The good news is that they’ve found ways to be a church without a pastor. I hope to meet with them, learn what their goals are, and help to equip them to be the church in new ways. Part of my call will be to connect them with other churches, as isolation is a challenge for some of these churches.
I will continue to pray for you, and I ask that you pray for me.
In Christ,
Catherine NB
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JUN