Living layers of cumulonimbus clouds pile up against the Allegheny Mountains of Western Maryland, as in the Himalayas during monsoon, shades of white and gray and black, light and fluffy, interacting with each other. This afternoon they may bring rain, or tomorrow.
Saturday, July 6, 2019
Monday, July 1, 2019
Moving: Pastor's Spouse
Six months ago. My husband and I are engaged in conversations with a church call committee. Daniel had already spoken with his synod support team and they recommended we travel to the area to see if we liked it. We go, love it, and over the next couple of months meet with the call committee several times. We meet with the church council. Then we meet with the congregation. Somehow I ended up at all of those meetings; what other job does the spouse attend the interview?
Four months ago. My husband is called to a new church, in a new state. This is the first time we will be moving within the same synod, and also the first time our move will not be across an ocean. We start packing, list the house for sale, schedule the last appointments and last book discussions. Our son starts looking for a new place to live.
Three months ago. Today's my last day on the job I've held for eight years. That's the longest I've ever been at the same job (other than parenting).
Two months ago. I am in Ecuador with my family, enjoying some rest and relaxation before the next call. As soon as we get back, the moving committee from the church we're moving to shows up with a big truck and hauls our stuff away. How did we accumulate so much stuff? Isn't there anything more we can get rid of / not move?
About a week ago. I notice that I am becoming familiar with our new home: I turn the right way on Winchester Road for the first time. One day soon, I will find the right work to do in a new place. Meanwhile, Daniel's been at his new job for a month and a half.
It's a good move. The Spirit of God has guided it from the beginning, from the first time Daniel began to feel the Word of God in his voice has been spoken and heard at the congregation where we have been for eight years. The congregation we're leaving needs to hear a new voice. It is clear that the congregation we're moving to needs to hear Daniel's voice for a while.
Were we in the wrong place before? No. We needed each other. Are we in the right place now? For now. Leaving is not easy. Starting over is not simple. I know there are books to help pastors gracefully leave a congregation. They have workshops about what pastor's need to do to prepare, and to prepare congregations for transition. Are there books for pastors' spouses? I'm looking.
Four months ago. My husband is called to a new church, in a new state. This is the first time we will be moving within the same synod, and also the first time our move will not be across an ocean. We start packing, list the house for sale, schedule the last appointments and last book discussions. Our son starts looking for a new place to live.
Three months ago. Today's my last day on the job I've held for eight years. That's the longest I've ever been at the same job (other than parenting).
Two months ago. I am in Ecuador with my family, enjoying some rest and relaxation before the next call. As soon as we get back, the moving committee from the church we're moving to shows up with a big truck and hauls our stuff away. How did we accumulate so much stuff? Isn't there anything more we can get rid of / not move?
About a week ago. I notice that I am becoming familiar with our new home: I turn the right way on Winchester Road for the first time. One day soon, I will find the right work to do in a new place. Meanwhile, Daniel's been at his new job for a month and a half.
It's a good move. The Spirit of God has guided it from the beginning, from the first time Daniel began to feel the Word of God in his voice has been spoken and heard at the congregation where we have been for eight years. The congregation we're leaving needs to hear a new voice. It is clear that the congregation we're moving to needs to hear Daniel's voice for a while.
Were we in the wrong place before? No. We needed each other. Are we in the right place now? For now. Leaving is not easy. Starting over is not simple. I know there are books to help pastors gracefully leave a congregation. They have workshops about what pastor's need to do to prepare, and to prepare congregations for transition. Are there books for pastors' spouses? I'm looking.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)