At its October meeting, our Session officially gave my sabbatical proposal their blessing, and I’m deeply touched by the trust and care behind that vote. These past six-plus years with Westminster have been full of meaningful, shared work, but being granted the space to pause, recharge, and just breathe is a rare and wonderful thing.
I am turning 60 in the spring of 2027 and discerning the final five to ten years of my active pastoral ministry. With that milestone in view, my spirit feels drawn toward a deliberate, quiet pause. I am eager to step back from the weekly rhythms of facility management, administrative details, and meeting agendas to reconnect with the foundational soil of my faith and vocational purpose.
The Wisdom of the Fallow
The guiding theme for my time away is Cultivating the Fallow Ground. In scripture and traditional agriculture, leaving land fallow is not an act of neglect; it is essential for long-term health and fruitfulness. Letting the soil rest allows it to accumulate deep moisture and rebuild vital nutrients.
To ground this season, I’m planning a mix of tactile physical labor and quiet contemplation:
- Working with My Hands: I’ll be trading verbal and analytical tasks for the physical work of removing an old synthetic deck in my courtyard and laying a stone patio, planting beds, and maybe even a bubbling water feature by hand.
- The Observant Walk: Every seven days, I plan to visit the very same regional trail with a journal and camera, paying quiet attention to the patient shifts in growth, decay, and light as spring shifts into high summer.
- Ecological Inspiration & Study: Exploring regional public gardens—from Innisfree and Manitoga to the Berkshire Botanical Garden—while engaging in daily eco-theological reading and meeting regularly with a spiritual director.
Timing and the Road Ahead
A pastoral sabbatical is a standard provision within the Albany Presbytery’s Terms of Call, earned in or after a pastor’s seventh year of service. By late May 2027, I will have reached that seven-year milestone with Westminster.
My three-month sabbatical will span May, June, and July of 2027, preceded directly by two weeks of study leave.
- My last Sunday before leave: April 18, 2027
- My return date: Monday, August 2, 2027
A Parallel Sabbath for the Congregation
A sabbatical is not designed to be a one-sided experience; it is an invitation for the whole congregation to share in a season of rest.
Early next year, I will work with our Session and a dedicated committee to put together a full pastoral coverage plan. We will bring in an experienced Sabbatical Supply pastor to anchor our worship and care for pastoral needs while I disconnect to honor the boundaries of the fallow time.
At the same time, this summer can offer our church community its own “Sabbath of the Soil”—perhaps a chance to lighten the administrative load, pause non-essential committee work, and enjoy casual summer gatherings like park picnics, labyrinth walks, and tending our neighborhood green spaces together.
We have plenty of time over the next five months to prepare, coordinate, and talk through the details. For now, thank you for the trust, partnership, and care that make a season of renewal possible. I look forward to walking this path of preparation with all of you.
