Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) is thrilled to announce the 2024 recipients of the Grace Place Wellness Sabbatical Scholarships. This initiative was designed to support and encourage church workers taking a sabbatical, providing opportunities for rest, renewal and spiritual growth.
Each scholarship provides $5,000 to support sabbatical plans focused on physical, emotional and spiritual wellness. These church workers have dedicated their lives to serving others, and this time away will allow them to recharge personally and professionally, returning to their ministries with fresh inspiration and vision.
Rev. Adam M. Ray Lead Pastor, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Decatur, Ill.
Through family travel, spiritual retreats, and personal growth, Pastor Ray’s sabbatical will rejuvenate his spirit and deepen bonds with his loved ones.
Rev. Matthew Behrens Pastor, Calvary Lutheran Church, San Lorenzo, Calif.
Pastor Behrens will strengthen family relationships, nurture creative writing, and prioritize holistic health during his sabbatical, fostering personal and spiritual renewal.
Denise Wright Director of Spiritual Growth, St. John Lutheran Church, York, Pa.
Through study, counseling, and time for reflection, Denise Wright will enhance her well-being and provide new tools to strengthen women’s and grief ministries at her church.
Stephanie Genske Child Care Director, Trinity Lutheran School, Waconia, Minn.
Stephanie Genske will visit churches in the southern U.S., participate in a Christian parenting course, and dedicate time to her family, returning with fresh ideas and renewed joy for ministry.
“Church workers dedicate their lives to serving others, often at great personal cost,” said Bart Day, President and CEO of LCEF. “Through the Grace Place Wellness Sabbatical Scholarship, we aim to provide them with the opportunity to recharge and refocus, ensuring they can continue their vital work with renewed passion and purpose.”
The Grace Place Wellness Sabbatical Scholarship reflects LCEF’s commitment to sustaining the dedicated efforts of LCMS church leaders and empowering them to better serve their congregations and communities.
LCEF provides church workers with a suite of resources, offering financial solutions, wellness support, housing assistance and a community of peers who understand your journey. Learn more.
Visit the Grace Place Wellness Ministry Sabbatical page for more information about the sabbatical scholarships and sabbatical resources for church workers at your congregation or school.
For more information, please contact Rev. Dr. Gregory S. Walton, VP Ministry Solutions, Grace Place Wellness, at greg.walton@lcef.org
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Greg joined LCEF’s Grace Place Wellness in Fall of 2022. He now oversees all aspects of Grace Place Wellness, which is a part of Ministry Solutions in LCEF. Having served for 13 years as the District President of the Florida-Georgia District, he has a commitment to assisting church workers in the LCMS excel in their callings for their whole careers. In his role, he works to integrate wellness into other areas of LCEF to identify, coordinate and share resources that positively impact the lives of LCMS professional church workers and ministries in the LCMS.
Walton spent most of his life on the East Coast, having grown up in the Mid-Hudson Valley of New York. He attended Concordia College, which was in Bronxville, N.Y., where he met his wife, Edith. He graduated with his Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in 1987 and served 22 years as a parish pastor in Toccoa, Ga., and Marietta, Ga., before being elected to the office of District President for the Florida-Georgia District. In his parish years, Greg was deeply involved in community ventures, served as a Circuit Visitor, and then a District Vice President.
An ardent supporter of church worker wellness and Grace Place Wellness, he sponsored a number of retreats as District President in the Florida-Georgia District, assisting and encouraging workers in their personal wellbeing. Supporting and advocating for church workers and their families has been a longtime passion for Greg.
As his term-limited time as District President came to an end in August 2022, Walton joined LCEF and Grace Place Wellness to replace retiring director, Rev. Dr. Darrell Zimmerman, who was instrumental in developing Wellness Retreats for couples, ministry staff and congregations. Greg has picked up the mantle, trying to fit into the large shoes vacated by Darrell and is exploring new areas of ministry for Grace Place Wellness as we look to the future.
Greg and Edith live in Woodstock, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta, and are in close proximity to their two children and six grandchildren. He is excited to continue to serve the church in this role.
Dr. Eckrich founded Grace Place Wellness Ministries in 1999. He’s also the author of several books on wellness, ministry and Christian living.
Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, John attended Lutheran schools as a child, graduating from Lutheran High School South. He graduated from Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Missouri School of Medicine in Columbia, Missouri. He finished his medical training at the University of Chicago as a fellow in gastroenterology and hepatology.
Dr. John served the St. Louis community for over 40 years as a practicing internist and gastroenterologist. He had the unique opportunity to care for hundreds of Lutheran church workers and their families, including seminary professors, students and many leaders at the LCMS International Center.
