“News for Two” is an informal e-mail newsletter that seeks to provide ministry to couples engaged in, or interested in, “Shared Pastoral Ministry.” The purpose of the “Two by Two” network, is to facilitate dialogue between couples involved in Shared Pastoral Ministry, so I encourage your response to any of the articles found below. A list of all of the couples in “Two by Two” can be found in the article entitled “The Network Database.”
The May Edition: This first edition will examine several aspects of Shared Pastoral Ministry as a model for church leadership. The CONTENTS lists a brief description of the ARTICLES that are found below.
Russ Dean, Editor
May 11, 2001
1. The Century of the Married Clergy
Over a decade ago Alvin Toffler predicted the rise of the married couple as a significant force in the business sector. Is the Church getting into the act also?
2. How Do We Convince a Church to Call Us -- Together?
Getting a dual appointment is no easy task. Those in a Baptist (or other congregational) tradition, may be interested in an approach that worked for Russ and Amy Jacks Dean. The article consists of two parts: A resume cover letter, voicing the vision of Shared Pastoral Ministry, and a reflection from the Search Committee Chairperson of the church that called the Deans to serve together.
3. A Job Description: 50%-50% or 200%!?
How do you share a pastorate? Here’s one suggestion, but one which is still a work in progress.
4. Confronting a Taxing Question
One Canadian ministry couple finds themselves pinched by the system. Are there related tax concerns for couples sharing the same pulpit?
Andy and Sally Langford are the Co-Senior Ministers of what might be the largest church in America led by a couple. After 23 years in ministry, and 13 as co-pastors, Sally shares a few thoughts on the shared administration of the 1400-member St. Stephens UMC in Charlotte, NC.
6. A Retreat
There has not been an ecumenical reunion for couples in ministry in over 20 years. Let’s get together!
7. A Little Poetry for the Road
Lines to use for a wedding.
From California to New York to Florida, from Episcopalian to Church of the Brethren to Southern Baptist, the database now contains 32 couples practicing Shared Pastoral Ministry.
9. “News for Two”: the June/July Edition – “Worship”
Will you share some of your own creativity in Shared Pastoral Ministry? A sermon? An outline of a worship service? A reflection?
I had just been hired for an associate staff position. Another associate position on the same church staff was open. I casually inquired if Amy, my wife, might be a potential candidate for the position. The Pastor was cordial but firm: “It is our practice to never hire a married couple for our staff. We did that once, and it just does not work out.”
Less than five years later I find myself sharing not just a position on the same staff, but sharing a pastorate with Amy, and I now know from experience what our hearts, minds and souls told us for so many years, that Shared Pastoral Ministry does “work out.” A decade ago, Alvin Toffler prophecied a change in the business climate of the West. “We can expect to see couples hired by companies – as couples. Before long we will no doubt see a wife-husband team placed in charge of a profit center and permitted – in fact, encouraged – to run it like a family business” (Power Shift, p.184).
Toffler writes about a needed change in corporate mentality, from a bureaucratic and hierarchical leadership model, to one that is more flexible, leaving room for a variety of leadership styles even within the same organization. Shared Pastoral Ministry offers the church-as-business an opportunity to capitalize on Toffler’s insights. Shared Pastoral Ministry offers the Church as the body of Christ leadership that models the interdependence, respect, and mutuality that such a metaphor deserves.
It seems that Toffler’s prophetic insight was right on target. In November, the Charlotte Observer’s “BusinessMonday” paper featured a number of Charlotte couples who share the leadership of their businesses. John and Lee Tabor own US Mortgage Group Inc., and enjoy the benefits of working together. Lee said in the interview “Most couples are separated from their spouse 70 percent of the time and they’re happy. It sounds kind of goobery, but we have the kind of relationship where it doesn’t matter if we’re spending 24 hours together.” In the business world, couples are recognizing what Toffler notes, that “a high-powered husband-wife team can be a formidable political force in the firm” -- and enjoy their marriages while working together.
