Sabbatical - The Gift of Rest and Renewal

Beloved in Christ,

As I write this, I am wrapping up the last few days before I leave for a three-month sabbatical.  This will be my first in more than twenty-four years of ordained ministry. I am profoundly grateful to the diocese for the gift of this time away. 

I hope to do three things in this time. I want and need to pray more deeply than is possible in the normal demands of life and ministry. So I hope to spend a lot of time simply enjoying the presence of God and being with Jesus. I also plan to read through the New Testament again in order to soak in its magnificent vision of what is possible when a community lives fully in the power of the Spirit. 

I will also play, a lot. By spending time with my family, who sacrifice a great deal for me to do the work I do. By fishing, of course, by playing more hockey than is reasonable or advisable for someone my age, and by reconnecting with some of the lifelong friendships we get so precious few of.

And I’ll be doing some long hoped for international travel with my family. 

I believe we have one of the best diocesan staffs in the Episcopal Church, and I am grateful for the responsibilities they are taking on to make my sabbatical possible. I hope having a break from me will give them a chance to grow and deepen in the extraordinary ministry they do. With their steady hands, and governing bodies full of deeply faithful people, the diocese will scarcely notice I’m away, as it should be.

These past six years have been the richest and most meaningful of my life. I continue to feel clear that I am called to be your bishop. So, while a sabbatical is about rest, it will also be a time for me to prepare for all the next chapter will require.  When I return, I hope by God’s grace to continue to be with you for many years to come. 

Know that you will be very close in my prayers, and that I love you very much.