What a privilege to serve a congregation that recognizes the heavy demands of pastoral ministry by offering a Sabbatical for extended time away every seventh year! As I prepare to leave for the Discovering our Presbyterian Heritage tour of Scotland with 41 church members on Friday, April 26, followed by my Sabbatical leave through August, I want to share the plans for coverage of my primary areas of responsibility.
I am grateful to my pastoral colleagues for taking on the following responsibilities in my absence:
Rebecca Kirkpatrick will serve as Moderator of Session and Acting Head of Staff, as well as staff liaison to the Personnel & Worship Committees.
Rachel Pedersen will be the staff support to the Renovations Committee, focused on the Education Building this summer, and she will help Becky Hoy with the onboarding of our new Associate Pastor for Youth and their Families who begins July 1.
Frank Pottorff will serve as staff support to the Trustees and BMPC Foundation Board of Directors. Frank will also coordinate the guest pastors preaching in the “Children of the Church” series: Paul Watermulder, July 28; Crawford Brubaker, Aug. 4; Courtenay Willcox, Aug. 11; and Graham Robinson, Aug. 18.
My two exceptions to being away is that I have made a commitment during my leave to meet with our new Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care and Senior Adults, who begins June 10, and help guide his onboarding schedule during his first week. I will also be here to welcome our new Associate Pastor for Youth and their Families when she arrives in Bryn Mawr.
This Sabbatical, which promises a season of rest from my usual hard-working rhythms, fills me with gratitude. I am genuinely grateful for the extra effort put forth by my colleagues who will share covering additional areas of ministry in my absence. I am grateful to the Session for approving my proposal for this time away. I am grateful for the Lilly Endowment’s National Clergy Renewal Program which awarded the church a grant to help fund my travel, study and activities for renewal. And I most grateful for the privilege of serving Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church as your Pastor.
While I look forward to time away for travel, family adventures, reading, worship and rest, I also look forward to returning in September renewed and energized for what God has in store for our ministry together.
Grace and Peace,
Agnes