In an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education (December 8, 2000), Alison Schneider features a number of couples sharing tenure-track positions in the university setting. After working closely for many years, John B. Willett and Judith D. Singer agreed to share the academic deanship of Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. They view themselves as “professional spouses” (they are married to other people). They share an office with face-to-face desks, a conference room, even a filing cabinet. They each copy the other on all e-mails and sign their memo’s “J2” (that’s J-squared in case your e-mail dropped the superscript). Schneider’s research reveals a trend which seems to be increasing in acceptance in the academic community. W.T. Pfefferle, who is the director of expository writing at Johns Hopkins University apparently expresses the sentiment of many university administrators: “If I have three vitae in front of me, and I knew I could lock in two for the price of one, I’d be tempted to lock in the academic couple.” But Pfefferle admits the “two for one” temptation comes packed with a “tremendous potential for abuse.”
Slowly, even the Church is catching on. A growing number of couples are being allowed the opportunity to share ministry appointments. Banu and James Moore serve a Presbyterian church in New York. Several months back, in an e-mail, she wrote, “I think this will be the century of the married clergy.” My e-mail list of couples now includes 32 couples from across the country (New York to Florida to California) and from seven different denominations. Shared Pastoral Ministry recognizes the importance of mutuality and equality; it also values the family unit, and seeks to take seriously the need of pastors to be fathers and mothers to their own children, as well as to their congregation. Syed Mumtaz Saeed is a management expert from Pakistan quoted by Toffler: “The dehumanization of the industrial era in the West has been a consequence of the relegation of the family to a purely social and non-economic role. Thus, the manager and the worker of the modern age are torn between the work-place and the home in a physical sense, and between the family and the organization in an emotional sense… this conflict is central to the problems of motivation, morale and productivity in modern Western societies” (Toffler, p.185). Shared Pastoral Ministry by no means eliminates family needs or crises, in fact there are particular challenges due to this form of ministry, but it offers to the clergy couple the opportunity to practice their calling in a setting which also allows them to value family, and to use their own lives as models for their congregation.
Russ Dean
2. How Do We Convince a Church to Call Us -- Together?
Steve and Catherine Price, a UMC couple serving in Florida, requested a dual appointment from their District Superintendent, and were charged with starting a new church, together. Baptists, and clergy from other denominations that follow a purely congregational form of government, have to “go it alone.” Having recently had that experience, the Deans share a cover letter introducing their vision of Shared Pastoral Ministry to several Search Committees. You will also find a reflection from the Chair of the Search Committee of Park Road Baptist entitled, “Oh dear!! There are two of them…” For those in our tradition, we offer this with encouragement: Keep the faith -- there is a church out there for you!
A) Dear Search Committee,
Our lives in ministry have been filled with rich experiences which have afforded us many unique opportunities to minister together. Through these thirteen years of shared ministry we have felt God's calling to further service in a unique form of ministry. We feel certain that you have not considered calling a couple for your position, but we would like to ask you to spend the next few moments imagining and dreaming with us.
Imagine that you had a pastor whose strengths and studies had been devoted to pastoral care, and whose interests and concentration were in organization and administration. Imagine that you had a pastor whose preaching style was pastoral and relationally-oriented and whose method was more given to an intellectual approach of ideas and concepts. Imagine that your pastor had the ability to counsel with women when the empathetic ear of another woman was needed, and to hear men's concerns as only another man could (or, on the other hand, to hear concerns as someone of the opposite sex). Imagine that your pastor could participate in marital counseling, perform marriages, and lead family seminars and workshops with a more holistic understanding of people's lives... Imagine that you had a pastor who, literally, could attend two committee meetings simultaneously!
Both of us have a love for the Church and for God's people. We sense God's call in our lives to work in and through the life of the Church. We define Church as a "community of faith," sisters and brothers living and working, sharing and loving, giving of self to and through the body of Christ. In ministering together, we feel that we could blend two sets of complementary gifts into a distinctive vision, enthusiasm, and ministry.
We have dreamed of the possibilities, and have discussed many of the specifics. We would covet the opportunity to further describe for you our vision for Shared Pastoral Ministry. Perhaps at a time such as this in the life of your church, you would be willing to consider this unique concept of ministry.
Thank you for your consideration. May God's wisdom and direction be with you in your search.
Grace and Peace,
Russ and Amy Jacks Dean
(russdean@parkroadbaptist.org, ajdean@parkroadbaptist.org)
B) Oh Dear!! There are Two of Them…
It is certainly true that most search committees would describe their perfect candidate as a 30-50 year old white male with a nice family. What do you do when you find him and his wife is also part of the team?
