Bartlett church receives grant for clergy renewal program
Immanuel United Church of Christ in Bartlett has received a grant of more than $42,000 to enable its minister, the Rev. Susan Tyrrel, to participate in the 2018 National Clergy Renewal Program.
The Bartlett church is one of 148 congregations across the U.S. selected to participate in this competitive grant program, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. and administered by Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. 2018 grants are used in the 2019 year.
Established by the endowment in 2000, the program's grants allow Christian congregations to support their pastors with the gift of extended time away from their ministerial duties and responsibilities. Ministers whose congregations are awarded the grants use their time away from the demands of daily ministry to engage in reflection and renewal.
The approach respects the "Sabbath time" concept, offering ministers a carefully considered respite that may include travel, study, rest, immersive arts and cultural experiences and prayer.
Through the National Clergy Renewal Program, congregations apply for grants of up to $50,000 to support renewal programs for their pastors. Collaborative in nature and implementation, the program allows congregations to partner with their ministers in developing experiences that address their unique renewal needs and aspirations.
Recognizing that ministers' families are subject to the stress and demands placed on pastoral leaders, the program encourages pastors to involve their families in renewal activities.
Congregational needs during the minister's renewal experience also are considered.
Up to $15,000 of the grant may be used to support interim pastoral leadership during the pastor's retreat, as well as renewal activities within the congregation.
Since the National Clergy Renewal Program's inception, more than 2,600 congregations have participated in the program, including the 148 congregations receiving grants in 2018.
The theme of Immanuel UCC's Grant Proposal centered on how the Holy Spirit "gathers the faithful in many different ways, places and times."
Both the church and Tyrrel will engage in activities, prayer, reflection and exploration over themes of gathering and welcome.
An all-church read and a spiritual gifts survey are planned for the families of the church, and a variety of experiences await their pastor, including a family reunion, a week's stay at an Alabama conference center for reading, writing and quiet reflection, volunteering at Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, Mississippi, in addition to three days in Rome and a Mediterranean cruise with her husband.
The Rev. Paris Donehoo, who recently retired from full-time ministry in the United Church of Christ, will be the part-time minister at the church while Tyrrel is away.
"Pastors play an important role in nourishing the spiritual lives of individuals and in guiding the work of the Christian congregations they serve," said Dr. Christopher L. Coble, the endowment's vice president for religion.
"Through these grants, we seek to honor pastors for their extraordinary service and enable them to engage in a brief period of rest and renewal. We have learned that such experiences invigorate the leadership of pastors and bring new vitality to their congregations as well."
The Rev. Robert Saler, research fellow and director of the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs, noted that the National Clergy Renewal Program integrates key attributes of healthy congregations, including a mutual respect for the renewal needs of both ministers and the congregations they serve.
"The program provides an opportunity for congregations to express appreciation for their ministers' service and leadership," Saler said.
"At a time when leaders are often praised for their pace of innovation and productivity, the National Clergy Renewal Program pays homage to the timeless wisdom embedded in the practice of reflection and renewal."
Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis directs the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program for Indiana Congregations and a second program for congregations across the United States through its Center for Pastoral Excellence.