Sabbatical: A Time of Rest & Renewal
Update #1 – July 2, 2025
Dear Faith Lutheran Church,
I write this update on my last night in Tanzania. I have spent the past week visiting our sisters and brothers in Christ at Kifula Parish. A more detailed report of my visit can be found HERE.
Before I continue with my update, I want to express how much I miss you. I miss being in worship with you, spending the day with an incredible staff, and interacting with you through all the summer activities taking place. Please know I pray for you daily. I do sneak a peak at Faith’s Facebook page and weekly eNews to fill the void, and I am so thrilled to see all that is taking place. My continued thanks to Pastor Megan, the rest of the staff, and other leadership for everything they do.
So…what have I been up to since May 18th? After the thrill of our kick-off worship services for Expand the Table, filled with inspiring music and wonderful fellowship, I started off the week in bed feeling lousy. Those wiser than me suggested the body knew it was time to shut down for a bit. I was back to full strength by the Memorial Day Weekend when we celebrated daughter Greta’s graduation from St. Thomas University in St. Paul, MN. She earned her masters in Counseling Psychology and now serves as a Mental Health Therapist at Elevated Therapy Solutions in Eden Prairie, MN.
Shortly after the holiday weekend, I flew to Portland, ME for my first hiking adventure. Erik Ullestad joined me for a few days in Acadia National Park where we experienced some challenging terrain but managed to come out unscathed.
I then flew to Washington D.C. to visit dear friends. It was a wonderful mix of evenings filled with good food, laughter and reminiscing-and days where I explored the National Mall and hiking trails on my own. A highlight was visiting the National Museum African American History and Culture. I spent hours walking through the museum filled with great sorrow but inspired by the hope of our siblings who have and continue to endure indescribable discrimination. It caused me to reflect on our theme of Expand the Table in new ways, both as a congregation and for me, personally.
My plan was to hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail with a good friend and pastoral colleague, but due to family health concerns I chose to return home early. I invite your continued prayers for my in-laws, Keith and Susan Lingwall.
On June 20th, I packed my bags for a two-week adventure that began Chicago with a friend Beth and I met as first-year counselors at Lutheran Lakeside. Mark and his wife, Debra are Benjamin’s godparents, and it had been too long since we had a “Guy’s Weekend” together. From Chicago I flew to Amsterdam. One of my saddest moments thus far was the disappointing news that the hosts of the ancestral farm in Norway I planned to visit had to leave for a family event, and the farm would be locked up. I had made arrangements to hike to the farm (no roads lead there) and would be hosted by the current owners who have restored sections of the farm to its original state from the 1600s and share stories about my ancestors. With that part missing, I chose to explore Amsterdam and the surrounding area a few days and postpone the Norway adventure for another time. It was an interesting time to be in Amsterdam the same time NATO was meeting at The Hague just down the road.
This leads me to my most recent adventure to Tanzania. Again, CLICK HERE to read of my experience with our siblings in Christ at Kifula Parish. My journal and photos will offer yet another glimpse of the powerful community of Christ we share.
I return home to final preparations for our son’s wedding on July 12th. We are so excited for Benjamin and Lydia, and we invite your prayers for this new chapter in their lives.
What’s ahead? More hiking on a family vacation in Estes Park, CO, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Phoenix, hiking and camping on the North Shore in Minnesota, and a Preaching Retreat in Santa Fe area. More updates to come.
For those of you who are reading the New Testament with me through the summer and fall, we are in the middle of Luke’s gospel. I am already renewed by the discipline of daily scripture reading and hope you have experienced the same. If you haven’t started, it is never too late. The suggested reading schedule can be found at www.faithlc.org/table.
God bless you, Faith Lutheran, and enjoy the rest of the summer. If I don’t see you around town, I’ll look forward to reconnecting on August 18!
Peace & Love,
Pastor Eric
What Is a Sabbatical?
