Bishop Baxter Writes
...
Dear Sisters & Brothers in
Christ:
It is the third week of Epiphany
and I can see the light. Yes, the faith light of
the Epiphany star. But also the light of my
sabbatical on the near horizon! It has been 15
years since my last formal sabbatical (5 months)
which was in 1998 during which I was a Merrill
Fellow at Harvard. I declined my next sabbatical
because I felt that it was time to step down from
my Cathedral leadership and took two months to
transition to St. James, Lancaster in 2003. I am
now in my seventh year as your bishop and I am
ready for at least a brief sustained time from the
ministrations and administration of ministry. I
will be gone from the middle of February to end of
May with the theme of “Rest, Learn and Discern.”
Regarding Rest,
Mary Ellen and I will be spending time at our home
on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. This is a rural
water place where I can actually hear the “sound
of silence”. It is a place where Mary Ellen and I
always rest well, enjoy long weekends and the
local seafood. Whenever there we enjoy long daily
walks, which can only be good for my health. Most
of our grandchildren live within 2 hours of our
residence, so we look forward to enjoying them a
bit more than usual.
Regarding learning,
I will finish two short homiletical articles for a
new commentary by Westminster/Knox Press on the
Gospel of John. I will also present a lecture at
Philadelphia Lutheran Seminary and at Virginia
Episcopal Seminary, both of which will be
published. I enjoy writing and lecturing and I
look forward to making these contributions without
the normal demands of daily ministry.
Regarding discernment,
besides the quiet of our rural water community, I
will rejoin a small mid-week Contemplative Prayer
group at the Cathedral in Easton, Maryland and
continue in the guidance of a spiritual director.
Most of all, this will be a time to listen more
intently to God’s call and guidance, to rest my
soul and begin physical and spiritual regeneration
for the next phase of ministry.
Most of you know that Mary Ellen
has a passion for teaching violin to children. She
is also a violinist in the West Shore Symphony.
During our “sabbatical” she will be working with a
coach on the viola with hopes of returning to the
Symphony in the viola section.
While I am away the Rev. Canon
Ted Babcock will be the Executive Officer of the
Diocese, which oversight will include all diocesan
operations, strategic and canonical management,
and general ministry matters. As you know, we have
a very able staff and volunteer leadership team.
I am very pleased to announce
that the Right Reverend David Colin Jones, D.D.,
will be Bishop-in-Residence during my absence.
Bishop Jones is the recently retired Bishop
Suffragan of the Diocese of Virginia, a position
he has served for 17 years. Bishop Jones is a good
friend, wise pastoral leader, wonderful preacher
of the Gospel, and has great passion for small
church ministry (some of you will remember him
from 2012 Province 3 Small Church Conference). His
ministry among us will include visitations,
sacramental and pastoral care matters, (especially
for clergy), provide Episcopal counsel to Canon
Babcock, staff and other leadership bodies of the
diocese as may be needed. Bishop Jones will be
resident 3 days a week, including his Sunday
visitations. He will be introduced to the staff at
the end of the month and chancellors, elected
Diocesan officers and leaders of Commissions,
Committees and Task Forces at a lunch gathering on
February 4th. He will remain for the
Annual Clergy Conference (February 4-6); and later
in the winter, attend the Annual Wardens and
Vestry Conference on March 23rd. Bishop
Jones and his wife, Kay, live in Burke, Virginia.
Please welcome them with the unequaled Central
Pennsylvania hospitality. I am particularly
grateful to the president of the Standing
Committee, The Rev’d Canon Stephen Casey, and its
vice-president, Mr. Sam Ward, whose counsel and
advice was invaluable in making this choice.
God grant each of you Epiphany
Blessings within the congregations and communities
among which you are blessed to nurture and be
nurtured.
Yours in Christ,
+Nathan
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