Pastors Offered Reflection in the Rockies
Rev. Norm Thomasma is inviting Christian Reformed Church pastors to follow in his footsteps and take some time next summer reflecting on their vocation amid the beauty of the Rocky Mountains.
Thomasma, director of the CRC's office of Pastor-Church Relations, took the trip into the mountains last year as part of the Pastors on Point program. At that time, he was about to become director of the office of Pastor-Church Relations, in which he had worked for several years as an educator.
Although he had a good idea what the job entailed, he wanted to get away to consider how he would serve as director of the office.
On the trip, he climbed rocks, went white-water rafting, backpacked many miles into the wilderness, experienced outdoor worship services with fellow pastors, and had plenty of time to write and reflect on his job.
"The program was a helpful experience for me," he says. "It helped me to get ready for the new job … There was a fair amount of free time, devotional time, and some guided conversations."
SIMA International (formerly People Management), the CRCNA's Pastor-Church Relations office, and Noah's Ark Whitewater and Adventure Program ltd., are holding the "2010 CRC Pastors on Point" journey.
Pastors on Point, says Thomasma, is a program tailored to pastoral leadership development that focuses on the identification and stewarding of a pastor's unique talents and passions.
"Pastors on Point offers an opportunity to gain greater clarity on how you are wired and how you might best fit in ministry," says Thomasma, whose job entails working with pastors and churches that are experiencing strained relations.
"One of the problems I find in situations I encounter is that a pastor isn’t the right fit for a certain church," he says. Awareness of who you are and what types of ministries work best for you can minimize such conflicts, he says.
Thomasma says that Pastors on Point offers more than just the wilderness experience. Especially geared for pastors and their spouses is a program that takes place in a bed and breakfast in St. Paul, Minn. "The setting is comfortable and involves some pre-work as well as interviews with Mark Stevenson, the director of Pastors on Point," says Thomasma.
The eight-day wilderness trip for CRC pastors takes place outside Buena Vista, Colo., from June 21-29, 2010. Space is limited to eight pastors.
"While being active, our trips are designed for people of average physical ability and stamina, with plenty of down-time included," says Thomasma, who was the only CRC pastor who went last year.
Stevenson, managing director of SIMA, and the professional adventure staff at Noah's Ark will join Thomasma in leading the trip.
Cost of the trip is half of what someone would normally pay for transportation and lodging for an adventure experience such as "2010 CRC Pastors on Point."
"We’re not going to be making money of this," says Thomasma, who encourages people to visit the website to learn more. For more information and to register, visit: www.pastorsonpoint.org. Thomasma also said pastors are welcome to apply for continuing education funds as they make their decision whether or not to go. To contact the CRC’s Pastor-Church Relations office, visit: Pastor-Church relations.
