Vital Pastor program sponsors three ‘immersion retreats.'

Three groups of Church of the Brethren pastors are currently experiencing 'immersion retreats' through the Vital Pastor program of the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership. The academy is a joint program of Bethany Theological Seminary and the General Board. The Vital Pastor experience is a self-selected group of pastors who determine their own study focus for a two-year venture. The experience begins with an immersion retreat that takes the form of travel, including international travel.

One group left April 17 to visit early Brethren sites in Germany and Switzerland. The group included Eddie Edmonds of Moler Avenue Church of the Brethren in Martinsburg, W.Va., Daniel Johnson of Brownsville (Md.) Church of the Brethren, John Weyant of Dranesville Church of the Brethren in Herndon, Va., and Mark Godfrey of Nokesville (Va.) Church of the Brethren. Over the next two years this group will study the question, "What was the original Brethren vision of the church and Christian life, and how can it guide us to be uniquely Brethren in the 21st century and beyond?"

A second group of pastors from Southern Ohio District will leave soon for England and France. The group includes Todd Hammond of Brookville (Ohio) Church of the Brethren, James Brunk of Bradford (Ohio) Church of the Brethren, James Chronister of Trotwood (Ohio) Church of the Brethren, and Ken Oren of Good Shepherd Church of the Brethren in Tipp City, Ohio. Their study question is, "How does contemplative worship inform traditional churches attempting to reach a postmodern world?" Jerramy Bowen of West Milton (Ohio) Church of the Brethren will join the group following the travel experience.

Mark Bowyer of Pleasant View Church of the Brethren in Elida, Ohio, Wes and Sue Richards of Lima (Ohio) Church of the Brethren, Martin Moyer of Sugar Creek, West Church of the Brethren in Lima, and Richard Yeager-Stiver of Marion (Ohio) Church of the Brethren—all in the Northern Ohio District--left for the Dominican Republic on April 19. This group will focus on "What can we, as pastors, do to help identify, nurture, and release leadership gifts within the congregation?"

These groups will meet regularly over two years to study their chosen questions. All the groups that began in a given year will gather in a final retreat to teach each other what they have learned. Most expenses of the program are covered by a grant from the Lilly Foundation Inc.

Similar groups are forming now to start in early 2006. Pastors interested in the program may call the Brethren Academy at 800-287-8822 ext. 1810 or e-mail Glenn and Linda Timmons at pastoralexcellence@bethanyseminary.edu.

Source: 04/27/2005 Newsline
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