FINALLY… at our Special Called Assembly on Tuesday afternoon, the Committee on Ministry presented a motion to approve Rev. Dr. Steve Poos-Benson to move from temporary supply pastor to called, head of staff at Columbine United Church. It was approved by an unanimous decision! Read Steve’s story below. Send Steve an email and congratulate him.
Twenty-eight years - it’s a long time to wait to become a Sr. Pastor. Actually, my journey to become the pastor of Columbine United Church began thirty-six years ago. The moment I stepped into the congregation when I was a snot nosed green behind the ears fresh out of seminary twenty-five year old I heard a divine call that said, “Here, here is where I want you to serve.” Over the years there have been other opportunities but each time the message was very clear, “No, I want you to stay at Columbine.” So, I did.
The hiccup came after year seven when Ken Biel the Sr. Pastor retired. The congregation did a two-year search and interviewed three finalists for the position, all who declined the offer. The Presbytery Executive, Hank Blunk, asked me if I’d be willing to take the position. I asked how this would be possible since the Book of Order expressly stated that Associates cannot become Sr. Pastors in the same congregation. Hank said, “We’re going to make you the Stated Supply.” I didn’t care about the title; it simply confirmed my call to stay at Columbine.
The years rolled by and I joked that I was going to be the longest running Stated Supply in the history of the denomination. I reasoned that in many ways we’re all temporary and this was a living reminder that someday I too would move on to something else, even if that was retirement. People have often asked me how long I would serve at Columbine. I simply replied, “Until God, the congregation, and the Presbytery decided otherwise.”
It’s been an interesting journey. We’ve had many experiences as a congregation – programs, mission, and building expansions. The congregation was thrown into the national spotlight as it played a crucial role in the Columbine shootings. Through it all there was God’s abiding presence and call.
I someday longed to have my title changed. The door opened when the Book of Order was amended. Our Presbytery began working with pastors in temporary positions to move them to called and installed positions. I wondered if it would someday apply to me. Thanks to the Committee on Ministry and the members of the Council and congregation of CUC we walked the necessary steps together. Then last week you voted to make the dream a reality.
It might seem odd that after thirty-six years and just a few years from retirement I’d want to change things now. Why not just become the longest standing temporary pastor? It’s simple. It’s because of my call. I wanted to be able to stand before God and say, “Here I am, still, use me.”
Thank you for making it all possible. It has been worth the wait.