As of July 1st, 2022, Pastor Terry Frankenstein has officially retired from parish ministry. Her final service at Bethany Lutheran Church was on May 29th. We are so grateful for everything Pr. Terry has done for Bethany, and we wish her God's blessings as she begins this new chapter!
Below, find her retirement letter, written on April 25th.
Dear Members and Friends of Bethany,
On June 14, 1972, my 16th birthday, I started my first job at The Fair Store in Escanaba.
It’s sometimes hard for me to believe, but this summer, on that 50th anniversary of starting work, I will be just a few months short of collecting full social security!
When the members of Bethany called me to be pastor on my birthday, June 14th, two years ago, I had every intention of continuing to work until the age of 70, but that was before the pandemic took its toll. While I am reluctant and sad to admit it, I am exhausted and burned out. I will be retiring from parish ministry on July 1st.
This isn’t an easy decision for me, especially now that we appear to be on the other side of the pandemic. There is momentum and excitement in the church at present, given our parsonage partnership with Catholic Social Services of the U.P. and the successful launch of our Free Store. Worship has returned to a sense of normalcy, and activities are on the uptick. It is apparent to me that Bethany’s leadership is energized and ready to embark upon setting a vision for the future that will bring to light new possibilities for this church. The last two years have been challenging, but I believe Bethany is stronger than it was at the start of the pandemic. It is an ideal time to start anew.
As for me, retirement will permit me to accept new calls from God: one call where I focus on my family, especially being present for my husband who remains busy at Central Industrial while hoping soon to move into semi-retirement. John and I have also purchased another home in Greenville, Wisconsin, to make it easier to spend time with Stacey and her family. The second call is one where I can live into my role as a certified Spiritual Director, offering this ministry to pastors within the Northern Great Lakes Synod. I will also be discerning whether to make application to the DMin in Spiritual Direction Program at Fuller Theological Seminary. I appreciate your understanding that God has called me to new ventures.
Bishop Katherine Finegan will be meeting with the Church Council on May 17th with a plan and proposal for Bethany. She and Pr. Jim Duehring will shepherd and guide the process of calling your new pastor.
In the coming weeks, I look forward to remembering what we have accomplished together. In closing, I offer words of wisdom from my Internship Supervisor, Pr. Warren Geier: Remember that Bethany isn’t my church, nor is it your church. It is Christ’s church, and we are but stewards following the lead of our Risen Lord and Savior.
Your sister in Christ, Pr. Terry