Last night at a good-natured but truly marathon meeting (honestly; people should have brought sleeping bags), the session of Suburban Pres approved my plans to move to half-time ministry following my maternity leave, including a proposal for two parish associates to each work 10 hours a week to cover my current responsibilities. Everything passed unanimously amid a lot of thoughtful conversation. (So I am told; I excused myself.)

Here is an excerpt of a note I sent them today:

Many times in the Church—the capital-C Church—we live out a story of part-time ministry that says it is something that everyone must somehow settle for. Usually because the church cannot afford to pay a person full-time, even though they would like to and the person “deserves” it. And often that story has a sub-plot to it, which is the nudge-nudge-wink-wink thing we do when we know that the job is a full-time job but we only pay a person part-time.

That story is certainly real and is out there, but is not the only true story that can be told.

The alternate story is about sharing ministry, and giving people the opportunity to offer their gifts in ways that they would not have been able to in the traditional system. I am thinking of a woman I know who is a committed mom and a practicing artist. Isn’t it wonderful that she has found a place to also work in ministry part-time? She has so much to offer, just not in a one-size-fits-all capacity. Or think about the retired pastor who has many productive years left but who does not want to work 40+ hours a week. Isn’t it exciting that the church can be willing to try something creative and potentially life-giving (even daring!), rather than saying, “Sorry, you don’t fit The Mold”?

Contentedly yours,
RM