Dear Friends,
As I announced last Sunday, I’ll be on sabbatical during the months of July and August and in my absence, our Vicar, the Reverend Peter Thompson, will be leading the parish. He will be joined in leadership by our gifted Wardens, clergy, and administrative team and we won’t miss a beat during these summer months. Our staff is busy pursuing the goals of our strategic plan and we look forward to presenting one of the most dynamic fall programs in recent years. I earned a three-month sabbatical as the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese Kansas which I never had the opportunity to take before being called to leadership at St. Bart’s. So, this period of rest and refreshment comes at a very good time and I’m grateful for the support of the staff, Wardens, and Vestry in extending it to me.
In the beginning of July, I’ll attend the General Convention of the Episcopal Church (being held in Baltimore, Maryland this year) where I am a member of the House of Bishops and serve on the Governance and Structure Committee. Following the Convention, I’ll return to New York City to complete the hiring of a new Chief Operating Officer for the parish. We are currently interviewing several excellent candidates and I hope to announce a decision shortly. Finally, Ellen and I will go to the Hudson River Valley where I’ll spend time reading, recharging, and reflecting. I’ll check in with Peter and other members of the staff from time to time and the work of St. Bart’s will continue apace.
I’m in conversations with the Reverend Lucy Winkett, Vicar of St. James, Piccadilly Circus, London, regarding the establishment of a companion relationship between our two parishes. Both our churches have significant histories and prominent, historical buildings, and both congregations feature broadly inclusive ministries with an emphasis on social justice and outreach. Lucy will be our guest preacher on Sunday, September 18 and a group from St. James will be visiting with us then.
I hope to visit a couple of parishes at the end of August which are known for their organizational and missional excellence and will return to the parish to preach at the Sunday, September 11th service. Finding a good balance between work, play, rest, and prayer is essential for everyone and it’s absolutely crucial for anyone who seeks to lead people spiritually. I thank you for your prayers for me during this sabbatical time and for your support of the ministry to which we are all devoted.
Faithfully,
The Right Reverend Dean E. Wolfe, D.D.
Rector