A sabbatical leave is an extended period of time (normally three months) for study, spiritual growth, refreshment and renewal for the purpose of enrichment for continued service in the same ministry setting.
The distinct benefits of a sabbatical are twofold:
The mission of the congregation benefits from the rostered person who returns to ministry with new experiences and abilities, as well as being refreshed and renewed.
The rostered person benefits from the personal and spiritual growth and renewal that comes from participation in an intentionally structured time away. A sabbatical leave is a time to be refreshed in body, mind, and spirit and to deepen one’s relationship with God.
In November 2023, the Faith Lutheran Council granted Pastor Eric Carlson a sabbatical effective May 19 – August 17, 2025.
Click the button below to view the presentation Pastor Carlson shared with the congregation in May.
A Note from Pastor Eric Carlson
I am deeply grateful to be granted a sabbatical this summer. While on sabbatical, I will be celebrating my 32nd Anniversary of Ordination. I feel this is a good time to step back, renew, nourish relationships and be energized for the future.
I am devoting the summer to a renewed devotional/study discipline of reading scripture. Part of my study time will attending a Preaching Retreat in August. I will be attending the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in July. I will also be focusing on entering the last quarter of my full-time professional ministry and my areas of responsibility at Faith Lutheran. This will include assigned reading, working with a Clergy Coach and engage in intentional conversations with faith mentors who have shaped my pastoral journey. I will be meeting with leaders who serve in similar roles and contexts across the country and learn their best practices in preaching, teaching, vision-casting, member-engagement and administrative leadership. Our family will also be celebrating the marriage of our son, Ben, and his fiancé, Lydia in July.
I look forward to sharing my experiences with the congregation upon my return.
Peace,
Pastor Eric
While Pastor Carlson is Away
Our staff is well-prepared to handle pastoral responsibilities in Pastor Eric's absence, with clear lines of communication and decision-making established. The timing allows for natural breaks in what is otherwise a full and demanding ministry schedule. We have designated individuals to oversee various aspects of congregational life, ensuring continuity and stability during this time of transition.
Pastor Megan will be responsible for all decisions of a pastoral nature (baptisms, weddings, funerals, visitors, and pastoral care concerns). We will plan on guest preachers throughout the sabbatical to support Pastor Megan. We have several retired clergy who are members of the congregation who will be assisting with other pastoral care concerns as needed. The Director of Administration & Communications, Erik Ullestad, will assume other day-to-day Head of Staff responsibilities, such as workloads, approval of time off and credit card approvals. The Director of Business & Finance, Kathy Evans, will assume all payroll responsibilities such as the approval of timecards. The officers of the Church Council will also be on hand to make decisions in cooperation with Pastor Megan, Erik Ullestad, and Kathy Evans. We do not intend to be in contact with Pastor Eric during his time of renewal and ask that congregation members respect his time away, as well.
The congregation will welcome Pastor Eric back from his renewal time away on Monday, August 17, 2025.
Sabbatical Policy
Rostered Ministers are eligible to apply for an extended educational leave (sabbatical) of three (3) months after the completion of six years of service. Another pastor must be available to serve in the absence of the pastor taking sabbatical leave. The Rostered Minister’s regular continuing education leave shall not be taken during the sabbatical year. A sabbatical shall not be contiguous with PTO time. Participants agree to serve the congregation for at least one year beyond date of return from the leave.
The Rostered Minister will present a request for an extended educational leave to the Church Council at least six months prior to the inception of a leave. A request for an extended educational leave shall include the goal of the extended study leave, a description of the proposed program of study, amount of time requested, and dates of the extended study leave.
Any extended education or sabbatical hours and funds not used at the time of an employee’s termination, for any reason, shall be forfeited. Rostered Ministers will receive their normal salary and benefits during the extended educational leave/sabbatical. Rostered Minister’s shall submit a written report of the sabbatical/extended educational leave to the Church Council and the congregation at large within sixty (60) days of return from educational leave.
— The Faith Lutheran Church Employee Handbook