“Are you ready?” “Are you all packed?” “Can you wait?” “When do you leave?” “Where are you going?” Questions abound as together we anticipate my Sabbatical beginning on May 15th. Neither you nor I have ever done this before. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to “step aside” and study for reflection and renewal of the ministry.
“Sabbatical” comes from the word “sabbath” which means “to rest.” Its roots are from the Hebrew words for Sabbath (shabbath) and what one does on the Sabbath (shabath) — “to repose, i.e. desist from exertion…(cause to, let, make to) cease…(make to) rest. (Hebrew Dictionary, Strong’s).
The Diocese of Tennessee believes that periods of renewal are valuable to both the clergy and the congregation and will lead to furthering God’s work in the Parish and the Diocese.
The Church of the Advent includes provision for sabbatical leave in its work policies, as well.
After completing seven years of ministry at the Church of the Advent, I have been looking forward to the time this summer to study. I confess that it may be a challenge to me as I step back from the active ministry into a more “quiet” season; however, I am sure that God has many deep and rich experiences ahead.
In an effort to answer some of the questions and to communicate as much information as possible, please allow me to outline my “plan” of study and the plan for “who’s on first” in my absence.
May 15 – Sabbatical begins. For the balance of the month of May, I will be on Retreat and spend time reading in preparation for a course that begins in early June.
June 2 – To England. I travel by myself to England in early June, arriving in time to attend the lectures by Bp. N.T. Wright at Ridley Hall, Cambridge. I will attend a course at the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity which is an outgrowth of the ministry of John Stott (a giant in modern Anglicanism). In June, I will make a couple of Parish Visits to see churches that have “thrived” in a hostile culture.
June 20- Marcia Arrives! We plan on attending a weekend Seminar on Listening presented by the Acorn Christian Healing Foundation. They teach laity and clergy how to listen to ourselves, to others, and to God. We will make a couple of Parish Visits to the North (Durham).
At the end of June and beginning of July, we will be in Oxford reading (and assimilating). We will spend a few days in London over the 4th of July. Then we head over to Ireland for three days in and around Dublin. We will Visit with the Rev. Willie Stewart who has grown an Anglican Church of Ireland in the inner city of Dublin from just a handful to several hundred over the past ten years. We will finish our time out of the country in the north of Ireland with a Parish visit to Maghera. We will be there in time to witness the local parades on the 12th and return to Nashville by July 15th.
The last month will be spent in reading, reflection, and assimilation as I attempt to put together some thoughts about the impact of a Post-Christendom world and culture on Church Growth, generally, and our Parish growth, more specifically.
The operation of the Parish: Clayton Ingalls, Curate, will be responsible for the daily operation of the Parish together with the Senior and Junior Wardens. Clayton will lead all services of public worship (or in his absence during the mission trip, see that a minister is present). He will be the first point of pastoral contact for sickness, surgeries, baptisms, burials. Clayton will be ably “backed” by members of the church and neighboring colleagues. Frank Field, Senior Warden, and Dale Watney, Junior Warden, are both available to assist at all times. Additionally, the wardens will continually work to lead the temporal affairs of the church (building and grounds, finance, etc.) to allow Clayton the freedom to “minister” as much as possible.
The Diocese states that “The purpose of sabbatical leave should be for the renewal of the ministry of the clergy; it should be a time away from the parish and it could include study, reflection, travel, and rest. The content of the sabbatical, however, must demonstrably serve to strengthen and enhance the ministry of the clergy…” With a great deal of prayer and preparation and with tremendous thankfulness for your support, I look forward to my sabbatical time.
Sincerely in Christ,
Tom H.
Eph. 3:20, 21
