Dear friends and colleagues,
Grace and peace be unto you!
Next Monday I will begin the fourth in a series of zoom calls with our synod’s rostered leaders in our 17 Ministry Areas. In our most recent series of meetings I highlighted the need for our rostered leaders to practice good self care and to maintain a proper work/life balance. This of course includes taking adequate time off on a weekly basis and to make sure to take vacation days.
Our rostered leaders have been doing a magnificent job of leading and caring for God’s people in the midst of these extraordinary circumstances. They have quickly adapted and learned new ways of engaging their ministries. They have been working very, very hard and they need our support and encouragement to take care of their own physical, spiritual and emotional well-being.
The article found at this link, which by the author’s own admission may “overstate the case”, is nonetheless a helpful caution to us all concerning the potential toll this pandemic time might take on our rostered leaders. This is what we need to prevent occurring. https://johndobbs.com/the-coming-pastoral-crash/
In an attempt to help ensure that our rostered leaders plan for and take summer vacation days, our ELCIC Bishops and Assistants to the Bishops will be preparing sermons for congregational use throughout the summer: June 14 to September 13. The sermons will be provided in both text and video format. Each week, the materials for the coming week will be loaded to a folder in BOX by Tuesday at the very latest. BOX is an easy to use application for facilitating file sharing. For instructions on how to access these resources, rostered ministers are invited to please email tgallop@elcic.ca (subject line: Summer Sermon Series).
Thank-you dear brothers and sisters, for all that you have and are doing to make plainly evident that “the church has not closed.” Through God’s grace and your work as congregational leaders, pastors and deacons, you have ensured that our church is alive and well and engaged in ministry; extraordinary ministry! I am so grateful. I am so very proud! Soli Deo Gloria!