Hello brothers!

I never got truly established here before some significant work/life changes occurred. I see the last post I made was in May 2015. At that time I had just enrolled full time in seminary (graduated with a M.Div in August 2018). I figured with evenings free and a full day of instruction on Mondays, I could knock it out in a few years. What I didn’t anticipate was the church where I was an executive pastor also asked me to reach back into my far past and take on the youth group too. For a few years I had both roles (full time), school (full time), and a family and all the events that occur with that. Needless to say, I had very thin margins.

Overtime I was able to move a considerable amount off my plate as my church didn’t want me to burnout. In a show of generosity, the leadership gave me a paid sabbatical starting this October and the church whole heartedly approved.

Over the years I’ve been absent, I’ve had opportunity to reach into my tupperdor and light up a cigar provided in an embarrassingly generous newb bomb I received here. When I have, I thought of this place fondly.

I’ll be around going forward. I’m still astonished by the crazy amount of information around here!

Geoff
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Hi Geoff! Welcome back. Where are you in Oregon? I’m Beaverton.
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Not too far from you. I live in Salem.
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Welcome back Geoff! if you don't mind me asking what kind of church? My best friend is our youth pastor at my church. I attend and evangelical free church but i lean reformed in many matters. Anyways, i hope you have fun here and find it a place where you can hang and relax! God bless you!
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I don’t mind at all! It’s a nondenominational church but formerly part of a Baptist association.

I finally shed the majority of my former exec role (aside from being a brain to pick) in Jan and I am now the youth pastor. One thing I’ve learned this second go around as a yp… 47 feels a lot different than 41!
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Welcome Back, Geoff!:-):-)
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Welcome back, Geoff. Pull up a pew and sit a spell.
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Sounds like lots has happened since you were here last, Geoff, congrats on all the good. It's great to have you back in the Asylum.
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Welcome back!
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Welcome back!!
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Welcome Back!!!!
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Welcome back. Your church sounds like they appreciate you, not all organizations do.
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For sure. I know of a few organizations around here that do offer some form of sabbatical. One nearby requires a sabbatical (paid) after seven years.

There are a lot of reasons a church may not be able to offer a paid sabbatical to express appreciation. I’m certainly glad they can!
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Thanks for the warm welcome back everyone.

Plenty of hard things happened too with a couple we are living through right now. This sabbatical is well timed as we address and adjust to some of these difficult changes.
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Welcome back Geoff.
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Welcome back!
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Welcome, brother. Prayers for a blessed and merry Christmas. Enjoy some nice smokes! :-)
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Geoff...PM sent
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Welcome back!

God's blessings on the sabbatical.

I know there are people here that would love for me to be able to have one, but serving three parishes means things are just very financially tight. I understand, and appreciate their love. They do allow me regular continued education type opportunities being gone for a week at a time to do it and not counting it as vacation time. Maybe not a sabbatical, but certainly refreshing, renewing, and a time to reinvigorate to return back to the parish.

Peace of the Lord be with you!
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Thank you Rev. Educational opportunities are reinvigorating! I’ve appreciated those when I have had them. During this time I’ve been reading a fair amount that have been on my stack for years. Not all are ministry related and some deal with a particular family situation.
I’ve been in ministry since 1996, and this is the first time I’ve been given a sabbatical. I’m truly grateful.
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