September 2006

Back from Sabbatical
How does it look from here? In a word, familiar! I enjoyed a three-month sabbatical from June 15 to September 15, loved the extended detachment, and was happy to be coming back at the end of it. Just the kind of process of renewal for which such leaves are intended. I didn’t chase around visiting places and listening to speakers (that’s what I do a lot of in this work!), but rather kicked back, took a stack of books, headed to a lake up north. I fell short of the 35 books I read on the sabbatical I took in 1995—I read about 25 this time—but I have four more grandchildren now (four) than I had then (none), and if you added in the books that have very large print and lots of pictures, my count goes way up!

One is also supposed to detach, which I did (in spite of pre-arranged weekly contact with the office). The proof: on Saturday, September 16, driving to preach at a Saturday night service at Shepherd of the Valley in Apple Valley, it occurred to me as I got off I-35E onto Cliff Road that I hadn’t bothered to bring any vestments. I’m sure I’ll hit my stride soon!

I need to say a word of appreciation to the staff who carried on our work in fine fashion without me. We did consult, but there weren’t interruptions in our work and people continued to receive what they needed from us. Each of the three associates led staff meetings for a month. Beth Helgen, not yet a full year into her role as my assistant for administration (and what a broad title that is!) responded to queries that came looking for me and had things wonderfully arranged for my return.

So just what did I do? Gerry and I headed north after her foot surgery in June, and for the first three weeks or so I got into a wonderful rhythm of exercise, work, and reading. My dog and I logged about 200 miles of jogging. On my 1995 sabbatical I built a stone fireplace; this year I built a one-story stone wall behind a wood burning stove. And did some paneling, dry walling, wood splitting, canoeing, and swimming (Are you beginning to wonder why I came back?) On July 8 we got our two grandchildren from Norway (and, incidentally, their parents too), and had them for four weeks, during which time we got our California granddaughter (and parents) for five days, and, later, our Milwaukee grandson for a week. When they left August 7 the previous rhythm returned and, when Gerry came back to get ready for the school year, I entered the final phase—solitude! I have about 12 pages of notes (still pretty sloppy) on my reading. I’d count about 15 books that were non-fiction pieces of substance, another four or five novels of quality, and a half dozen escape novels. In advocating for sabbatical policies in congregations, I urge lay leaders to understand such leave not as a perk, but as a benefit both for the renewal of the minister and of the ministry, i.e., the congregation benefits greatly. I pray that is also the case for our work together in this synod.

Two Points of Conversation
If we were having coffee, I'd have a lot to talk about. But knowing the way email piles up, I’ve got two matters about which I’d like to comment, one very specific, one a very general musing.

The launch of Crossing Bridges
I did interrupt “up north” time to join about 140 of our rostered leaders for the St. Croix boat trips to have conversation about the launching of Crossing Bridges, the synod’s mission appeal. There’s been lots of interest. Also lots of concern about conflict or overlap with appeals going on in your congregation. Quick and to the point, here are the things I want to say:

• Don’t let this get lost in the shuffle. We’re all inundated with appeals. But the life together that we share as a church doesn’t do this often (one other time in our 18-year history). This is a broad appeal and is aimed at the heart of what we’re called to be and do: start new congregations, train pastors, reach out to the poor, go to other lands—with the gospel at the heart of it all.
• This isn’t hard sell, arm-twisting. It’s inviting. You all have people in your congregations already sharing these concerns. This is inviting extra-mile giving, in ways that are tailored to your setting.
• In addition to strong forward movement in specific areas, this gives us and our people positive energy for the life we share together as a church. Whether people are in a position to give or not, when they hear the story they can be proud of this work that their church is doing.
• Three key, enjoyable, and free events are upon us. We invite you to bring people from your congregation to one of these events—90 minutes, divided roughly in thirds, featuring exquisite desserts (the least we can do for folks rushing off from their supper tables!), some first-rate dinner entertainment (Bob Stromberg of Triple Espresso; Greta Grosch from Church Basement Ladies; Cantus, made up largely of alumni from St. Olaf), and 30 minutes from Crossing Bridges Director Gary Anderson and me in interpreting the opportunities of Crossing Bridges.

There is no cost, but we need to know numbers. Call the synod office when you know who’s coming. Again, times and places:

Thursday, September 28, 7:30 p.m., Incarnation Lutheran Church, Shoreview
Entertainment by comedian Bob Stromberg of Triple Espresso.
Sunday, October 1, 6:30 p.m., Gloria Dei Lutheran, St. Paul
Entertainment by Greta Grosch who has earned critical acclaim for her portrayal of Mavis Gilmerson in the hit musical Church Basement Ladies.
Tuesday, October 3, 7:30 p.m., Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran, Apple Valley
Entertainment by Cantus, a professional male vocal chamber ensemble dedicated to the performance of innovative and engaging musical programs.

The word is getting around—in the last two days alone registration jumped by over 150. I know fall is a busy season, but please don’t let this slip by!

Living our faith
Back to sabbatical musings. Most of my reading selections fell into two areas—religion, the world in which I live and work, and history, the story of this world far beyond just my life, but including it. What came into focus early and was often called to mind was the difference between religious zeal (a very good thing) and religious arrogance (a very bad thing). They are often confused. The spiritual life that Henry Nouwen describes in Spiritual Direction, or Mark Alan Powell in Loving Jesus, or even Marcus Borg in The Heart of Christianity is a deep, full, rich life rooted in a relationship with a living God. This God we are drawn to envelopes the whole of life, our whole being. Finding such richness, we are of course drawn to want to share it. Thus, zeal for carrying it to others.

But the zeal that turns to arrogance has plagued Christianity for 2,000 years and still does today. Historian Kevin Phillips (Republican architect of Nixon’s Southern strategy) lays out in American Theocracy that the downfall of four previous world superpowers—Rome, the Dutch, Spain, and England—was all shaped in large part by religious arrogance, a presumption of being God’s favored people. This danger echoed again and again in several other things I read: Southern Baptist Jimmy Carter’s Our Endangered Values; Getting on Message, a collection of essays by theologians disputing the politics of the Christian Right, and even one of the novels, Death Comes to the Archbishop by Willa Cather. I loved a pure history I grabbed from my uncle’s shelf—Peace to End All Peace: The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Rise of the Modern Middle East (1916-1922). Though written in 1989 it still holds. It’s an account of the Europeans dictating the shape of the Middle East after World War I, decisions arising out of an arrogance and ignorance of the culture and religion of the people that, the author says, has ensured continued turmoil for a long time.

My point: we are at our best when we witness to and live from the relationship we have with a living God whom we have come to know in Jesus Christ. And we do that from a posture of humility (one of the biblical virtues, don’t forget!) and openness to what God may be doing in the lives of other people as well. I see much of that happening in our church, among us, and for that I’m grateful.

I’m grateful for all of you! I look forward to seeing many of you at the theological conference this coming week.

Peter Rogness