February 24, 2019
Dear Ridge Family and friends,
Grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ to you! I have been so fortunate and blessed to serve as your Senior Pastor for the past four years. One of my goals upon completion of my Called to Fruitfulness continued education journey was to obtain and work with an executive coach. Throughout 2018 and into this new year, I have had the wonderful experience of working with a faith-filled, laywoman as my coach. She helped me ponder the inner whisper I had heard inside myself, “to climb a new, different mountain.”
As a first career clergywoman who now approaches the unique season of mid-life, I had found myself asking lots of typical mid-life questions. “Is this all there is?” “How can I best leverage my gifts for the kingdom?” “Do I see myself doing this or that for another 10 years? Or in 20 years?” “If where I am in answering my call is not where I thought I might be; okay, but am I still on the path God has in mind for me?” These questions were like a blanket of mist which obscured my view of the mountain waiting.
Our two-week family vacation to Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park in July of 2018 really rested, refueled, and fed my spirit. Hiking those mountains helped me see that I was being led not away from something, but into something new, wild, and unexplored. I remain tethered to my call as an ordained Elder in the United Methodist and service to the church which serves the world around us. Yet, in the words of John Muir, Father of the National Parks, author, and naturalist; “the mountains are calling and I must go” echo in my heart chamber.
As the fog has lifted these past few weeks, I can finally see the mountain clearly. I am called to answer the call within the call to explore creative writing, spiritual writing, and grant writing. I am and have always been a writer! Words are my friend just as The Word is my Savior! I am undernourished within myself, not because I am at odds with serving as a pastoral leader, but because these creative gifts need more room to bloom.
The wonderful demands of serving a local congregation place limits and confines on the amount of space and energy I have to write, reflect and creatively capture the movement of God’s Spirit. To know me it is to appreciate that I am an ‘all-in’ kind of gal. Either I am ‘all-in’ serving as a pastoral leader or I am ‘all-in’ shaping my craft. I cannot be of two minds as I know I will underserve both and therefore underserve my authentic self in the process. If I do not explore this mountain, I know I shall regret it later in my life.
I have asked our Board of Ordained Ministry and the Cabinet of the Indiana Conference to place me on a voluntary leave of absence as of June 30, 2019. The Bishop, Cabinet, and Board have honored my request. As I write these difficult words, fear grips my throat while my heart eagerly beats with radiant joy.
I am blessed beyond measure with a supportive, smart, and fun spouse. Eric is very gifted in his professional craft; and thus he is not just well appreciated but, also well compensated. With this leap of faith, we plan to live on his income as I explore my new mountain. A change in our family plan will serve us best if we relocate back to the Indianapolis area where our network of friends and family await us. Our daughter will begin high school in the fall of 2019 and a move this summer provides Diana with the best opportunity to continue her education. Thank you for loving your pastor’s family!
Now is moment within Ridge’s ministry filled with great potential, life, and energy for becoming a fully outward focused church! We not only an amazing staff, but fantastic ‘all-in’ leaders who understand and live into the vision of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world by offering Jesus’ hope, unconditional love, and meaning for life. We have done great things together and you will continue great ministry for Jesus! So stay the course of putting others first!
We have much to celebrate and give thanks for in each other. And we have ministry before us to accomplish yet this spring! Feel free to call or email me if you’d like a cup of tea, a lunch, or a conversation. I would relish the opportunity to visit prior to our departure in late June.
Our Staff Parish Relations Committee will meet with our Superintendent Reverend Larry Whitehead on Monday, February 25, 2019, to develop Ridge’s church profile so that a wonderful new pastor will be chosen and deployed for ministry here beginning in July. Please pray for our Ridge leaders, staff and one another as we take time this spring for good transitions in leadership and vision. Please support and affirm Pete Canalia, Connie Kann, Rich Leber, Cheryl Lowery, Diana Rogers, Sue Clausen, Larry Bazarko, and Tom Regnier (chair) who serve on Ridge’s Staff Parish Relations committee as they work with the cabinet to receive and welcome your new pastor.
Again, I am grateful for you. I love you, but most of all, remember God in Jesus loves you best (and first)!
Blessings and all peace,
Michelle
