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Internship Newsletter: October 2007

Internship Surrounded by Natural Disaster

Wendy Kingsbury is serving her internship at Rushford Lutheran Church in Rushford, Minnesota with Pastor Roger Michaelson as her supervisor. She began her internship at the beginning of August. Two weeks later catastrophic rains buffeted southeastern Minnesota, with Rushford being the hardest hit community. All of a sudden the context for Wendy's internship was radically changed. Wendy recently answered a few questions about that for the CLI Newsletter.

1. How has the flood impacted Rushford Lutheran Church?

The flood has impacted Rushford Lutheran Church in many ways. Most of our members were affected by the flood which raises concerns financially, and due to members cleaning/reconstructing their own homes, we've sought out volunteers such as the Lutheran Disaster Response team, Ameri-corp, etc. in the cleanup and reconstruction of our church structure. The main issue in the church was that of sewage. We had approximately 14 inches of sewage in our kitchen/fellowship hall. That has all been gutted out and disinfected at this point. Attendance has been holding on which is a blessing. It is a time of weekly renewal for all, I think.

2. How has the ministry there changed as a result of that impact?

I certainly see ministry through a different lens after this experience. I wouldn't wish such a disaster upon anyone; however, I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything either. The relationships that have been formed in such a short period of time have been amazing. I arrived at RLC two weeks before the flood hit; I hadn’t met many members, I was still "shadowing" my supervisor, I didn't have a job description in place, and I hadn’t had an internship committee meeting yet. I have learned a lot about organizations such as the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, FEMA, SBA, LDR, etc. I feel that I have a solid foundation built as far as having references in place for the future. I have been doing a lot of listening. A pastor in the midst of a crisis plays an important role. People need to share their stories – it becomes part of the healing process. My family actually had friends that I've known my whole life living in Rushford. I helped clean out their house after the flood hit. In fact, they were on vacation when this all happened and I was the one who broke the news to them that their home was half destroyed. It was very difficult to watch the look on their faces as their personal belongings were being set on the curb for pick up. This disaster has helped redirect my attention on needs versus wants and has also helped me to recognize the things we take for granted on a daily basis.

3. In particular, how has the internship there changed?   

As I mentioned before, my main role has been to listen to people's flood stories. I continue to meet new faces in the congregation and regular duties are starting back up; Confirmation, Sunday school, 5th grade communion, etc…I appreciate the mentorship meetings. I believe they help redirect our attention (my supervisor and I) on the ministry that is taking place in Rushford. It is a time for reflection and pastoral care for each other. What a valuable experience I have had thus far!

4. Since we are focusing on internship: Wendy, do you live in Rushford? How has your life changed?

Yes, I do live in Rushford. I live in the second parsonage associated with Rushford Lutheran Church. My home was thankfully untouched by the flood waters. It came probably within about 50 feet on one side and about 100 feet on the other. The city wells were contaminated with Ecoli and this past week now, we received the okay to drink the water and are now able to use it for cleaning, showering, laundry, etc. Meals have been served at what is called Montini Hall; the fellowship hall belonging to the Catholic Church in town. The Catholic Church went untouched by the flood waters and quickly opened their doors for service. Volunteers have been coming from all over the United States. And food, clothing, supplies, etc. seem to fall straight from heaven. The best illustration I would have is the biblical story on the feeding of the five thousand. There is plenty to go around and then some.

5. What has surprised you the most about these weeks?    

I think what has surprised me most is the amount of support we've received from near and far. People are volunteering their time and talents in the recovery efforts: carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, disinfecting, cooking, organizing, etc. The community of Rushford has demonstrated true teamwork and perseverance in the midst of such a disaster. Definitely something to admire and learn from.

6. What would you like fellow pastors and interns to know?

First, I'd like to say Hello! I hope this newsletter finds you all in good health and spirits. I wish God's Blessing upon you during this internship year. And secondly, please remember my supervisor and me, and the community of Rushford in your prayers. We appreciate your support. Please know that things are improving in the community and for our congregation. Flood recovery, however, is an on-going process. I believe that God is indeed present with us and will see us through.

(Editor'sNote: in the midst of all this, Wendy has also been at work planning her wedding which will take place in mid-October!)

CLI is Technology Leader at "Equipping the Saints" Conference   

Members of the CLI staff recently participated in a best practices conference, "Equipping the Saints," for theological contextual education leaders from across the country. Gary Wilkerson, Laure Schwartz and Kate Sterner were presenters at the conference, hosted by the Candler School of Theology, of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference was the culmination of Candler's Lilly Endowment grant to improve the quality of their contextual education program.

During the first years of the grant, the Candler team visited numerous theological seminaries from a broad spectrum of denominations seeking out best practices in contextual and field education. Two years ago, a team from Candler visited the CLI office in St. Paul to examine in depth our use of our Web site to administer our programs, including internship, Teaching Parish, and cross-cultural experiences. The staff from Candler were so impressed with the CLI's use of technology that Candler designed its own Web site based on the learnings gained from that visit.