As the chair of the Park Road Baptist Search Team, I remember the thoughts of our committee when the possibility of co-pastors was introduced. Although we had liked the Deans over the phone, we had questions. Our big questions included:
1) How would the responsibilities be divided?
2) How would we pay two people (we only had salary for one position)?
Therefore, we decided to ask these questions upfront. Russ and Amy responded beautifully. Not only did they provide us with their individual personal credentials, but they also sent an outline of responsibilities mirroring the life of a church. Additionally, we discussed our total salary package and their prospective needs. We knew that no matter how much we “liked” one another, the money had to make sense.
We then discussed how to change our interview process to accommodate two ministers. There are two important points to determine: 1) Both team members have to be of equal strength. If one member is much weaker, the team would break apart; and, 2) They must share the same vision when separate. To discover whether these points were true of the Dean team, we decided we needed to know them individually before understanding them as a team. Therefore, the same Search Committee Member interviewed them each personally over the phone. He was able to help us rate their strengths and the continuity of their vision when separate from one another. Yeah… they passed the test!!
Next, the entire Search Committee would conduct a face-to-face interview. Because the group had so many questions about the way a team would function, we spent the first 30 minutes allowing the Deans to describe their vision of shared pastoral ministry. Then, we separated them and interviewed each separately. After a long individual interview, we brought them back together for our last series of questions. During this interview, we were able to make conclusions about their individual strengths and weaknesses, the completeness of their vision, their theological stances and how well they initially functioned as a team.
After the first visit, the committee then treated the Deans more like one candidate in the process and compared them to other candidates. The only other time in the search process that we had to change our normal course of action was in educating the church. Since this idea was new, we knew it would be necessary to do extra communication with the members. We sent letters, wrote newsletter articles, talked to the Diaconate and the Sunday School classes, and even set-up small group meetings with the Deans to make the congregation understand the vision of co-pastors. The church unanimously embraced our team.
Important Points to Ponder for the Couple Searching:
· Always keep separate resumes so the committee can understand the contributions of both of you. Then, provide a combined vision of your ministry with specifics of who would do what.
· Be upfront about your salary expectations and how you would break apart the salary. The salary can be the biggest “deal breaker.”
· Be ready to communicate openly with the committee about your personal strengths and weaknesses but also the strengths and weaknesses of this plan and the effect of this plan on your marriage. They may be afraid to ask but these thoughts are going through their minds. They will not hire you with these lingering doubts. If you introduce the pros/cons, you have the chance to be positive and open. This will be to your advantage.
· Be prepared to answer the question “What if the congregation likes one of you better than the other?” What would be your plan? This is a large risk of shared ministry.
Important Points to Ponder for the Search Committee:
· What is their plan? Have they broken out the responsibilities appropriately for your church? Can the plan be tweaked?
· How strong are they as individual ministers? If one minister becomes the “go-to”, how will this effect their ministry?
· How strong is their marriage/family? What plans do they have in place if this wears on their marriage?
· Can you afford two ministers? Do you have enough work for two ministers? A strong ministry should pay for itself but you can’t overburden your church for its size.
· How will a co-pastorate effect the rest of your staff? Does the plan provide a way to keep the staff from triangulating the two against each other?
At Park Road Baptist, shared pastoral ministry has been a blessing and worked amazingly well. I believe that to be a credit to the strength of our team, Russ and Amy Jacks Dean. If you have questions that I can answer concerning your team and the concept or if I can help a committee that you are in discussions with, feel free to contact me. Best wishes in your continuing ministry!!
Ms. Marinn Bengel, Search Committee Chair
Park Road Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC
3. A Job Description: 50%-50% or 200%!?
In my conversation with various couples, it seems to me that there are two distinctly different approaches to Shared Pastoral Ministry. Some approach this work as an opportunity to, literally, split the work in half – each doing 50% of the job description, and working half-time (whatever that is in ministry!) Others of us approach shared ministry as an opportunity to split the job description, but, essentially, double the work load for that half of the job. In this approach, the couple seeks to provide twice the work that one person can provide. Both approaches recognize the complementary contribution that a couple can provide to one job description, and recognize that by either definition, a couple will provide more than one FTE (full time equivalent) in ministry.
Amy and I have basically chosen the latter approach, and though her stated office hours are 30 hours per week (compared to my 40 hours), she rarely is able to maintain this schedule. With only six months of experience, we are obviously still learning. This article shares the breakdown of our job description, in the format we presented to the Search Committee that called us to Park Road Baptist.
