Pass the mantle

One of the most satisfying things I do these days is to mentor Elaine Dreeben, a gifted young woman who serves our church as a Lilly Pastoral Resident. A recent seminary graduate, she is spending two years with us, experiencing all the varied aspects of a large and active church in a time of preparation for a long and productive ministry.

How did we get involved in something like this? It’s a story worth sharing, because it speaks of the way in which religious communities can partner to do wonderful things.

It all started when I happened to sit at a luncheon with Tom Dunning, who has been an active supporter of Dallas for a long time. He asked what pastors were doing to get together — to share our common challenges and commitments. I said, “Not enough,” but added that I’d been thinking of getting some friends in ministry together.

Tom, who has the gift of follow-through, offered to pay for lunch! Thus a monthly lunch was born — a gathering of five pastors, living out Tom’s hope for greater community.

One day, George Mason (pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church who writes the Worship column for other Advocate neighborhoods) suggested that we write for a grant from the Lilly Endowment to start a cluster of pastoral residencies. We did, and thanks be to God and Eli Lilly — we received the grant!

For almost three years now, we five pastors — Mason, Joe Clifford of First Presbyterian Church, John Fiedler of First United Methodist Church, Bob Dannals of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, and I — have been mentoring a group of eight pastoral residents. They are bright, caring and committed young pastors (both men and women), and they give me hope for the future.

Each week our residents meet for a homiletics seminar (churchspeak for preaching) and a pastoral seminar that deals with a range of topics from family systems theory to church administration. Each resident serves in his or her own parish, but they have also formed a close community of learners. Being young, they regularly celebrate each other’s rites of passage, such as marriages and pregnancies, but most importantly they share the joys and chal- lenges of pastoral ministry.

And, in these last years of my own ministry, these wonderful young people are giving me an unexpected new passion for my calling.

Marsha Sinetar has written an important book titled “The Mentor’s Spirit: Life Lessons on Leadership and the Art of Encouragement.” She writes: “We need mentors — wise and faithful guides, advisers or teachers — the wisdom keepers of an entire family, a sprawling corporation, or community. The mentor’s spirit animates our life. It moves us toward wholeness and authenticity.”

Being a mentor is a joy and a challenge. It gives you a chance to leave something past your own time. It reminds me of the prophet Elijah, rising up on his chariot of fire, taking the time to drop his mantle upon his successor, Elisha.

Consider being a mentor, too. Pass along what you’ve learned. Drop your mantle on some bright young spirit.

Preston Hollow resident Claire Rathbun announced she’s going to improve her consulting business, Great Workplaces, internal business structure. “So often, in a smaller business’, leaders are already stretched so thin and are being pulled in several directions, that even though they know they should focus on and implement some of these initiatives, they just don’t have the time. This is where I come in,” Rathbun says in a press release.

Kathleen Donovan, St. Alcuin Montessori School teaching assistant, recently was honored for her award-winning photograph of student Sophia Brisbon. The photo titled “Sophia Waiting, Hardhat Series,” was awarded the Best Two-Dimensional Prize in the Mitchell Gallery’s “Less is More: Small Works in a Great Space” for 2013.

Hillcrest senior Lilly Stafford was nominated as best supporting actress by the Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Awards for her role as Paulette in the school’s fall production of “Legally Blonde.” The winners will be announced this month. Stafford was also awarded most valuable staffer as a part of the Hillcrest Hurricane (school newspaper) nomination for best newspaper in the Metroplex in the Class B division by the Dallas Morning News

Lori Todd, Hillcrest High School journalism teacher and yearbook/newspaper adviser, was selected as WFAA’s “Good Morning Texas” Teacher of the Month for March. The Good Morning Texas crew surprised Todd in her classroom on a Monday and aired the show that Friday.

The Dallas Bar Association’s E-Mentoring Program recognized Hillcrest High School’s Jennifer Molina for her special engagement in the E-mentoring program. Molina received an award and $50 dollar gift card.

Sixteen ceramics students at W.T. White High School competed in the UIL All-State Visual Arts Scholastic Event competition. This was W.T. White’s first year offering a ceramics program, and six students received perfect scores in all categories.

The Dallas Area Parkinsonism Society will meet at 1 p.m. May 13 for a discussion on “Cognition and how to keep your brain active.” The meeting takes place at University Park United Methodist Church, 4024 Caruth. For information call 972.620.7600 or visit daps.us.

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Charley Williams , at left, and Azhar Jivani , far right, present a special pie to Walter Sorensen , head of school at St. Alcuin Montessori, in celebration of Pi Day.

Dolores Raivzee-Bell , left, is the newly elected president of the Dallas ISD Northwest Council of Parent-Teacher Associations that will succeed president Melissa Higginbotham , right. Raivzee-Bell will oversee all PTAs within the Hillcrest, North Dallas, Thomas Jefferson and W. T. White high schools’ feeder patterns.