Dave Sutter and Janice Yordy Sutter retire after 35 years of leading Kern Road Mennonite

Tributes, surprise visits, a greeting from Cubs broadcaster Pat Hughes, an amazing potluck and a ride in a classic 1931 Packard all added up to a proper retirement event for Dave Sutter and Janice Yordy Sutter, pastors of Kern Road Mennonite Church.

The services, ice cream social and potluck were June 10 and 11.

The Sutters said they were amazed by the friends and family who came in from across the country. One friend surprised them from Palestine/Israel. “We knew a lot was going to happen. The farewell committee was active and committed to their work,” Pastor Janice said.

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The Sutters had served at Kern Road Mennonite for 35 years. Through that time, the church has been active with a number of community and world causes, such as Hope Family Ministry (formerly Hope Rescue), Habitat for Humanity and 10,000 Villages. The activism runs deep. The church members are committed to living out their faith and being active in causes, Janice said.

Dave said the church is blessed with many people who are deeply involved in the city, county and area and they take their faith seriously.

After 35 years, the Sutters decided to look for a change. They contemplated and let the congregation know last year. That planning committee started their mission.

“We haven't been calling this ‘retirement,’ but we are leaving Kern Road Mennonite Church and full-time pastoral ministry," Dave said. "We are open to other ways to use our gifts as God might call us. We're taking a three-month 'sabbatical' to consider options for what that might be, either as a couple or individually.”

So they aren’t through yet. They are open to a new challenge.

'Complementary skills'

Church members and a former assistant pastor said the two have been a perfect team. Andrew Tucker is a current board member of the church and served as the board chair for three years. “They have complementary skills. Dave is the administrator and enjoys meetings, and Janice is the creative, skillful speaker.”

Andrew said they have always been attentive to needs, listening and welcoming opinions. “They are people who like people.”

Longtime church member Nevin Longenecker agreed that the Sutters have been a perfect match for the church. “They have a strong calling for outreach, and helping persons in need. They encouraged people. The membership has supported their programs. It has all been very positive.”

Matthew Insley served as a pastoral colleague at the church with the Sutters. “They provided a quality of ministry to let others flourish and find their way.” Through them, he was able to discern his future. He is the manager of the Sustainable Farm at Saint Mary’s College.

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The Sutters served as youth pastors at Lombard (Ill.) Mennonite Church in the early 1980s. After they were married, they moved to Lincoln, Neb. She served as interim pastor and in clinical pastoral education at a Lincoln hospital. Dave worked for a personnel selection and development firm there.

They moved to Denver in 1985. She was an associate pastor at First Mennonite Church of Denver and Dave a pastoral intern at Glennon Heights Mennonite Church.

During that time, they completed additional education. Dave received a master's degree in organizational management and adult Christian community development. Janice earned a master’s in divinity from Iliff School of Theology.

They were looking for a church that their varied gifts and education backgrounds would find fit. They were interviewed by church member and local architect Leroy Troyer. The job was offered.

They raised their two sons, Ben and Brian in the church. The Sutters watched several generations in the church family. They saw building additions and new programs. They were committed to church and congregation. Now they are letting the next chapter begin.

Waiting for what's next

Working as a couple has been successful for them. “We have enjoyed working together and having a common mission to congregational health and the growth and formation of individuals in the congregation," Janice said. "That common mission energizes us as a couple. For us, one of the secrets for working together successfully is having complementary gifts and having clearly defined areas of responsibility in ministry. We don't have a competitive relationship, so that has also been helpful.”

If working together had caused rifts in their marriage, they would have walked away. But that wasn’t the case. They have worked with more than 100 couples in pre-marriage and have a deep passion to support marriages. This may be something that they explore for their future, they said.

The rest of the summer will be sitting back and contemplating their next step. They helped with the transition team and cleaned the offices. There will be some travel, a Cubs game. Some cooking and gardening. Waiting for what is coming for them.

Contact Kathy at kfborlik@yahoo.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Kern Road Mennonite Church pastors, a married couple, retire