Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

I am five months away from the first sabbatical of my 30 year priesthood, not too early to start planning for my leave time and what will go on at the parish while I am gone. I am very blessed to have two of my priest associates on board to take over responsibilities for the four months I’ll be away. Presently one works 12 and one 15 hours a week and the parish plans to add five hours more a week to each of their schedules. So it is up to me (and them) to decide how to divvy up the responsibilities.  

To get ready to take my leave, I needed to figure out what it is I do day in and day out so I can pass my assignments onto my colleagues. A brief, unscientific survey of how I spend my time offers some surprises as well as some predictable roles for the rector of a large Episcopal Church.

An enormous amount of my time is spent in administration. The title President comes to mind, because presiding (vestry meetings, committees, ecumenical groups, etc.) is one thing and presiding (at the Eucharist) is another. A church with a half million dollar budget and seven standing committees requires a great deal of oversight. And while this responsibility is shared widely, in many cases the buck stops at the rector’s desk. 

The other major portion of my time is in program management. Sheep Dog could be the title for this area. I spend much time supporting, coaxing, encouraging, debriefing, evaluating, launching, reassigning, networking, and connecting the over 60 formal ministries we have at St. Andrew’s. Again, many hands help lead but my role as chief herder is still important. 

The third major area is, of course, worship. The role of Shaman comes to mind. As I prepared my associates for taking over these roles for the coming period, I was reminded of how many roles and players there are in hosting a Sunday morning Eucharist. Also, the many special liturgies of the year and the pastoral offices – weddings, funerals, etc – each have a number of moving parts that I manage. 

In addition to the three major roles a rector plays – worship leader, program manager, and administrator – I take my share of the teaching and pastoral care assignments in a big, active congregation where many voices are heard and a number of people hold many hands. 

President Sheep Dog Shaman. 

Thinking back on 30+ years of this role-balancing, I truly understand why the time has come for me to take my leave and move into a time of sabbatical.