Chris Barensfeld, who has been an active member of the Second Congregational Church of Boxford for the last twelve years, is focused on the future.  Barensfeld, who serves as a member of the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Endowment Campaign's Executive Committee, says, "I am concerned about the longevity of Protestantism in this country, and I think it's important to find ways to support the notion of liberal religion in a time when religious perspectives are becoming increasingly polarized."  

 

The church has seen the benefit of supporting the Pastoral Excellence Program (PEP) as their new, young pastor has set down roots in the church. PEP offers an opportunity for "young and newly ordained pastors to stay in touch with the resources that this program, and the Massachusetts Conference, can provide," said Barensfeld.  Rev. Laura A. Gronberg has been involved in a Communities of Practice, and in a New Clergy Group, since coming to Boxford.   Barensfeld has been impressed with how helpful the Communities of Practice have been to Rev. Gronberg, and, she observed, "The tide seems to be turning in terms of the ability of pastors to speak candidly about stewardship from the pulpit, as they take more of an executive role in terms of their awareness of the church's individual funding."  "In the past," said Barensfeld, "seminaries did not necessarily devote a lot of attention to teaching pastors about how to preach on stewardship.  And this is something we need to embrace and encourage." 

 

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