October 1, 2026
Dear St. Stephen’s--
After much prayer, discernment, and conversation with our Wardens,
Vestry, parish clergy, Bishop Shay and the leadership of the Diocese and with
the encouragement of a few parishioners, I will be taking a three-month
sabbatical beginning April 1 and ending July 1, 2027.
After almost 20 years of ministry together at St.
Stephen’s, I believe this is the right time for me to undertake such a period
of renewal.
A clergy sabbatical is intended as a regular and healthy
part of long-term ordained ministry. Under the diocesan sabbatical policy,
full-time priests are eligible, following at least six years of service in the
Diocese, for a period of sabbatical leave for what the policy describes as
“spiritual and intellectual refreshment.” Our diocesan sabbatical program is
known as the Masuda Program, named for the Rt. Rev. George Masuda, who was Bishop
of North Dakota from 1965 to 1980.
The Episcopal Church as a whole understands sabbatical as a
time when clergy are relieved of their ordinary responsibilities for study,
travel, spiritual renewal, and rest. A sabbatical is therefore something very different
from a vacation. It is an intentional Sabbath—a period of stepping away from
the regular demands and rhythms of parish ministry in order to pray, read,
write, study, reflect, travel, create, rest, and simply to re-connect with and pay
attention to where God may be leading.
During the three months of sabbatical, I hope to give
particular attention to my spiritual and creative life: I plan to spent time in
prayer and on retreat, reading and writing (I am currently in the process of
writing a novel), travel, and simply allowing myself the kind of spaciousness
that is often difficult to find amid the day-to-day responsibilities of parish
ministry. I hope to return to St. Stephen’s renewed, refreshed, and ready for
the next chapter of our ministry together.
It’s important to remember that a sabbatical is not a
leave-taking from St. Stephen’s, nor is some kind of prelude to leaving. It is
actually the opposite. Sabbaticals exist in the Church precisely because
healthy ministry requires periods of renewal if it is to remain vital over the
long term. I look forward to returning in July and continuing the ministry we
share together.
While I am away, the life and ministry of St. Stephen’s
will include, as always, worship, pastoral
care and regular ministries. Our Wardens, Vestry, deacons, staff and lay
leaders, as well as the sabbatical clergyperson will ensure that St. Stephen’s
remains the vibrant, radically inclusive, prayerful community that it is.
In the months ahead, we will communicate clearly about
clergy coverage, pastoral emergencies, worship, administration, and other
practical matters during my absence. And please, ask me any questions you may
have.
I also hope that my sabbatical can become a kind of Sabbath
for all of us, not just myself. After almost 20 years together, I am positive
that you too can appreciate a sabbatical from me as well.
I think a sabbatical is a very good reminder that St.
Stephen’s belongs to God, and its ministry belongs to all of us, not
just the Rector. For seventy years, this remarkable congregation has been
sustained by generations of faithful people who have prayed here, worshiped
here, struggled here, served here, and dared to imagine what an inclusive
Christian community might look like in Fargo-Moorhead. I am only one minor part
of that continuing story.
Perhaps these three months can give all of us an
opportunity to notice again the many gifts for ministry that already exists
within our community.
Between now and April, I will share more about my plans as
well as the arrangements that will be made for St. Stephen’s during my absence.
My hope is that we will enter this sabbatical thoughtfully and prayerfully,
seeing it not as an interruption in our common life but as part of its natural
rhythm.
As you all know, I am deeply grateful to God for the
privilege of being your priest and rector. I am grateful for the ministry we do
here together, for the ways you challenge and encourage me, and for the
extraordinary community we have built here together.
I ask your prayers for me as I prepare for this time away.
Please know that throughout my sabbatical I will carry St. Stephen’s with me wherever
I go. And, God willing, on July 1, when I come back I hope to be renewed and
ready for what comes next for us as a congregation.
Also, I plan to hold an informal congregational meeting
following Sunday Eucharist either later this year or early next year to address
questions and concerns, and to present a final plan to all of you for
sabbatical. Some initial thoughts and ideas are attached to this letter.
Please pray for me during this time of preparation and know
that I will be praying for all of you as well.
With my continued deep affection for you all,
Jamie+
HOW SABBATICAL WILL LOOK AT sT. sTEPHEN’S
WARDENS AND VESTRY
The Senior Warden, the Junior Warden and the Vestry will handle administrative
business and major organizational decisions for the parish, and will assist and
advise the sabbatical clergyperson(s) on the running of the parish.
SABBATICAL CLERGYPERSON
With funds from Masuda Fund, we hope to hire a
part-time clergy person to cover for Fr. Jamie while he is gone. Fr. Jamie is
currently in discussion with an ELCA pastor who is interested in serving in
this capacity. After he discusses it with the Vestry and Bishop Shay, Fr. Jamie
will be making an announcement soon about the clergyperson who will be covering
for him while he is gone.
DEACON JOHN
Deacon John along with the Sabbatical Clergyperson(s)
will handle emergency pastoral needs, weddings, or funerals. Please be aware
that Deacon John (like all deacons in
the Episcopal Church) is not paid to serve, so it is vital that we not
overextend our expectations of his duties during this time
PASTORAL CARE TEAMS
A Pastoral Care Team led by our Wardens will
consist of trained lay leaders who will, with Deacon John and the Sabbatical
Clergyperson, manage routine visits, hospital calls, and bereavement support.
If anyone is interested in helping with this vital ministry, please talk with Fr. Jamie.
WORSHIP
Sunday morning Eucharist will continue as it
always has been to be the center of our congregation and ministry and will
continue without a break. It is my hope that a sabbatical clergy person will
cover the first, second and fourth Sundays each month, with Deacon John utilizing
Morning Prayer with Holy Communion from the Reserved Sacrament on the second Sunday of each month.
WEDNESDAY EVENING LITURGY
Wednesday evening gatherings will also continue,
though in a slightly different way. A few devoted parishioners who attend the
Wednesday evening service offered to be trained as Lay Reader so they can lead Evening
Prayer on Wednesdays and continue to share the post-Wednesday liturgy supper
tradition at a local restaurant.
TOTAL DISCONNECTION
A sabbatical means total disconnection. During
this time, parishioners or staff are to refrain from contacting the Rector in
any way during the sabbatical. Fr. Jamie, for his part, will not be checking
personal emails, social media posts or text messages. He also will not be
engaging in any social media while he is gone. This means he will not be
accessing or posting anything on Facebook, Instagram or any other kind of
social media. He also will not be performing regular duties to allow true
Sabbath rest.
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