During his early career, John observed the effects of stress and challenges of ministry on personal and family life. He gathered other professionals to examine and develop health skills and strategies to proactively address the rising tide of church worker burnout and ill-health.
Their findings led John to found Grace Place Wellness Ministries, now having served over 10,000 church workers and families through Grace Place Wellness retreats.
His books include:
John lives in the St. Louis area with his wife, Kathy. They have three grown children and two grandchildren. Dr. John spends as much time with his grandkids as possible.
Darrell oversaw all aspects of Grace Place Wellness Ministries from the fall of 2012 until June 2023. His passion remains helping ministry workers across the entire spectrum of Christianity excel in their callings for their whole careers.
A native of Portland, Oregon, Darrell graduated with his Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in 1982. He served 30 years as a parish pastor in St. Louis, Missouri, and Saginaw, Michigan. He is a trained intentional interim minister in the LCMS.
He and his wife, Carol, attended the first Grace Place Wellness retreat in the fall of 2000, then began leading retreats in Grace Place Wellness’ earlier years. He also earned his Doctor of Ministry in 2006. He was instrumental in developing the Ministry Team Wellness Retreat. In December 2019, he became interim president and CEO and served until the acquisition by LCEF, when he took on the role of vice president of Ministry Solutions, director of Grace Place Wellness. After almost 11 wonderful years leading Grace Place Wellness, Darrell retired in June 2023.
Darrell and Carol live just a few short miles from their three children and four grandchildren in the St. Louis area. In retirement, he looks forward to spending time with them, woodworking and playing lots of golf. We are grateful for his contribution to Grace Place Wellness.
Coaching professional church workers in creating their sabbatical experience is one of the most rewarding things for Rev. Fangmeier. His coaching training was through Valwood Certified Coaches (2002-2008). George Bullard, Jane Creswell and Linda Miller, along with other coaches, conducted this training. In addition to coaching pastors in planning sabbaticals, Fangmeier also coaches church workers who are in transition or conflict situations.
Rev. Fangmeier’s journey in ministry is an interesting one. In college, he studied Advertising and Sales Management at Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, and he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. During summers in college, Rev. Fangmeier sold Electrolux vacuum cleaners door to door, which was also an educational experience.
The influence of his campus pastor led him to consider seminary training, and he graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, Ill., in 1971. Rev. Fangmeier’s first call was to begin a mission congregation in Fort Myers, Fla. He pastored there until 1979 and assisted in two building campaigns and self-support status for the congregation.
From 1979 to 1985, Fangmeier served as senior pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Delray Beach, Fla., and from 1986 to 1993, he was the senior pastor at Ascension Lutheran Church and School in Charlotte, N.C.
In 1993, Rev. Fangmeier joined the staff of the Southeastern District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as a Mission and Ministry Facilitator to work with congregations in North and South Carolina. He helped direct mission partnerships and served as a conflict consultant to the District President.
Since 2002, Fangmeier has continued ministry as a consultant to congregations and pastors. He participates in conflict intervention, peacemaking and coaching professional church workers in times of change and conflict. As a staff associate for Wheat Ridge Ministries (now We Raise Foundation), he manages its Sabbatical Resource Center.
Click here to email Rev. Tim Fangmeier
It is recommended that congregations consider the sabbatical time for their ministry leader as a time of health and hope for the congregation and its lay leaders. Thoughtful planning is important for achieving a positive experience for the ministry leader and the congregation.
WELLNESS EXPERTS AGREE THAT A MINISTRY SABBATICAL SHOULD INCLUDE AT LEAST THESE THREE ELEMENTS:
Congregation planning should be done by the same team that is assisting in the sabbatical planning for the church worker. Budgeting for increased expenses will be necessary. Setting aside a small portion over several years can reduce the financial impact during the sabbatical year. The congregation sabbatical focus could be connected to the focus of the pastor’s sabbatical, but it also could focus on special congregational needs or interests.
Ministry leaders and congregations can have significant fears related to the concept of a ministry sabbatical. Discussing and addressing these fears is critical to sabbatical success. Members may fear “What will become of us if our pastor is gone for three months?” Professional workers may fear another person filling their leadership role. The congregation sabbatical planning should address these fears.
These questions will help the ministry leader/church worker form a ministry sabbatical plan:
The following questions may be a helpful guide in developing a sabbatical plan and then communicating it to the congregation.
The issues below should be addressed and included in the preparation of a ministry sabbatical policy for your church:
Eligibility:
Length: Typically, a three-month sabbatical every four to seven years is recommended.
Funding Options and Plan:
Sabbatical Covenant.
Best Practices
Ministry sabbaticals can bless both the church worker and congregation. They are designed to be a shared experience, and the membership expects that they, both as a congregation and as individual members, will receive specific, tangible benefits from the sabbatical.