"Equipping the Saints" brought together a wide variety of high-performing, forward-thinking educators, who presented to the other participants their best strategies for meeting the contextual education needs of their students. CLI staff members demonstrated the advantages of technology in making the most of the tools readily available to its students in the current cultural context.

Fall Cluster Meetings   

Some of the Fall Cluster Meetings have been scheduled, with more to come. Continuing supervisors might want to mark their calendars!

South and West Metro: Oct. 11 at Woodlake Lutheran Church, Richfield, Minn. (Steve McKinley)

Colorado: Oct. 16 at Evergreen Lutheran Church, Evergreen. Colo. (Sherwood Glover)

Oregon: Oct. 16-17 at Menucha Conference Center, Corbett, Oreg. (Julie Josund)

Northern California: Oct. 16-17 at San Damiano Retreat Center in Danville, Calif. (Sherwood Glover)

Southern Minnesota: Oct. 16-17 at Shalom Hill Farm, Windom (Steve McKinley)

East Metro: Oct. 18 at the Carondelet Center, College of St. Catherine., St. Paul, Minn. (Laure Schwartz)

Wisconsin: Oct. 18-19 at St. Bede’s Retreat Center, Eau Claire, Wisc. (Gary Wilkerson)

Arizona/New Mexico/Nevada: Oct. 18-19 at the Franciscan Retreat Center, Phoenix , Ariz.(Sherwood Glover)

Washington: Oct. 23-24, 2007 at the Dumas Bay Retreat Centre, Federal Way, Wash. (Julie Josund)

North Dakota/Northern Minnesota: Oct. 25-26 (Mark Yackel-Juleen)

North Metro: Oct. 25-26 at the Episcopal House of Prayer, Collegeville, Minn. (Laure Schwartz)

Southern California: Nov. 5-6 at the Mary and Joseph Center, Palos Verdes, Calif. (Sherwood Glover)

New CLI Web Template

As you can see, we've re-designed the CLI Web site. We're hoping things will be easier to find, easier to use. But you will decide whether we succeeded. Can you find all the forms you need? Is the handbook easier to peruse? If you have feedback to offer on the redesign of our Web template, we welcome hearing from you. E-mail ksterner@luthersem.edu with questions or suggestions.

Pastoral Blue Men   
By Steve McKinley

I had a conversation recently with my financial advisor in which he talked about the way he is developing his business. He says his model is the Blue Man Group, rather than Siegfried and Roy. Interesting and something for interns and pastors to think about.

Siefried and Roy signed a deal with a major Las Vegas hotel some years ago to perform their magic and wild animals act in that hotel more or less constantly, for which they would be paid $56 million a year (just slightly more than your average intern). But then one of the animals got into a bad mood and attacked Roy, injuring him so severely that he has never returned to performing, and the act was over.

The Blue Man Group also signed a deal for about a bazillion dollars to do their unique act of music and motion and whatever you call it exclusively for one Las Vegas hotel, and they are still at it and will be for the foreseeable future. If you have ever seen their act or even a portion of it, you know that they all look alike. Furthermore, they are all responsible for knowing all the parts in all of the routines. This means that if one of them comes down with a bad case of beriberi, somebody else will step in and take his place, and the act will go on.

From where I sit it seems like many congregations are "Siegfried and Roy" congregations, dependent on the well-being of one or two key individuals, usually a pastor or two, or a music leader. Without that person, the congregation is up the creek without a paddle, or so it thinks. What's really sad is that many pastors seem to like it this way; it builds their egos to think that they are indispensable.

They are not, finally, indispensable. They just like to think they are. Far better for the health of a church to build the leadership like Blue Man Group, where the health of the church resides in the church and not in the leader. This does not mean that the leader is insignificant. Certainly not. Leaders lead. But they do not lead by themselves.

Pastors, is your church a Siegfried and Roy church or a Blue Man Group church? Interns, what are you learning about leadership? Siegfried and Roy or Blue Man Group? Lay Committees, how does it look to you?

Siegfried and Roy leadership goes away when one person goes away. Blue Man Group leadership is there to stay. The preference seems pretty clear to me.

Check Points   

• Most internships began during the summer, or September 1 at the latest. That being the case, Confirmations of Internship Placement (yes, some are still not submitted!), Learning Service Agreements and Project Proposals are now due. Your contact people are waiting eagerly to see what you are up to, and if these documents are not submitted in the near future, they will harass you mercilessly.
   
• If you are on a Lay Internship Committee, it is a good time to sit down with the intern and look over the Learning Service Agreement or Project Proposal and provide some feedback on what they are up to. You are probably already in conversation about their preaching and worship leadership. How will you get a sense of how they are doing in their teaching, pastoral care, etc. This is a good time to have conversation about that.
   
• Students, remember the Stewardship Sermon contest being held for those on internship this year. See last month’s issue for more details.

2007-2008 Internship Teams