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Internship
Newsletter: April 2007
High Desert Ministry
Sierra Lutheran in Sierra Vista, Arizona, has been an internship
site for many years. As we look at different sites that host CLI
interns, it has a unique setting and a unique story. Pastor Harl
Pike and Intern Meta Herrick offer this report.
Harl says:
Sierra Vista, Arizona is high desert (4,600 feet more or less
depending on where you are standing) and is on the edge of the only
place in the US where the Chihuahuan grassland eco system comes
north into our country. We are 15 miles or so from the Mexican
border, although the nearest towns are 50+ miles to the southeast
and southwest of us. Because of the infrastructure that exists in
Mexico, we have become a popular route for drug smugglers and people
smugglers.
 Sierra
Vista did not exist until the 1950s and then it wasn’t much until
the 1970s. Since it was in a remote place, the army chose to make
this its electronic proving ground at an old unused post called Fort
Huachuca. Everything from field telephones to satellites are
included in its mission. Much of your GPS system was developed and
tested here. Fort Huachuca is also home to army intelligence. People
like to make jokes about that being an oxymoron, but in fact, it has
created a community here full of incredibly interesting and well
traveled people. Over my 29 years of ministry in this place, we have
had Christians with us from 27 different countries. Several
practicing Muslims have also worshipped here with us. For example,
currently we have one elderly Iranian who winters here and goes back
to Iran for the rest of the year.
The military is a traditional culture that values education.
Therefore, we have a very literate (Biblical and otherwise) group
that call Sierra Lutheran home. Many of the men have stirring
testimonies that bring tears to your eyes when you hear them since
they often “found” Jesus in intense situations of combat.
We have had 25 interns. Our current intern, Meta Herrick, was born
just after we (I) started with this program. Again, reflecting the
international character of SELC, one was from Ethiopia via Sweden
and another from Germany who is now in South Africa.
The congregation has a good sense of what it means to be part of the
seminary teaching team. Since we don’t use interns as cheap labor to
plug up holes, our interns come here and can really learn the ropes
of working with a mid-sized, traditional congregation.
We currently have 4 services. One is more or less the “intern
service” which means our interns have lots of worship and preaching
experience. They usually preach 3 weeks out of 4. Our interns also
serve as the chaplain at our local hospital. They spend about 10
hours a week as part of their normal work week over at the hospital
and receive a salary from them for their service (about $300/month).
Meta says:
I wanted to come to Sierra Vista because the local demographics and
opportunities sounded unique. I've learned about border issues and
life in a military town - two experiences I never thought I would
have during internship.
The congregation takes such pride in the intern program here. They
adore all their interns and have given me plenty of encouragement
and room to grow. This is a talented and blessed teaching
congregation, eager to help raise me for pastoral responsibilities,
but they also respect me as a leader.
This internship site is ideal for students seeking independence and
guidance from their supervisor. Pastor Pike is approachable and
wise, but gives me the space I need to try new things or fall on my
face. It feels good to work with a supervisor who trusts and
believes in you. I know many of Harl's intern alums who feel the
same way.
The two requirements for this internship: Serving the local health
center as the part-time employed chaplain and preaching - 3 sermons
each month. Pastor Pike is clear about these expectations during the
interview process and these requirements perked my interest. I had a
great CPE experience and wanted to continue working in a clinical
setting. I also hoped to become a better preacher by preaching often
and creating a weekly rhythm.
I can't imagine what internship would be like without these people
and this place. They've
brought seminary to life and affirmed my call and creative passions!
Interns and Stewardship Leadership 
 There
is a strong aversion to stewardship. When I meet someone and they
learn what I do they will often respond and say, “Oh! You are a
fund-raiser.” I think of what I do in a much broader way, but most
people are not very interested in further conversation on the topic.
While stewardship includes everything we do after we say we
believe, the bone that sticks in the throat is money. For that very
reason, we need to pay attention to it.
