3 days ago
Rev. Bauch retires after leading Peace United through era of change
Jun. 1—ROCHESTER — Rev. Paul Bauch doesn't remember the exact event at Peace United Church of Christ that people were protesting. It was likely something affirming an LGBTQ event — likely a perennial drag queen bingo event there. Protesters literally brought semiautomatic rifles to the front lawn of the church, he recalled.
"We stood together," Bauch told his congregation Sunday. It was his last day as lead pastor at the church. His message was one of gratitude and reflection of the changes he saw over 23 years.
However, Bauch stressed it was the congregation and not him that led the church to be a more open inclusive and changed institution.
He recalled a protester yelling at him that he wasn't a pastor, he was an activist.
"And what did you answer back?"
"Amen," the congregation shouted with no hesitation.
In his time at Peace United Church, Rev. Paul Bauch oversaw other major changes there.
Some changes were literal physical improvements. A construction contractor, Bauch was quick to take the lead on construction projects he saw as helping the church. Those included renovation of the church's sanctuaries, adding balcony seating in one, renovation of the congregation hall, a new parking lot and then renovation and rebuilding after a fire in the church in 2022.
However, it was the face and culture of the congregation Rev. Bauch also reinvigorated. In 2006, the church openly declared itself as being welcoming to people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions and affirmed its inclusion in the ministry.
For Bauch, the decision was not a difficult one.
"If you really look at the depth of what Jesus did, he stood up for the outcasts and the poor and people persecuted by the system," he said.
It's that principle Bauch used to guide his decisions while leading the church. Bauch said it's the congregation's willingness to see the connection between that principle that has made the church the welcoming place it is today. That includes becoming a platinum sponsor of Rochester's annual Pride event.
"You modeled for us how to listen and respond," said Peace United Rev. Linda Reynolds, during the midday farewell service there Sunday.
Bauch said his biggest surprise in more than two decades leading the church was the willingness of the congregation to embrace change and try new things.
"Never did I face, 'Oh, we have to be careful, oh, we can't change that,'" Bauch said.
Lynn Alcock, Peace United church member, talked about Bauch's ability to include people.
"It's just so important to Paul that everyone has a place," Alcock said.
Bauch considered retiring after the church returned to in-person service following the COVID-19 pandemic. Then an intentionally set fire damaged the church in 2022 . Bauch stayed on board to help lead recovery and restoration efforts.
"He brought us back to where we are today," said Brian Winters, a church member who served on the search committee that brought Bauch to Rochester from Chesterfield, Missouri, in 2002.
The farewell service and lunch drew hundreds of people. A spillover crowd watched the proceedings from folding chairs in the hall and a video feed in the second sanctuary.
The event also drew a former Chesterfield church member, Jan Bentheimer, to speak at the service. Rev. Kelly Gallagher, associate conference minister of the Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ, also attended. The church's other pastors also spoke and wished Bauch well.
Bauch said the church is in good hands, not only because of the strong leadership, but because of the entire congregation's commitment to following a message of affirmation and love.
"Everything we did went back to that message," he said.
