Renewal Leave
This summer, from July 16 – August 21, I am excited to share I have been granted a spiritual renewal leave. According to our Book of Discipline, clergy are to take at least one month of spiritual growth and renewal leave every four years. In nine years of ministry as clergy, including four years of serving alongside you at Hyde Park Community UMC, I had not yet made space for this opportunity to rest, recharge, and reset. I am grateful to Senior Pastors Cathy and Doug, the Personnel Team, and key ministry leaders in Mission and Outreach and Young Adult Ministry for their support in this important time of renewal.
I’m happy to report that this renewal leave is not done out of a crisis, but to aid in my commitment to life-long ministry and holistic health and balance. It is my hope and plan to take advantage of renewal leave every quadrennial as part of my rhythm of healthy, fruitful ministry. I’m extremely grateful to Pastors Cathy and Doug for when I brought up the idea of taking renewal leave I was immediately met with support in figuring out how to make it happen.
What does a spiritual renewal leave mean? As pastors, we are encouraged to practice self-care and warned of the results of its neglect. Renewal leave is not “empty” or unstructured time. It fits the guidelines of the early church as reflected in the Gospel of Mark where after returning from their missionary journey, Jesus invited the disciples to, “come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.” Hyde Park Community UMC has certainly been on a missionary journey over the last 15 months with the pandemic and I have been so proud to serve alongside you in caring for each other and the community.
What will I be doing for this month of spiritual renewal leave? In working hard to avoid my task-oriented nature, my plan is have a balance of four components: spiritual renewal, physical rest and refreshment (including prioritizing the new hobby I’ve taken up – rowing), emotional recharging, and deepening of relationships. My time of renewal will include intentional time of study, reflection, writing, and refreshment of spirit that will be lived into in such a way that I may return refreshed and renewed in body, mind, and spirit and ready to lead afresh. It is also a time to prioritize deepening my relationship with God, myself, and my personal relationships.
In my absence, plans and leaders are already in place to keep the momentum we are building within the Mission and Outreach and Young Adult Ministry. I will be praying daily for each of you and the ministries of Hyde Park Community UMC. I am so honored to be one of your pastors and I already look forward to returning to you, with a FULL spiritual tank, as we boldly enter the next season of ministry together!
If you have any questions regarding my spiritual renewal leave, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I would be happy to have that conversation with you.
Peace,
Pastor Kate