MB Biblical Seminary's Fresno, California campus will welcome Gaylord Goertzen as their Pastor in Residence for the fall 2007 semester.
"A Pastor in Residence models pastoral care and a learning attitude," says Academic Dean Lynn Jost. "They bring a presence to the classroom and campus that nudges us to think about our main purpose, of training pastors and placing them in churches."
Gaylord, lead pastor at Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church in Hillsboro, Kansas and his wife Peggy, Director of the Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies at Tabor College, were both able to secure sabbaticals during the fall semester. Through conversations with Jost they decided to spend it in Fresno.
"I am looking forward to making myself available to students, to connecting with them in and out of class and to conversing with them about issues of faith and ministry," says Goertzen. "Peggy and I were strengthened by the strong sense of community and support we felt during our seminary experience and we are hoping to contribute in some small way to that sense of community in the lives of students now."
Jost is open to exploring with other pastors the possibility of them serving as a Pastor in Residence in the future.