Dear STP Family,

I tried to get through this at 7:30, but couldn’t…so I’m having someone read this in my place.

I understand John Guest announced my retirement a few weeks ago. He was not all wrong. So, I wrote this given the wisdom of speak no careless words. Vestry members have been giving updates on staffing issues for the past six months now. And, it made sense for me to chime in because clarity produces confidence. So, let’s be as clear as possible.

I spent the past 2 years doing the John the Baptist thing with Steve Palmer, he must increase, I must decrease. We shared the pulpit and were a good team. And you loved Steve, didn’t you? Yeah, the Palmers were easy to love. I loved him and enjoyed his preaching.

Well, when Steve left, that wasn’t fun; was it? I know it wasn’t fun for me! Soon after, members of our vestry came to me and asked me what kind of runway I had left. So, for a whole confluence of reasons, I told them. You are looking for my successor. They are not looking for our next Associate Pastor…they are looking for your next Rector. And when I set this process in motion, I knew what I was doing.

What will happen? This process will swing into high gear as they hire a consultant to help them. And, I’ll help them, advise them and be available to them. Yet the keys and strategy regarding the future of St. Philip’s Church have been effectually handed over to our board and I am now functioning as the COO with responsibility for the day-to-day operations…which has its own challenges and which we can talk about another time. Please pray for our Vestry…they are invested with huge responsibility and have a lot of work ahead. Probably more than they know.

When a new leader is brought on board…there will be a transition period. What that looks like and how long that lasts is anyone’s guess…but at some point: with the advice of our board…I will step aside.

There is a lot of uncertainty in all of this: for them, for you and for me. I have to start praying and thinking about what’s next for Cyndi and I. I know God has more for me to do…but I am not striving to try and find that right now. Yet God works in uncertainty and the time to pay attention is the time between dreams.

I want to say that some of my closest long-time friends here are currently, or will be, having a hard time with this…I get it. It’s not logical…its emotional: for them and for me. I am immensely grateful for their love, loyalty and care…they’ve held my arms up.

A lot of these old lions and lionesses are warriors who walked through all the battles and wars we fought here together. And while they cannot say with Paul: I bear on my body the marks of Christ…trust me, if you could open them up you will find scars present on their hearts, souls and in their checkbooks.

These are the old lions and lionesses, who deserve to be honored. Just please give them grace in the days ahead when you might find them more surly than usual.

So, pray for me. Pray for STP. Pray for our board. Exciting and hard days ahead. But know, even if sometimes this thing looks frayed at the edges, God’s in this. I know this and so should you.

Thank You for Your Years of Care and Trust,
ET