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Our Pastor - Rev. Barbara M. Rathbun, M. Div
“Getting to Know Her”
 Job responsibilities? The standard pastor stuff: leading worship, preaching, pastoral care for members, conversations and consultations with individuals and families, celebrating life in the congregation's many experiences, affirming our mutual gifts for ministry to the wider community. The interim time is a "between" time in a church. It's when we say farewell to our former pastor, celebrating his time among us and the gifts he shared with us; also a time to ask questions about what God is calling us to do next and how we might respond to that call. We look both forward and back, learning from our history and traditions, celebrating our progress, dreaming and wondering about our future. We listen to the Scriptures, hearing the call that continues to come from God, and recognizing that God still speaks to us through these ancient words.
Why "intentional" rather than "settled?" My ministerial call is for intentional interim ministry. I focus on the between time in a church, helping people move from the immediate past to the near future and beyond. My training includes learning about family systems, group dynamics, paying attention to the unspoken needs and unarticulated dreams of a community. An interim minister encourages conversation among the community, inviting all to share their hopes and concerns for the future of this church. It is my job to work on the farewell and the turning to look forward; it will be the next settled pastor's call to help the community move toward that future. Since none of us knows who that next pastor will be, we get to depend on God's holy spirit to move among us and grace us with wisdom, fairness, patience, joy, and strength.
What is i.ucc.org and what is your blog about? i.ucc.org is a virtual community established by the UCC to meet the needs of people who did not live close enough to a UCC church to participate in the life of the faith community. It has evolved to include many seekers as well as many pastors and active UCC folks who enjoy a good conversation about God, Jesus, social justice, calls to seminary, why pastors wear robes (or don't), usefulness of prayer, and anything else anybody thinks of to ask. There are four main streams: What Is the UCC?, Opening the Bible, Spirit Cafe, and Prayer Chapel. Each stream has i.guides who take responsibility for responding to questions, inviting more ideas, and writing a blog. My blog is in the Opening the Bible section, and I generally address one or more of the lessons for the next Sunday. The other Bible blogger is a pastor from Illinois.
In addition to blogs and forums (where anyone can start a conversation and get lots of responses), there is a real-time on-line Prayer Chapel at 9 pm (eastern) each evening. Andy Lang, the main guy at the UCC in Cleveland whose responsibility i.ucc.org is, makes sure there's an i.guide to lead each evening, and people come to pray together. It starts at 9 with some getting-to-know-you conversation among the people gathered, than about 9:10 the Bible reading and prayers begin. People share their concerns and joys, the Lord's Prayer is offered, and it ends at about 9:30 or so. It's a lovely way to end the day.
Challenges to religious leaders in this region & these times? We have a Great Commission from Jesus in Matthew 25: to care for those whose lives are overwhelming. Following this commission is always a challenge, as well as a great joy. When we move outside our comfort zone, we discover God's grace in ways we could not have imagined. The struggle is always getting out of the places and situations in which we're comfortable, and into a frame of mind and spirit in which God can surprise us into grace. To include within our church circle those who are somehow different, whom we're going to have to stretch to understand and to love, is a challenge worth the effort. Jesus didn't tell people to go away and come back when they were ready to be like the rest of us. Jesus encourages us all to work at being better humans--better images of God. Some days we've almost got it; other days we clearly need more practice!
How ended up in WNC? My husband and I semi-retired here after 20 years in Fort Wayne, where he had a medical practice. He's from the mountains of western Pennsylvania, and he wanted to get back to mountains, but with milder winters than his home place. I have family in Knoxville, and he has family in Chapel Hill, so this is a good middle spot. Besides, it's so beautiful here, we don't even want to leave for a vacation! We've found warm, friendly people, beautiful hiking trails, excellent cultural opportunities, and a good neighborhood. Who could ask for anything more?
Memorable first job? My first job ever was during high school as part-time secretary to a lawyer: my father. I learned more effective typing skills, good telephone manners, confidentiality, and how to work with others. Much later, when I was working at a medical supply house and my husband was attending medical school, I discovered I could actually speak to a room full of people and not expire from fright.
Professional tip? Listen to everybody, and be able to tell each person what he or she said in such a way that it's clear that their voice was heard. Remember to laugh and to weep, and to celebrate this good, abundant life we're given. Share your toys and your joys. Be willing to love people just the way they are. Don't get stuck in too many bad habits, except for chocolate. Chocolate is always allowed.
Role models? My families: both the Masons and the Rathbuns. People I meet every day who welcome life in many ways, and who find joy in the simplest things.
Currently reading? Cherry Log Sermons by Fred Craddock, Never Call Them Jerks by Arthur Paul Boers, Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott, The Five Books of Miriam: A Women's Commentary on the Torah by Ellen Frankel, and Evenings at Five by Gail Godwin. Yes, I read more than one book at a time.
Religion news sources you regularly use? Christian Century, an excellent biweekly news magazine. Interpretation and Theology Today for Biblical commentary. The Asheville Citizen Times and the Hendersonville Times News, because I need to know about the world we all live in.
Bookmarked websites include? Interim Ministry Network, i.ucc.org, Alban Institute, United Church of Christ, Quilters Newsletter, First Congregational Church of Hendersonville
Currently in CD player? Chopin etudes and nocturnes, Brahms Requiem, Beethoven piano sonatas, Liz Story
On your plate in 2007? First Congregational Church, attention to family, basting a Broken Star quilt top to quilt this winter, preparing sermons for this church and for the Thanksgiving HCCU service at Immaculate Conception
Volunteer/civic interests? Interfaith Ministerial Association, Hendersonville County Churches Uniting
How do you unwind and de-stress? Reading, listening to music (favorites are romantic piano and choral music), hand piecing and quilting, quiet times sitting on a rock by a mountain stream listening to the water and the trees.
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