We are blessed at St. Mark. We are among a few Lutheran churches in Rockford who have two pastors. I believe that having two pastors is wonderful. I am grateful and blessed to work with Pastor Chad. We work well together and we bring different God given gifts to the table, and this is a blessing to the church.
When I was
growing up, almost every church in Rockford had two pastors. I didn’t appreciate that when I was a child,
nor did I understand the value and blessing that two pastors bring to the
church. As a congregation you hear
sermons from two different perspectives.
You have two pastors who are there for you and who will journey with you
in times of grief and joy. Having two
pastors allows for one to lead the adult forum, while the other enjoys a time
of fellowship with folks in the café. The
confirmation classes and bible study’s have two pastors to lead and have
discussions with about the bible, book studies, the catechism, and more.
From my
perspective, having two pastors is a blessing for the pastors too. As co-pastors, Pastor Chad and I can work on
projects together, which allows us to bounce ideas off each other. We can support the ministries better because
one of us is not carrying the weight of all the ministries at St. Mark. We are better when we work together.
When pastors
are ordained we make promises. We
promise to be diligent in our study of the holy scriptures and be faithful in
our use of the means of grace. We
promise to pray for God’s people, nourish them with the word and sacraments,
and lead them by our own example in faithful service and holy living. We are charged to “fight the good fight of
the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called” and to “care
for God’s people, bear their burdens, and do not betray their confidence.” Our final charge is to “witness faithfully in
word and deed to all people. Give and
receive comfort as we serve within the church.
And be of good courage, for God has called you, and your labor in the
Lord is not in vain.”
Pastor Chad
and I take these promises and charges very seriously. God has called us to the ministries and work
in the church. Again, I am grateful and
blessed to work alongside Pastor Chad as we journey with each of you.