Unfortunately, in most congregations the only time money becomes
a topic is when the church is making an appeal for more money. Too
often it is fear-based. The treasurer of the congregation, whose
role is called upon to be the chief beggar, is encouraged by the
council to stand up and give the straight talk and/or write a
scolding article for the newsletter. Money is scarce! We do not have
enough. We are $xxxx amount behind in our budget. We have to pay the light
bill, salaries or the mortgage. If you don’t increase your giving we
will have to lock the doors! Exciting stuff!
While the talk around church regarding money is often the lack of
it, money is topic of thoughts and conversations by almost everyone
almost every day. Taxes, gasoline, clothes and groceries are current
topics. Look at the newspapers, listen to the radio, watch TV and
listen to loud cell phone conversations and you will hear and see
how frequently money and possessions are mentioned.
So during this month, pay attention to the money culture of our
society, our homes and our church:
- How often is “MONEY” mentioned?
- What gets talked about most? What is the ratio between sharing
– saving –spending?
- What is the “money” talk in the congregation you serve?
- For whom is money being used?
- What are the attitudes about money? Scarcity or Abundance
- What feelings lie behind the attitudes?
- Where and when do faith and money connect?
Think about this: Money and possessions are mentioned or
addressed directly by Jesus more than any other topic. Our
relationship with money is a spiritual issue. Jesus was and still is
concerned about people (rich and poor) being possessed by
possessions.
Dr. Richard Bliese talks about how in over 26 focus groups he has
attended there was a request that occurred in every single one of
them. “We need stewardship leadership.” My prayer is that you will
answer the call. The first step is to become aware of the money
culture in which we all live.
Grace & Peace,
Jerry Hoffman
Director of the Center for Stewardship Leadership
Luther Seminary
jhoffman@luthersem.edu
I invite you to join over 2200 people who subscribe to a weekly
electronic e-mail from Stewardship for the 21st Century – a Luther
Seminary on-line ministry. To receive it go to
http://www.luthersem.edu/email/email.asp?list3=on and subscribe.
Browse the website at
http://www.luthersem.edu/stewardship.
Cross-Cultural Comments
A Report from Alicia Vargas and Rod Maeker
Around 110 students from PLTS, LS, and four other ELCA seminaries
participated in Cross-Cultural Experiences during this past January
Term. They visited ten sites around the globe in places like Mexico
City, South Africa, Thailand, Rural Ministries in Southwestern
Minnesota and Western North Dakota, Pine Ridge Reservation, Urban
ministry sites in Chicago, Hmong congregations in St. Paul, Messiah
Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in
St. Paul, and congregations in Los Angeles.
What follows is a small sample of the comments made by students
after their return in reflection papers, evaluation forms, and
debriefing sessions.
Insight
- I am encouraged by the realization that I do not need to have
every answer and every resolution thought out and ready to be
applied for every unknown situation that I may encounter.
- I have seen God’s abundance. We live in a world that seems to
eat, breath, and market scarcity. We are conditioned to think that
if I don’t go get my share before someone else there will not be
enough for me. This is totally counter to the gospel.
- My view of God changed/developed during my experience in three
major ways (1) God’s mission is not limited by culture; (2) God’s
power flows through institutions, communities, and individuals,
(3) my belief in the mystery and power of God’s love for humanity
was deepened.
Learning
- I have become guilty of a sin I have long learned to watch for
in others: equating white-American culture with Christianity.
- I learned how Jesus and the Bible are seen through the eyes of
the poor.
- Humility is a trait that American culture does not have.
- I think the biggest portion of my learning came when I asked
questions regarding a pastor’s role with a church that is dying.
- I learned how multi-point parishes can be organized and do
effective ministry.
- It was very helpful for me to learn, if nothing else, that
rural ministry is a different culture in many ways and to be
prepared for some of the differences that I might expect should I
be called to a rural setting.
- I learned to let go of the need to be on top of things,
respect traditional value of Lakota culture and feel great
consternation about the injustices they have faced.
Racism
- I have learned that I am a racist. I am very privileged and
powerful in ways that I had not even considered before taking this
course.