I would enjoy knowing how this work and our work-load compares to yours. Do you prefer the 50%-50% approach, or the 200% approach? And what advantages and disadvantages do you see to your own ministry?
"...and he sent them two by two..." Luke 10.1
You will find below a working outline that delineates the life of the church into six major categories (taken from Dr. William E. Hull of Samford University). A pastor is expected to lead in each of these areas. We would divide these areas based on our personal strengths and weaknesses; however, both of us would be available should any need arise. We would work in full consultation with the one another to provide a unified vision and leadership for the church.
...God is spirit. We must worship in spirit and in truth. John 4.24
Believing in the power of the presence of God, worship is the expression and response of the gathered people of God. Corporate worship is central to the life of the church.
Planning of worship: Russ will be the primary contact. Preaching: In the early stage of our ministry, we anticipate dividing the preaching 3/4 Russ and 1/4 Amy. Baptism, Communion, Baby Dedications, Funerals, Weddings: We will perform together unless otherwise requested, though Russ will take primary responsibility for planning these.
...Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6.2
In the joys and sorrows of life, Christians must be present for one another. Only as we continue to embody the love of God and share the peace of Christ will his gospel truly be "good news" to all people.
Hospital visitation, shut-in care, new member orientation and assimilation, births, bereavement, weddings and counseling: Amy will be "first call" for these needs.
....As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith...abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2.6-7
Faith is a journey. Opportunities for individual and corporate discipleship must be provided along the Way as Christians grow together in the faith.
Wednesday Nights: We anticipate a reciprocal relationship between Sunday morning preaching and Wednesday night Bible study; therefore, Amy would do 3/4 and Russ 1/4. Other Spiritual Development: Amy will direct retreats, Bible studies and other special events to promote adult spiritual formation.
...But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3.15
The church should reach out in witness and welcome that all people might know their infinite worth as children of God.
Prospect visitation, correspondence and development of programs to encourage church growth would be lead by Russ.
...But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Amos 5.24
The church must call others into its fellowship, but it must not be self-serving. The windows of the church should be open to display a world in great need, and its doors should open outward, allowing its members to spill into that world as "salt and light" into the marketplace.
Missions Committee: Amy would provide leadership to encourage proactive church involvement, financially and hands-on, locally and globally.
...For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. I Corinthians 12.12
In the world, the Body of Christ takes the necessary shape of an institution. If the institution is not managed with skill and care, the priority of ministry will be lost to the business of running an organization.
Personnel Issues, Staff Supervision, Staff Meetings: Russ would take ownership here relative to the Personnel Committee. Russ would not supervise Amy's work. Administration Committee, Personnel Committee, Deacons: Matters of visionary leadership of the church, articulating the church's needs and its direction, will be shared by Russ and Amy. To avoid any confusion, however, Russ will be the primary contact for these committees and the Diaconate. Amy would be the point person for the Nominating Committee.
Russ and Amy Jacks Dean, Pastors
Park Road Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC
ajdean@parkroadbaptist.org, russdean@parkroadbaptist.org
4. “Confronting a Taxing Question” by John Bird
NOTE: The following article was discovered on the internet, and printed verbatim from: United Church Observer, February 2000, http://www.ucobserver.org/archives/feb00_chu.htm.
Rev. Stephen Willey is already financially penalized for being married to another minister. Now, with the federal government=s proposed cap on housing allowances for clergy, the situation is about to get worse. And it will affect many clergy now claiming the housing allowance deduction on their income taxes, including the 340 United Church ministers who the national Division of Ministry Personnel and Education says are married to other clergy.
Willey is a personnel officer with Toronto Conference, part of the United Church=s national staff system. As an ordained minister, his gross pay is less than a layperson=s in the same position, although in theory his take-home pay should be the same. Because ministers have been able to claim housing as a tax deduction, they pay less income tax and end up with take-home pay equivalent to the layperson=s. The church has long taken advantage of that tax anomaly to save money.
But Willey is married to Rev. Carol Hancock, pastor at Humbercrest United Church. They live in the manse C housing provided by the pastoral charge as part of Hancock=s compensation package C so Revenue Canada won=t let Willey claim the normal clergy housing deduction. That leaves him with less net income than if he were doing the same job without being ordained and receiving the larger gross pay.
