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Team Members/Contributors

Dennis Scheibmeir First Presbyterian Church, Larned KS Contact Me

About this sabbatical grant for pastoral leaders discontinued

In my 50th year of life, in my 7th year of pastoral ministry, I greatly desire to take a sabbatical which would refresh and encourage the ministry that was begun here, at First Presbyterian Church of Larned, KS. The primary loci of the two-month sabbatical would be 1) at a center intended for education and trips around Galilee, located on the road between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, and 2) a Benedictine retreat center in Nebraska intended for spiritual renewal. I intend to focus upon growing in faith in the locations mentioned in the Bible, learning more of the Christian history, and having a personal experience of the places, allowing for pastoral imagination to be enhanced. I will read, write, and reflect on the experiences, and intend to share these experiences with the congregation and my colleagues in ministry. My context is a small rural community with few full-time pastorates, and I am a solo pastor very involved in the community. The population continues to decrease as older generations move to their eternal reward. It would be nearly impossible to take a sabbatical without a grant, as the congregation does not have additional funds to spare. It gives me joy to even think of the opportunity, so I thank you for your ministry of offering hope.