Mennonite Weekly Review

ELKHART, Ind. — Collaboration between pastors and professors will strengthen the ministry of both, participants agreed Dec. 1-3 during a conference at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary.

A working group at “The Ecology of Ministry” conference sings their reflections on the discussion. From left are Andy Brubacher Kaethler of AMBS, Dave Bergen of Mennonite Church Canada, Iris De Leon-Hartshorn of Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference, Chuck Neufeld of Illinois Mennonite Conference and Sharon Kennel of Central Plains Mennonite Conference. — Photo by Mary E. Klassen/Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary

One hundred pastors and church leaders from Canada and the United States gathered to grapple with issues at the heart of strengthening Mennonite congregations and pastors.

“The Ecology of Ministry” was the conference’s focus. Jewel Gingerich Longenecker, who directed the five-year Engaging Pastors program at AMBS, defined this as the network of church institutions that work together to maintain vibrant congregations.

For five years, Engaging Pastors has fostered collaboration among pastors, professors and church leaders. Several key learnings emerged:

• The practice and teaching of ministry is strengthened when pastors and professors regularly engage each other;

• There is an urgent need to strengthen pastoral, biblical and teaching authority in the church; and

• The church and seminary need to equip pastors and professors to read and engage their missional context with joy.

Thirsting for passion

Dorothy Nickel Friesen, conference minister for Western District Conference, shared that in pastor-professor conversations “we were surprised how easily we learned from each other, how thirsty we were for each other’s passion for Jesus Christ.” However, she noted, “There are no formal exchanges, no structures and little encouragement to become engaged.”

Both Samuel Olarewaju, pastor of Berean Fellowship Church, Youngstown, Ohio, and Gayle Gerber Koontz, AMBS professor, affirmed the value of professors being engaged in a variety of congregations and pastors spending time with professors. Olarewaju spent several weeks of sabbatical time at AMBS and reported that his church members noticed “that I returned to my pastoral duties with more excitement and vigor to serve the Lord.”