Now, federal Finance Minister Paul Martin has announced a cap on the amount that ministers can claim as housing allowance deduction on their income tax C the amount of the actual housing allowance up to $10,000, or up to 50 percent of the minister=s regular remuneration. The cap will likely be "significantly lower" than what many clergy have been claiming, says Willey. That will increase the financial penalty for some clergy couples, and could cut into the after-tax pay of other clergy who receive the housing allowance.
While Presbytery-approved housing allowances are supposed to reflect the rental cost of adequate housing C usually seen as a three-bedroom house in the area C some home-owning clergy currently calculate the deduction for "fair rental value" at an amount higher than their actual housing allowance. The current tax practice allows clergy to deduct either the actual rent they pay, or if they own their own home, its "fair rental value." It means clergy who own large homes or pay high rent get larger housing deductions and therefore pay less tax.
Clergy in more expensive (usually urban) rental areas, or with higher housing allowances, will be most seriously affected by the new ruling, according to a memo to Conference personnel officers from national legal counsel Kathy McDonald.
Hypothetical illustrations McDonald provides with the memo show that:
*For someone paid $24,377 with a housing allowance of $7,920 and actual rent or "fair rental value" of $10,000, the deductable amount would drop from $10,000 to $7,920.
*If the same person paid rent of $6,000, the deduction would actually rise under the new system from $6,000 to $7,920.
*A person paid $26,300 with a housing allowance of $24,000 and actual rent or "fair rental value" of $25,000 would see his or her deduction drop significantly from $25,000 to $13,150 (50 percent of the salary).
The United Church tradition of counting "the housing allowance as part of compensation for labor" for its ministry personnel is already severely compromised for clergy couples like Willey and Hancock where the housing allowance can only be claimed by one person although both pay levels are based on being able to make the claim.
Martin=s proposed changes reflect a continuing shift in the relationship between church and state. "It=s not hard to see housing allowances as a form of state support for the church," says Willey. "It=s like church-state relations under >Christendom= when the state recognized the social benefit of clergy in communities and church property was not taxed. But that mindset of church and state has come apart." The public now, he says, is coming to believe that the state "shouldn=t subsidize churches in terms of tax relief."
Willey suggests it may be time for compensation packages that are "more consistent with who we are as a post-Christendom church. We need to get our act together and make up our minds whether we need to get out of the housing-allowance business" and compensate ministers solely through taxable salaries.
It=s a position that Willey favors as more in accordance "with our true relationship to Canadian society. And I think congregations will respond if challenged."
Last year, General Council Executive rejected a call by its human resources committee to offer immediate compensation to clergy couples who were disallowed the double claim for housing exemptions. Instead the Executive opted for a "long-term examination of the compensation system."
The legislative changes, which are expected to be implemented beginning in 2001, may also make manses a more popular alternative once again for congregations, "for the first time in a long time," says Willey. Many congregations, particularly in urban areas, have been selling off their manses for the alternative of the housing allowance, which also allows the clergy to invest in their own homes.
Martin has invited individuals and organizations to submit their reactions to the proposal before legislation is introduced to Parliament.
According to a recent study, 80% of U.S. companies encourage the hiring of married couples. Businesses have discovered that couples working together are less likely to move, stay longer, and complain less about longer hours. What’s true of businesses is also true of local churches. Clergy couples who work within the same congregation bring stability to the congregation and find satisfaction in their own personal lives. That has certainly been our experience. During our twenty-three years together as a clergy couple, we have served thirteen years as co-pastors. Looking back, being co-pastors brought significant advantages to us as a couple, as parents, and as leaders of a congregation.
So what are the administrative possibilities of being co-pastors in the same congregation? We begin by acknowledging that administration is a ministry of shepherding a staff and a whole congregation. This ministry of directing ministry is just as significant as visiting in a hospital or leading a Bible study.
We have served as co-pastors in three very different congregational settings. Our first parish was a co-operative parish of seven churches in the North Carolina mountains. We and a 15 hour a week secretary were the entire staff. Our churches ranged in size from seven members to one hundred members. Each of us preached every week in at least two congregations. In this mountain setting, we determined each week who would be responsible for the pastoral care of a particular congregation and community. Over the course of several weeks, each of us would visit in all seven settings. If one of us was visiting in one hospital, the other would visit in another hospital. In administration, Andy would work with the finance committees of the congregations, while Sally focused on the co-operative emergency food and clothing center. We rarely attended the same church committee together. The major administrative difficulty was keeping seven churches working together; the advantage we brought was that we were in constant communication with one another.
