By Pamela G. Holt, 09.09.2022

Finally, we gathered in-person! After two years and five months, on July 21-23, 2022, the College of Regional Ministers and the Fellowship of Regional Moderators gathered in Fort Worth, Texas to learn, to worship, to fellowship, and to eat good food! We had such a good time being in one another’s presence!

On Saturday, just the Regional Ministers met together, and our meeting opened with worship and a time to get re-acquainted. The first exercise invited each of us to name two gifts we bring to the College. The following is a list of just a few of the various gifts we share together in our ministries.

Wisdom
Generation x representation
Strength
Saying hard things
Intersectionality
Flexibility
Listening
Openness
Diversity
Quirkiness
Teaching
Joy
Memory
Vulnerability
Energy
Organization
Forthrightness
Love
Curiosity
Spiritual direction & formation
Honesty
Holy impatience
Compassion
Presence
Gentleness
Leadership
Planning
Transparency
Sense of humor
Brokenness

The second exercise invited each of us to name something we have done recently that was inspiring.

Helped my mom to make end of life decisions
Got a new puppy
Attended my best friend’s wedding
Sold a home
Served as a church camp counselor
AquaFit
Enjoyed a beautiful sunset during summer camp worship
Sabbatical
Read the Lord of the Rings Trilogy for the first time
Learned to quilt
Made a “hole in one” while playing golf
Completed a major life goal
Pilgrimage to Ghost Ranch
Trip to Martha’s Vineyard
Read the US Constitution and Amendments
Traveled back to my hometown NYC
Hiked the Continental Divide to an elevation of 11,800 ft
Attended granddaughter’s graduation

As you can begin to see, Regional Ministers together reflect a diverse, extraordinary group of individuals with a variety of gifts and passions, just like our diverse Regions. Regional Ministers also bring a vast collection of ministerial experiences. We are often referred to as consultants or administrators, but also we are pastors. We hope and pray we are still alert in our vocation as pastors who, Martin Marty writes, “are daily engaged in discovering, as [we] unearth old, often ancient stories for the light [we] throw in an otherwise shadowy or dark world of human activity.” Cynthia G. Lindner, Varieties of Gifts, (Roman & Littlefield, 2016), forward vii-viii, (adapted).

I am grateful to serve as a Regional Minister and to be a part of this very gifted group of colleagues! Enjoy!