- I have learned a lot about institutional racism and that I am
a part of a system that oppresses people of color and privileges
me.
- I learned that racial minorities are tired of experiencing
pain and frustration in their attempts to help white people
understand the effects of their privilege and power.
- I have learned that there are privileges and power that come
from just being a white person.
- Before this experience, I had to really struggle to imagine
what racism and inequalities do to the children of God. I have a
much clearer picture now. Now I understand much better the
Christian calling to spread the Word of justice, love, and
righteousness, and also grace and forgiveness of sins for the
transformation of the lives of both the oppressor and the
oppressed.
Ministry
- In this immersion experience, I was once again punctured by
the expansive love and the deep faith of the communities who
embraced me. I learned about God's great charity through the
hearts of the people of St. Mark's, Holy Trinity, Angelica,
Ascension, and Pueblo de Dios.
- I have finally seen an example of ministry that goes beyond
the front doors of the church. By this I mean the style of
ministry that does not “wait” for people to come through the
door…they go out into the community. I now have tools and examples
of how to do this and I am excited by the possibilities!
- Ministry is about relationships, first with God and then with
God’s people, all people!
- The issues in our local communities cannot be addressed
effectively without addressing the larger regional policies which
are creating poverty, economic and racial disparities.
- My host reminded us that the church is the only organization
in the world that is concerned with those who are not members of
it.
- God is not limited to activities or missions that I now
recognize which I have received from my culture.
- When I decided to let God lead me through these two weeks,
rather than being guided by my own attitudes and opinions, this
event opened up new possibilities for my future ministry.
- I learned how to settle down and just experience something
even if I felt like it was weird-- I might even end up liking it!
Attitudes and Beliefs
- We are so tempted to put God in a box. We want so badly to
define God and when we do this God soon looks like us, acts like
us and believes just like us. This narrow view limits God and
reduces God to function at our level. This experience has reminded
me again that God is beyond our ability to define.
- There is something restorative to the human heart when you are
loved--not for what you do but for who you are. As I continue to
reflect upon what happened to me in this immersion experience, I
realize that I felt an unconditional love and acceptance in the
communities with which I lived, studied, worshipped, ate meals
together, sang with and just plain 'hung out' with.
- I need to remember that there are often no easy answers on
many difficult issues such as rural economics. But God is work
even in difficult circumstances.
- There is much more going on in rural areas than I was even
aware, such as new technologies and new possibilities.
- I learned about Animism through first hand experiences
observing a traditional Hmong funeral
- I received a small glimpse into the powerful antidote for
spiritual fear and oppression provided by the Gospel.
- I developed a greater appreciation for cultural differences
and how they affect our interactions, particularly with respect to
faith.
- I’ve come away from the last two weeks feeling that it was
life-changing in ways I don’t yet know.
- The people I encountered in Los Angeles have given me a
greater understanding of what it means to believe in a missional
God who brings hope and healing to the whole world.
- By getting in touch with people who live in a reality
different than mine, I expected to experience a deepening of my
own faith and an expanding of my own heart and mind--and I can
honestly say that I did. (The reference to the "mind and the
heart" is part of PLTS's mission statement.)
Cross-Cultural Experience Course
- This class has really lit a fire in/under me to take action. I
have sold my car and do my best to live on less.
- This course represented an excellent combination of first-hand
experience, historical study, personal interaction, and relevant
experiences for future ministry. It was intellectually,
emotionally, and spiritually stimulating as well as personally
inspiring. It is one of the best courses I have taken while in
seminary.
- Thanks for this experience. I'll never be the same again.
From the Editor: On Loving the Church
by Steve McKinley
Even if you do not love baseball, be patient with me for a while.
I do love baseball, and to get myself ready for the new season I’ve
been reading two best-selling baseball books from the last few
years:
Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael
Lewis, and
Three Nights in August by Buzz Bissinger. Interestingly
enough, both books feature new “afterwords” devoted to the two
authors attacking each other!
 Moneyball
is about Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane and his “new”
approach to developing a team, based on a statistical analysis of
players and the game. Three Nights in August is about St.
Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa and the way he manages his team
based on personal familiarity with the game and its players. The
Three Nights in August crowd claims that the Moneyball
crowd does not love baseball as it really is, but only the theory of
baseball; the Moneyball folks, on the other hand, assert
their love for baseball, but then say that the way it has always
been doesn’t mean that’s the way it has to be. While it is tempting
to say that this is a quarrel between theoreticians and real world
folks, I do not believe that for a minute. I believe that both camps
are rooted in reality, but their realities aren’t quite the same. I
further believe that the future of baseball will be carved out by
those who are able to combine the insights of the Moneyball
folks with the experience of the Three Nights in August
people.
Now, back to internship and the Contextual Leadership Initiative. By
the magic of words, I may succeed in the next few sentences in
alienating virtually everyone I know except for my two dogs, and
they are reserving judgment! Take a deep breath.
The Moneyball vs. Three Nights in August battle
reminds me of battles I have known for years in the church. I have
heard, yes I have heard, parish pastors and other such scorn
seminary faculties for being out of touch with the real life of
congregations, for not knowing the church “as it really is.” I have
also heard, yes I have heard, seminary folk who consider the parish
pastors of the church the biggest barrier to its improvement and
label them as hopelessly theologically illiterate, defenders of the
status quo, resistant to change. All of them, on both sides of the
debate, are dead wrong.
The Contextual Leadership Initiative is a place where those who love
the church as it is not yet but might yet be encounter those who
love the church as it is, warts and all. Again, I refuse to say that
this is a matter of theoreticians vs. real world people. I know how
much seminary faculty members love the church, pour themselves into
it, and dream great dreams for the embodiment of the good news. I
know how much parish pastors wrestle to seek the very best in
understanding, and how very critical they tend to be of themselves
and their own churches. Both groups have their own realities and
their own theories. Both groups love the church in their own way.
Both groups need each other to achieve maximum health and
productivity. Parish pastors need seminary faculties and seminary
faculties need parish pastors. In the setting of contextual
education both groups can come together and be challenged and
stretched and encouraged so that the mission of the gospel can be
worked out in a way that is satisfying and productive for all
concerned.
It doesn’t have to be Moneyball vs. Three Nights in August.
Put the two together, and wonderful things can happen!
It's Hard to Believe...
...that there are a few interns and supervisors and lay teams who
have not...yes, they have not...submitted the
six month
evaluation forms everyone should have completed some time ago.
Hard to believe, but true. If by chance you happen to be one of
those, please, please, please, we beg of you...get it in!
Lift up next year’s interns in your prayers! This is a high
stress time for them. The CLI staff met in St. Paul on March 26-7 to
make internship assignments for 115 people for next year. Students
will be informed of their assignments on April 5 and congregations
on April 12.
Spring Cluster Meetings
Western Wisconsin/East Metro: April 17, 2:00 - 8:00 pm
(optional
overnight) at Carondelet Center, St. Paul (Laure Schwartz)
North Metro: April 19, 2:00 - 8:00 pm (optional overnight)
at Episcopal
House of Prayer, Collegeville (Laure Schwartz)
Alaska: April 23-24, noon to noon, Anchorage
Oregon: April 24-25, noon to noon, Menucha Conference Center
(Steve McKinley)
Washington: April 26-27, noon to noon, Dumas Bay Conference Center
(Steve McKinley)
Northern Minnesota: April 26 - 27 Camp Knutson, Cross Lake
(Laure Schwartz)
South Metro: May 1 at St. Mary Magdalene, Savage (Steve
McKinley)
Arizona: May 3-4 (Sherwood Glover)
Northern California: May 7-8 (Sherwood Glover)
North Dakota: May 7-8, Camp of the Cross, Garrison (Steve
McKinley)
Southern Minnesota-South Dakota: May 10, Shalom Hill Farm
(Steve McKinley)
Denver Area: May 10, Abiding Hope Lutheran Church,
Littleton, CO (Sherwood Glover)
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