We also served as co-pastors of a small-town congregation of eight hundred members. We began in that ministry with three part-time support staff, plus three preschool staff. We ended that ministry with four full-time staff, plus fifteen preschool/daycare staff. Generally, we alternated preaching week by week.
In administration, while Andy worked with a building committee, Sally organized the church in its work with the local homeless shelter. Andy supervised the custodian and musician. Sally supervised the secretary and Christian educator. In the first year of our ministry, both of us attended almost every committee meeting of the church. By the second year, we had divided the committee work and were only attending together the meetings of the administrative body of the church and the building committee. We worked hard to keep the church moving forward, and because we were initially the only professional staff, we unfortunately rarely took a day off.
Our current setting is in a congregation of fourteen hundred members with nine full-time staff and a very large preschool program. In this situation, we serve as the senior co-pastors. Again, we generally alternate preaching week by week, but also share in worship leadership with other staff.
In this more complex organization, Andy supervises the associate pastor, the musicians, and the support staff; Sally supervises the program staff with children, youth, and adults. While all staff may drop in and visit either of us for any reason, only one of us is responsible for the evaluation and direct supervision of a given staff member. In this setting, we began our work by dividing the labor of a senior pastor rather than spending the whole first year doing all the work together. In this situation, we have found it physically, mentally, and spiritually necessary, and possible, to take a day off each work week.
An example of co-operative work relates to the selection of new staff. When we needed a new minister with youth, Sally led the search committee and did the leg-work in selecting final candidates. Both of us, however, interviewed together (and outside the selection committee) the final candidates and reached consensus about strengths and weaknesses of the candidates, as well as letting the candidates get to know us.
The major issue is communication. Each of us must alert the other to major decisions yet-to-be-made and then the decisions that are made. Each of us must know what the other, and his or her areas of ministry, are doing, but not in exhaustive detail. In every setting, we must trust the ability of the other. Even more importantly, we must share the same vision for the congregation. Every administrative decision must be made with the same vision in mind.
Sally and Andy Langford, Senior Co-Pastors
St. Stephen United Methodist Church, Charlotte, NC
In a 1986 article published by The Christian Ministry, Kim Egolf-Fox (who was then A CO-pastor with his wife) wrote: “Only once has there been a national ecumenical gathering of clergy couples. In 1978, the… National Council of Churches of Christ sponsored a four-day ecumenical clergy couples consultation…” (January 1986, p.15). There were 113 clergy couples from 12 denominations involved in the event, and Egolf-Fox indicated that a possible second consultation was being planned. In my research, I have found no indication that this event took place.
I am by no means seeking to create an event as large as the 1978 gathering, but Amy and I will be hosting a simple retreat for couples involved in Shared Pastoral Ministry on Monday-Tuesday, September 10-11, 2001. I have reserved a beautiful lodge at Rockmont Camp for Boys in Black Mountain, NC for these days. The purpose of the retreat will be just that – a time of retreat from the busy-ness of shared ministry – and I can think of no more beautiful place to do so than in Black Mountain. During the two days, Amy and I will call us together for two informal sessions of dialogue. Other than that, the time will be your own to enjoy the beauty of Camp Rockmont, the Blue Ridge Mountains, or Black Mountain with its dozens of local-artist shops and antique stores. (It’s a great town!)
The cost of the retreat will only be $50.00, which will cover Monday night’s lodging and all meals. An optional second night (Sunday night) is available, if anyone is interested. (I am pursuing possible options for travel assistance. If such financial assistance would allow you to participate, please let me know.) For more information (including a few digital pictures of the Rockmont setting), simply respond by e-mail, and I will send the details.
I hope you can join us.
7. A Little Poetry for the Road
As a lover of poetry, I thought I would include a selection in each issue, just for fun. I have used this poem in a number of weddings, because of its appropriate challenge to couples. We conclude all weddings with these words, “Now the wedding is over… and the marriage is begun!”
I fantasized two gloriously-in-love people on a Harlequin cover.
