Pastor's Sabbatical

After five years of service with our church, our pastor is eligible for an extended sabbatical to rest, renew, reflect, and recharge for the ministry that lies ahead. 

"The Lilly Endowment National Clergy Renewal Program at Christian Theological Seminary (CTS) seeks to strengthen Christian congregations by providing opportunities for pastors to step away briefly from the persistent obligations of daily parish life and to engage in a period of renewal and reflection. Renewal periods are not vacations, but times for intentional exploration and reflection, for regaining the enthusiasm and creativity for ministry, for discovering what will make the pastor’s heart sing." See the list of grant recipients in the 2020 Press Release here. 

Westminster has received a Clergy Renewal grant for almost $50,000 from the Lilly Endowment for our application "Chosen Family." Read our full sabbatical application here.

Read Pastor Kate's letter to the congregation here.

Other questions? Check out the FAQ below or reach out to our Personnel Elder Catherine Fritz.

Who will be our pastor this summer?

The Rev. Dr. Alphonetta (Alfie) Wines will serve as our "sabbatical pastor," teaching weekly adult Sunday School and leading Sunday worship. Rev. Miranda Trussell will fill in moderating Session (as she has previously done) and will be available for pastoral care. 

Am I on sabbatical, too?

No! Please continue to stay engaged with WPC's ministries, especially our sabbatical project.

Who's in charge of WPC's sabbatical project?

Our own Caitlin Cooke will be leading us through a video project with part of our sabbatical grant. We will be putting together a short film to tell the story of Westminster: who we have been, who we are, and who we will be with God's help every step of the way.

Will Pastor Kate be emailing us during her sabbatical?

No. As part of her rest and renewal, Pastor Kate will not be communicating directly with the congregation. You will be able to follow her reflections this summer at her blog. She will not be checking her work email this summer.

Should I call Pastor Kate during her sabbatical?

We ask that you seriously take the goal of this program and time apart before considering calling Pastor Kate. The Clergy Renewal Program recommends no direct communication between the pastor and the congregation during this time. Pastor Kate will also be not available by cell phone because of travel for much of the summer.