START PLANNING EARLY
DOCUMENT THE MINISTRY SABBATICAL
HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR THE MINISTRY SABBATICAL TIME
EDUCATE
SABBATICAL TIME
COMMUNICATE WITH THE CONGREGATION
Communicate in general terms why the sabbatical is necessary to build a consensus, then fill in the details about activities. Details may include:
We are learning that in some cases there can be tax implications connected to the money received to enable a ministry sabbatical. Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) does not give tax advice and finds that implications can vary by situation and even location. We advise that in the planning process for a sabbatical, the pastor and congregation consult with a trusted tax expert or CPA.
Neither LCEF nor its representatives give legal, accounting or tax advice. Consult your tax advisor as to the applicability of this information to your own situation.
It is best to consult a tax professional in the early stages of sabbatical planning and will be helpful if that expert helps prepare your taxes. It is also possible to have money set aside by the congregation to help cover any tax implications. Expert advice will help both pastor and congregation navigate tax questions.
If a large grant is received for the sabbatical, it is important to consider any tax implications.
Make sure the expectations for the ministry leader’s absence are made clear from the pulpit as well as in written correspondence.
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Thomas joined Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) this year leading the Real Estate division. Prior to joining LCEF, Thomas was Vice President of the Real Estate division at AbleLight, Inc. (formally Bethesda Lutheran Communities, Inc). During the last three years at AbleLight, Inc., Campbell built a real estate team that managed the existing real estate portfolio and created an integrated housing initiative across the US.
Prior to AbleLight, Inc., Thomas was the principal executive at Campbell Corporation. During his 27 years at Camp-bell Corporation, Thomas developed, constructed, managed and owned a real estate portfolio including multifamily, seniors housing and hotels throughout the States of Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Not only has Thomas applied his real estate development expertise on his own behalf, but he has used his real-life experiences to consult with hundreds of for profit and non-profit organizations as a real estate owner’s representative, managing the development and construction of diverse real estate projects throughout the United States and the world. For over twenty years, Thomas has been leveraging key development tools such as TIF, tax-exempt bonds, LIHTC, RD 515 and others. Thomas has successfully completed real estate projects valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars in the residential, commercial, hospitality and industrial real estate segments.
Andy joined LCEF in May 2023. Andy has been practicing architecture for over 12 years and has served clients in most all target markets within the field. One of Andy’s many career-related passions is urban design and community-based projects, where he is able to accomplish projects by leading and working with teams to comprehensive, realistic and efficient solutions. Andy will continue to serve in an architectural role on LCEF projects when needed as a project designer and project manager.
Andy will also continue to grow his knowledge-base in the field of Commercial Realty, where he is able to leverage critical thinking combined with design to accomplish projects with unique scope solutions and various capital stacks.
Andy received his Bachelors and Masters degrees from Ball State University, College of Architecture and Planning and is pursuing his remaining examinations to accomplish architectural licensure.
Josh joined Lutheran Church Extension Fund in October 2023 as a member of the Real Estate Solutions team. He has been actively involved in the commercial real estate market of Southern California for over 12 years where he began his career as a commercial real estate broker specializing in multifamily properties and infill development sites. He is passionate to see the reuse and repurpose of real estate to address the shortage of housing, in particular the state of California where he has spent his entire life.
Josh will continue to use his consultative and advisory approach, while also looking to grow and expand his knowledge as a commercial real estate professional.
Josh graduated from the University of California Irvine with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Economics and a Minor in Management. He also received a Certificate in Real Estate Finance, Investments, and Development from the University of San Diego Division of Professional and Continuing Education.
Jonathan joined LCEF in December of 2023. He is a real estate development professional with nearly 25 years of experience from Pittsburgh to Milwaukee from many sides of the table in both the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
He has closed financing on over $250 million in new development financing specializing in urban redevelopment with a wealth of experience in alternative financing including: Historic, New Market and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, grants, leveraged loans, and tax-increment financing. He has developed both urban and suburban mixed-use retail and multifamily development.
He has a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration from Grand Valley State University. He studied city planning and architecture, in Barcelona, Spain, and served as a Lauble Fellow in Community & Economic Development at the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh.
Jonathan and his wife Kaethe have six children and reside in the Milwaukee area where they attend Our Savior Lutheran Church in Whitefish Bay.
Dorothy brings seven years of team support in various capacities, including four years with a Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod congregation, and three years of non-profit work.
In previous roles, Dorothy has worked significantly on assisting the development and support of cross-functional teams. She is using her career experiences by assisting in the streamlining of processes and providing project management support to the Real Estate Solutions team.
Dorothy is excited to support Real Estate Solutions projects and help identify opportunities to provide the best service to those LCEF serves.