Leadership: A word from Mennonite Church USA leaders

I resolve in this new year to enter as boldly as possible into the life of the local, regional and global Mennonite church. This will involve some fairly dramatic commitments and some equally dramatic releases.

Why not make a personal yearly spiritual accountability plan? In fact, all pastors in Western District Conference (WDC) are asked to fill out just such a form and submit it to their conference minister. It asks credentialed pastors to look ahead and think carefully (with specific goals and practices) how they will minister in the following areas:

• personal relationship with God and spiritual vitality;
• relationship with family and significant others;
• stewardship of finances and the environment;
• physical, mental and emotional health;
• identity in ministry and functioning in ministry.

1. Most pastors are incredibly dedicated. They take this annual exercise seriously. Some take a day of retreat to review the past year and plan for the next one. Some simply repeat what they wrote the year before; some confess they didn’t follow the practices they prescribed for themselves. Others severely alter their plans due to an unanticipated ministry placement change, a pending child’s graduation or a sabbatical. Each year is different.

I resolve to secure my personal relationship with God in more intentional ways. I will devote one day per quarter to a silent retreat while listening for the Spirit’s nudging. I will focus weekly on the lectionary readings as a scriptural discipline and pray daily for my family, my congregation, my pastors and one pressing justice issue.

2. Many pastors report that they want to strengthen friendships with those outside their congregation. Some suggest a weekly date night with their spouse or significant other. Most chide themselves for overwork and vow to limit work for the church to 50 hours per week. Many pastors tithe to their local congregations. One pastor is stretching to a 40 percent income tithe; another is adding 1 percent per year in ministry. The most common financial vow is the 10 percent to their local congregations, with an offering of 5 percent to other causes. Most recycle faithfully.

I, too, commit myself to a 50-hour work week, to a weekly date night with Richard (my husband) and a weekly contact (by phone) with our faraway daughter and my mother. We will continue our 10- to 20-percent tithe to our local congregation, our area conference and mostly Mennonite-related organizations. I will pare down, consume less. (I hope our congregations will “prune” some of their committees, use less plastic products and contribute more generously.)

3. I hear almost all pastors yearn to lose weight, exercise more and meditate frequently. One reported that a goal of last year to lose 40 pounds was way too ambitious, since he missed it by 38 pounds. I noted his new goal: “Lose five pounds.” Some vowed to run marathons (and did); some planned to bike across the state (and did). Many wish their bodies wouldn’t be such an obvious barometer of their stress levels.

I commit myself to walking two miles per day at least five days a week—mostly with Richard as a companion walker. I will reduce sweets (everything but chocolate) and monitor stress. In fact, as I transition to semiretirement this year, I will take note of physical changes and mental stress and add more exercise and more prayer. I will sleep an eight-hour night.

4. Identity as a ministering person means listening to a pastor-peer group when giving and receiving counsel. It means having an annual evaluation with a small leadership group from the congregation or a supervisor and an in-depth review every three or four years.

As I complete my tenure as WDC conference minister in late summer, I commit myself to a continuing discipline of meeting regularly with a spiritual director to share my spiritual wonderings and my yearnings in practical ministry. I will also meet with my pastor every six months to assist me in meaningful congregational participation.

Maybe a yearly accountability plan is a good tool for all Christians.

Dorothy Nickel Friesen is conference minister for Western District Conference of Mennonite Church USA.