Annual Report 2024-2025 - Flipbook - Page 35
TRANSITION INTO MINISTRY COMMITTEE
Chair: Anna Osborn
Vice Chair: Open Position
Secretary: Dan Warren
Staff Liaison: Jared Wortman
Mission:
Support the Transition into Ministry residency program and
Plymouth by serving as a search committee and congregational
support committee for the residents, as well as providing
oversight for TiM program goals and its annual budget to ensure
program sustainability and alignment between the needs of our
residents and Plymouth Church.
Major Events/Achievements in 2024-2025:
The TiM Committee has regular committee meetings every third
month to discuss all program needs ranging from recruitment and
interviewing to budget review, raising congregation awareness of
the program and support of the resident pastor as they grow in
their role, serving the church and educating the committee on
the health of the program. In addition to standing committee
meetings, monthly, the committee has a “coffee hour” that
is dedicated time with the resident pastor to provide gentle
guidance, answer questions, help solve minor problems and
provide overall support for the resident.
With the departure of Pastor Shores and Pastor Strobel, we
welcomed Pastor Luke Stringer and already we are seeing wise
sermons, warmth in pastoral care, new programming in the
Arts and engaging conversations. In the coming months, we are
looking forward to welcoming our next new TiM pastor which
will fill our rotating roster of two resident pastors.
We are grateful to our congregation of support for the rich
experiences and the hundreds of households who value this
program by investing in its success.
Committee Members:
2024-2025
2024-2026
2024-2027
2024-2028
Artis Reis
Jane
Hemminger
Julie Carroll
Anna Osborn
Justin Stephens
Jack Sullivan
Dan Warren
Lisa Merkle
Jackie Seymour
Elizabeth
Talbert
Sid Ramsey
Beth Stelle
Jones
The TiM Program is fully funded, and financials are better than
plan due to staff savings and strong returns on investments. In the
fall, TiM program Director, Karen Jeske, retired after seven years
of excellence, creativity and compassion, walking side by side
through countless transitions with our TiM pastors. Following her
retirement, program expectations continue to be met in partnership
with ongoing efforts from the Trustees, the Plymouth Foundation,
the Pastoral Staff taking on additional mentoring and review
responsibilities as well as the increased work of the Committee.
Raising program awareness and recruitment efforts continue to
be paramount as a TiM Podcast led by retired Director Karen
Jaske wrapped up this period which generated great reviews.
Maintaining relationships with schools through regular visits,
talks and ongoing communication has been fruitful in creating
an avenue for students to learn about TiM Programming and
Plymouth Church specifically. While numbers of pastors continue
to slowly reduce nationwide, program interest remains strong.
As is the successful nature of the program, this period we said
goodbye to Pastor Remi Shores and Pastor Peter Stobel as they
each moved on in their next journey. The reciprocal nature of
the program not only increases the knowledge and experience of
new pastors, but enriches Plymouth Church in the process, we
are thankful for their experiences.
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