Still appreciating
I have very much appreciated receiving and reading your monthly publication. Recently I received the November issue and was greatly taken by the article written by Torben Bergland entitled “Fired up or burned out?”
My wife and I work as the International Member Care coordinators in our Mission and are keenly aware of the stress, overload, and burnout potential within our workers. I would be very grateful if I could obtain permission to quote some of the text from Torben’s article along with an acknowledgment to him for an in-house article I am preparing.
And thanks again for a great periodical.
—Allen Teal, WORLD OUTREACH International
Still sharing
I just read “Paid in Full” that is in your January magazine. Pavel Goia’s testimony is so powerful that I would love to be able to share it. Our church sends out a weekly email that contains a devotion. I was wondering if it is possible to share this as the devotion. Thank you for sharing it with us!
—Liz Martin, Christ Church, a United Methodist Congregation, Racine, Wisconsin, United States
Still relevant?
I valued the November 2018 guest editorial (Peter N. Landless, “Our work is not yet done”) very much but as a retired minister aged 81 I wondered whether the title is still relevant. In this process of aging there is sense of one’s ministry no longer being valid. But I would like to make a case for the continued use of life experience.
I can recall from those times of active ministry when I sought the wisdom and support of senior retired members of the profession. In every aspect of life, we all need that patient listening ear of a person whom we trust. Retired clergy can often provide that “priestly” role.
—J. Lawson, Perthshire, Scotland
Response from author
I fully agree that retired clergy can be of great benefit as mentors and, yes, priests to those serving in one of the loneliest professions of all—pastoring! This role not only benefits those served and mentored, but very positively benefits the wholistic health of the one doing the mentoring. Of course, the mentors need to be measured, circumspect, and respectful in communicating the wonderful experience gained, often through lifetimes of selfless service. But we should encourage careful, intentional, and positive mentoring from one of our greatest resources: our retired pastors who so often have much to offer—if granted the opportunity.
—Peter Landless
