Covenant Arrangements

Orchard Ridge UCC and Tammy Martens

August, 2022

Words from Tammy

I have valued so much my opportunity to work in ministry with all of you. I am grateful to all of you for your support and love. Part of finishing in my role as Associate Pastor, is the formation of this covenant agreement. The transition team, Julia Burkey, Barbara Stretchberry, and I have spent time writing and processing this. I wholeheartedly embrace this agreement. As I step away from Sunday morning programming and other activities, I look forward to much needed rest and other opportunities for growth. It would not be helpful for me or the church to attend programming on Sunday mornings because I would be tempted to jump back into “ministry mode.” This covenant agreement provides a healthy way for the church to reset the leadership positions and to continue to grow and thrive.

Role of Covenant

This covenant is a way to name some of the dynamics and relationships that might emerge after Tammy’s retirement. There is no real way to “take off” the pastoral role, so Tammy will always hold a place in our hearts as our pastor. We now honor the new roles Tammy will take in our lives, as a wider community member and friend. Creating a covenant is a life-giving way to allow our relationships to take new forms and for the new pastor, whomever they may be, and whenever they come, to develop meaningful relationships and find their way into our hearts. This is a living document with room for movement and change as the years unfold.

Overall Support

Tammy will support the ongoing ministries and ORUCC staff as needed to answer questions if contacted. Tammy will no longer be available for pastoral care, so if anyone comes to Tammy for pastoral support, she will refer that pastoral care request to the ORUCC pastors.

Worship Attendance

Tammy will not attend Sunday morning worship or any church programs for a year. The Senior Pastor, Moderator, and Tammy will decide together about Tammy’s attendance at this year’s 4:00 Christmas Eve service. In the summer of 2023, if Tammy decides she would like to return to ORUCC as a parishioner, they will decide together when it would be appropriate to reintegrate Tammy back for worship and other ORUCC gatherings. If a new Associate Pastor is hired during the next year, that person will also be part of that conversation.

Funerals & Weddings

We will encourage ORUCC members to develop relationships with the current and future ORUCC pastors and approach them for weddings and funerals. The Senior Pastor, the new Associate Pastor, the Moderator and Tammy will make decisions together about Tammy attending or participating in any funeral or memorial service for a members or friends of ORUCC.

In the case that a former youth who has no connection anymore to ORUCC approaches Tammy for a wedding, Tammy will check in with the ORUCC pastors and can be supported to officiate the wedding.

Moon Beach

We support Tammy to attend Moon Beach Family Camp and other Moon Beach programs after she finishes at ORUCC.

Covenant with Rob, Gabe, and Lily Martens

We wholeheartedly support Rob Martens to continue as Tru Function Director. Gabe will continue as Tech Advisor. Lily will continue to participate in the life of ORUCC and provide volunteer leadership that works for her. We want to support Lily, Gabe and Rob in having their own relationships with ORUCC, that are not defined by Tammy, so we will refrain from asking them about Tammy’s new position and how she is doing. Count on the answer being: Tammy is doing great in retirement from parish ministry, especially after many years of fruitful service.

Please reach out to any of us if you have questions.

Julia Burkey, Senior Pastor

Tammy Martens, Retiring Associate Pastor

Barbara Stretchberry, Moderator