As I write to you, I'm in a place
of anticipation and excitement, preparing for my travels to South Africa in
October. From the 4th-16th, I will be traveling with the Wabash Pastoral
Leadership Team on a Study Tour, "South Africa: A Pilgrimage of Pain and
Hope." Many of you have followed my participation in the Wabash
Pastoral Leadership program, a two-year continuing education program funded by
the Lilly Endowment. Over the past two years, I have had the great privilege of
gathering every other month for a two-day seminar with 18 Indiana pastors. We
have spent time learning about leadership strategies and studying issues that
impact our ministry, including poverty, education, health care, economics and
immigration. The program is designed to help pastors shape their ministry by
understanding the local contexts in which we serve, evaluate the needs of our
communities, and network with secular and religious organizations to foster
well being in our local and global communities.
We will close out our two years together with a two-week study
tour to South Africa organized through the lens of "a pilgrimage of pain
and hope." Every day, we will visit a place of pain in South Africa, and
visit a place through which God has brought hope through Christian leaders and
churches. We'll spend time becoming acquainted with pastors, learning about
their ministry, experience worship in a variety of South African church
settings, and identify resources in Christian thought and practice that guide
and support Christians in South Africa.
This will be the second trip to
South Africa for the Wabash Pastoral Leadership program. Our leaders have
traveled to South Africa numerous times and organized the trip after multiple
site visits to the locations we will tour. An incredible amount of time has
been devoted to ensuring we have the most enriching and safe experience
possible. South Africa was chosen for our study tour as it demonstrates both
the challenges facing communities related to poverty, education, and economics,
as well as the impact Christian organizations can have when they understand and
respond to the needs of God's children. Issues such as reconciliation, justice,
and forgiveness will be explored with leaders who help the nation heal
following decades of apartheid. We'll answer the question "how can
transformation occur when the Church dwells in the pain of those who are
hurting and brings the hope of Christ?"
Here is a virtual snapshot of
some of our pilgrimage destinations:
- Robben Island, where Nelson
Mandela was imprisoned for 28 years.
- Gugulethu, a township in Cape
Town
- Table Top Mountain
- Khayelitsha Township
- Central Methodist Church in
Johannesburg
- Stellenbosch University
We will also have the privilege of
meeting with many of those who were involved in the struggle for justice during
the years of apartheid.
While I am away, I will post
updates and photos to my personal Facebook page. I look forward to
sharing my experiences from the pulpit with all of you upon my return on
Sunday, October 19th. Additionally, I welcome opportunities to meet in
small group forums to my share photos and stories.
I'll conclude with the words of
Pastor Libby Manning, Assistant Director of the leadership program: "We
travel to South Africa, paying attention to the stories of the people and
communities we meet. We humbly recognize that we and the congregations we serve
are a key part of God's larger story and God's mission to bring healing to the
entire world. Rev. Dr. Peter Storey said 'the local parish, together with the
local pastor, is God's best plan for the healing of the entire universe.'"
Thank you all for your prayers
and support as I participate in this incredible pilgrimage. I am excited beyond
words to experience and see how the Holy Spirit will use this incredible
opportunity to guide the congregation of FUMC/The Open Door and me as one of
your pastors.
Cheers!
Pastor Stacee
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