After Pentecost Sunday in June, I’ll begin a sabbatical and return to Calvary on August 31. After eight years of ministry together, which have included concerted efforts such as navigating a global pandemic and completing a building campaign together, there seems to be wisdom in a sabbatical pause. There is wisdom in giving Calvary a space to be the Church without your rector nudging and directing you for a time. There’s wisdom in the rector’s stepping away and into another rhythm if only to be reminded that he’s not as indispensable as he might think. I’m especially curious about what unplanned gifts and graces we will all encounter along the way.
The working title for my sabbatical study is “The Carnal Virtues: Church as a Community of Craft.” I plan to spend time studying and visiting a variety of craftspeople who believe one way we make healthier community with one another and a better world for us all is as a side effect of making material things together. One is a furniture maker who started the “Decency Project,” which gets people across deep cultural divides talking to each other as they learn to carve spoons from green wood. I think there are lessons and insights in these stories and more that are relevant to the community of craft we call Church, especially to an active congregation of doers and makers like Calvary.
Calvary will be in excellent hands while I’m away, with the Rev. Katherine Bush acting as priest in charge. She will be joined for the summer by the Rev. Eyleen Farmer, who retired as Calvary’s associate rector of pastoral care in 2017. Eyleen is delighted to spend time with us again, preaching and offering pastoral care. We also look forward to welcoming the Rev. Buddy Stallings and the Rev. Alvin Jackson back into Calvary’s pulpit this summer. And, as you know, Calvary is blessed with a competent and loving staff and dozens and dozens of faithful lay ministers.
Calvary won’t pause in making God’s love visible in downtown Memphis in the least. Our community ministries and music programs, youth, children and family ministries, pastoral care teams, fellowship and welcome events, and all the open-hearted work of being the body of Christ in this place will continue. Just typing this note reminds me all over again of what a gift and honor it is to get to play my small part in your lives and your work in the world.
Thank you for entrusting me with the ministry of being your rector. It’s one of my life’s greatest gifts and joys. And thank you for entrusting me with this sabbatical time. I don’t take it lightly and pray that God will use it to bless and deepen our life and ministry together for years to come.