Beginning next month I’ll be taking a four month sabbatical leave from my responsibilities at the church. This was originally planned for a year ago but superseding issues in the congregation made it clear last year was not the right time.
The leave will begin on January 6 and I’ll be back at the end of April. I’m still finalizing plans for the leave but it will likely involve some travel and time for rest and renewal. Mostly I’m looking forward to being away from the day to day demands of emails and other responsibilities.
This spring will be my 30th anniversary here at the church. That is a long time to be in a role and I hope to have some time to make space to reflect on what the next chapter of ministry looks like for me.
So who will cover my responsibilities when I’m away? Rev. Alison and Danielle Garrett will work with the lay ministry team to cover pastoral care. Rev. Alison and Kathryn Estey will bring others into the work of the Executive Team as needed. And one of the gifts of a sabbatical is to make space for not everything happening when someone is away. A colleague once said to me that leaving on a sabbatical can feel like a risk. “You may come to know that there is more to life than the church and the church may come to know that life can also go on when a minister takes a break,” he said. That has indeed been my experience.
I will miss you when I’m away. Part of my reason for writing to you now is so that my departure doesn’t feel abrupt. If you’d like an appointment with me in the next month, please let me know. After that, I will be away for four months and won’t be responding to emails, etc. If there is a critical need to contact me, Rev. Alison is the point person for that.
Sabbaticals are important to the health of a long term ministry, and I do not take it for granted. This will provide me with an opportunity for rest, renewal, learning, and perspective…
I continue to feel blessed to serve here, in joyful and in difficult times. I look forward to being away and I also look forward to returning. Meantime, I look forward to seeing you in church.
In faith,
Rev. Tom