Marriage was a list of beforehand things: dress, invitations, cake, flowers –
Everything ticking off perfectly.
Then I made it to the real thing,
Both of us bending against the wind that gave my wedding veil no peace,
Holding hard to each other.
Ida Fassel – quoted in the Christian Century.
Here’s my ever-growing list of couples involved in Shared Pastoral Ministry. (It’s very ironic to me that my list of Baptists is so much longer than the rest!) If you know of other couples who serve together, or would benefit from our conversations, please let me know.
BAPTIST
Rhonda and Rodney Stewart-Wilcox, California (nabc@2xtreme.net)
Cynthia Clawson and Ragan Courtney, Texas (raganl@hotmail.com)
Paula and Scot McCosh, New York, ABC (psmcmac@hotmail.com)
Maralene and Miles Wesner, Oklahoma, CBF (diversitypress@netscape.net)
Bill and Mary Dell Sigler, Virginia, CBF (mdsigler@rivnet.net, bsigler@rivnet.net)
David and Judith Bledsoe Bailey, Virginia, (JudithBBailey@aol.com)
Jana Knight Craggs, South Carolina, (revcraggs@charter.net, revjcraggs@charter.net)
Mark and Mary Driskill, South Carolina, CBF (mandmdriskill@yahoo.com)
Jeffrey and Tonya Vickery, South Carolina (jandtvickery@worldnet.att.net)
Jim and Julie Coston, South Carolina (coston011@msn.com)
Dan and Reppa Cottrell, Rhode Island, ABC (Nscit1@aol.com)
Carla and Steve Street, Mississippi CBF (no email address)
Denise and Christine Wiley, Washington DC, (denwil@aol.com)
Paul and Stacey Simpson Duke, Michigan (paul.fbca2@prodigy.net, stacey.fbca2@prodigy.net)
Andrea and Walter Klimt, Europe (a9209618@unet.unnie.ac.at)
Robert and Jane Pan, North Carolina, CBF (chinese@foresthills.org)
Debbie and Rich Lloyd, Kentucky (not currently serving together) (rlloydiii@aol.com)
Eric and Jenny Howell, North Carolina, (Duke Divinity School) (erichowell@earthlink.com)
Jeanelle Cox and Christopher Ingram, North Carolina, (Duke Divinity School) (kjc4@duke.edu, christopher@rrbch.com)
Tony and Katrina Brooks, Virginia (not currently serving together) (4brooks@halifax.com)
Charles and Amy Carter Stewart, Virginia, (not currently serving together) (cstewart@halifax.com)
Sean Oliver and Jamie Allen, Texas, (Truett Seminary) (Seanoliver@aol.com, Jamie_Allen@Baylor.edu)
CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
Martin and Sharon Hutchinson, North Carolina (revshutch@juno.com)
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
Bill and Donna Rose Heim, Missouri (brh@cameron.net)
EPISCOPAL
Bob and Ruth Partlow (rgpx2@aol.com)
LUTHERAN
Don and Donna Wright, Nebraska, ELCA (lordlove@radiks.net)
METHODIST
Catherine and Steve Price, Florida, UMC (TwoRevs2U@aol.com)
Paul and Sara Johnsen, Wisconsin, UMC (sarahj@mhtc.net, pumc@mhtc.net)
Chris and Joan Hoppe-Spink, New York, Free Methodist (jnchsp@juno.com)
Mary and Paul Arnold (Illinois) (revsarnold@yahoo.com)
Andy and Sally Langford, North Carolina, UMC (slolang@aol.com)
PRESBYTERIAN
Tammy and Tom Letts, Wyoming, PC USA (tletts@wyellowstone.com)
Chris and Margaret Gelini, Washington, PC USA (chrismarggelini@ace-internet.net)
Banu and James Moore, New York, PC USA (zebra@madbbs.com)
Jon and Susanne Shulz-Martin, Virginia (not currently serving together) (susannesmartin@juno.com)
9. “News for Two”: The June/July Edition
The next issue will be on “Worship,” and will feature some of your best ideas for shared worship leadership.
- I would like to share with the network a sermon on Priscilla and Aquilla and on Jesus’ commission of the disciples “two by two.” Would you share one?
- Do you have creative ideas or experiences of worship services which have specifically used your gifts as a couple?
- Have you found any worship resources which were particularly helpful to your planning?