As I See It | The Rt. Rev. Megan Traquair | |
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Dear Friends in Christ,
Greetings in the name of our Risen Savior! Our chilly Lent is over - though the snow in the mountains remains monumental - and the longer, celebratory season of Easter has begun. Soon, we will be meeting together at Bishop’s Ranch for our Annual Clergy Conference. It will be delightful to return to that beautiful and much loved retreat center where our topic will be clergy wellness.
I know that maintaining wellness involves practices or habits of self care. Some of that care involves big plans like a sabbatical. I am glad to say that a large percentage of clergy have gone on sabbatical in this time of post pandemic recovery.
Most of our habits of care, however, are smaller and repeated many times.
Research on habit formation such as Atomic Habits by James Clear reveals that very small repeating steps toward larger habits is an effective way forward. In the next few weeks I invite you to ponder what small steps might edge you closer to a habit of wellness that you desire.
On the other hand one could describe this as the cultivation of habits.
Wise gardeners say that if you want healthy plants, focus on healthy soil - it naturally results in strong plants for many harvests.
That makes me wonder, how this might be true for clergy? Particularly with our unique vocation in congregations? What cultivates the soil, or hummus of your soul? And what cultivates the soil of a congregation so that it is healthy and energized by faith? What are we trying now? What are the ancient resources that have been practiced by believers for millennia?
We will be cultivating some of those habits together during our Conference: joint worship, prayer, rest and fellowship. And God’s Holy Spirit may lead you to other habits, that uniquely fit your soul, or soil.
The Good Shepherd leads his sheep to green pastures and still waters. I look forward to enjoying both of those with your next month.
In Christ,
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Canonically Speaking | The Rev. Canon Julie Wakelee
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Always learning!
Dear friends,
I love to learn. I hope you do, too. Sometimes learning for me is tactile – hiking in a new place, trying out a new recipe, working with wood. Sometimes it is artistic – hearing new music, being moved by a work of art. Sometimes it is quiet – creating a space to listen, pray, and discern.
It’s been almost 20 years since I was ordained a transitional deacon, and every year of my ordained life I have been blessed to keep learning – especially things that I know continue to help me hone my work in the church.
Turns out, that’s also a requirement! In the canons of the Episcopal Church, this is repeated three times (for deacons and priests, and, for bishops (sub “House of Bishops” for Bishop and Commission) (Canon III.2):
The Bishop and Commission shall require and provide for the continuing education of Deacons (Canon III.7.5)/Priests (III.9.1) and keep a record of such education.
The expectation is that you will complete a minimum of 40 hours/year of ongoing education, especially if you are a full-time cleric in the diocese.
Why? We live in an ever-changing world, and as we’ve just seen in bold the last few years in particular, the life of the church is not separate from this reality. Since we serve a living God who is always bringing us new life, how could we not want to find ways to grow more deeply into the people God is calling us to be?!
Clever things to enhance your learning (and rest) – add a week of continuing education to the start or end of your vacation. Rest and recreation are important, too!
Use your most recent Mutual Ministry Review to help identify areas to benefit both you and the congregation. Talk with your wardens. Your people at home. Do something completely new!
Most importantly, do something that feeds your soul and your ministry!
At clergy conference, we’ll have new forms ready to help you (and me) keep track of your learning adventures. Stay tuned!
Meanwhile, here is a link to a very incomplete list of possibilities, which I hope will spark something for you.
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An excerpt from Contemplative Gardening by Pamela Dolan (Morehouse Publishing, 2022)
Perfectionism doesn’t just skew our perspective on food—it distorts the way we see ourselves and others. Gardens are an antidote to all that striving and worry. While I’m convinced that nobody has ever created the perfect garden, every garden is good enough. Even homely vegetable gardens, my personal favorite, offer beautiful colors, rich fragrances, and other aesthetic pleasures, not to mention yummy food to eat. The act of gardening takes me out of myself, out of my head, and out of the dark places where I worry endlessly about whether I am a good enough mother, a good enough priest, a good enough friend, daughter, and so on. In a garden my efforts always feel good enough. Not because every plant thrives and produces perfect fruit or a social media-ready tableau, but because with enough time and effort something good will come of it. Not necessarily what I expected or intended, but something good nonetheless.
In the day-to-day busyness of life, it can be hard to see myself clearly enough so that I can begin to get out of my own way, can start recognizing the obstacles standing between me and a more intimate relationship with the land, with God, and with other people. At such times, being in the garden reminds me that God loves all that God has made—all of us, no exceptions. No one is so flawed that God cannot do great things with us, no one of us so insignificant that God cannot use us to do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.
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Clergy Conference is May 16 — 18 at Bishop's Ranch
Join the diocesan clergy and Bishop Megan Traquair for this year's Clergy Conference at The Bishop's Ranch in Healdsburg, focusing on clergy wellness and learning to beat burnout.
If you haven't already done so, Please register ASAP. We need to hear from you by Tuesday, April 25!
The Conference begins Tuesday, May 16 at 2:00 pm and ends Thursday, May 18 at 12:00 pm.
All clergy who are serving in parochial positions in this diocese are expected to attend, so we may deepen and enrich our relationships. If you are unable to attend for any reason, please contact Bishop Megan via email (bishopmegan@norcalepiscopal.org) prior to the event.
Questions? Contact Jacqi Seppi (jacqi@norcalepiscopal.org)
Our keynote speaker will be The Rev. Dr. Vicki Johnson, a highly-regarded clergy leader and wellness coach.
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The Rev. James D. Richardson visits The Cottage to discuss his book, The Abolitionist’s Journal: Memories of an American Antislavery Family. Jim is the former dean of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Sacramento, California. In the book he layers his story with that of his great-great grandfather, who played a role in the Underground Railroad, served as a chaplain to a Black Union regiment in the Civil War, and founded a college in Texas for the formerly enslaved.
Watch the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQEugtbPqFo
Visit The Cottage at dianabutlerbass.substack.com.
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Sunday, April 30 | Bishop's Visitation | St. Martin's, Davis
Tue, May 2 — Thurs, May 4 | BEST Conference | Portland, OR
Sunday, May 7 | Bishop's Visitation | Grace, St. Helena
Mon, May 15 – Tues, May 16 | Fresh Start Retreat
Tues, May 16 – Thurs, May 18 | Clergy Conference
Sunday, May 21 | Bishop's Visitation | Ascension, Vallejo
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Saturday, April 22 | Day of Discernment
Mon, May 15 – Tues, May 16 | Fresh Start Retreat
Tues, May 16 – Thurs, May 18 | Clergy Conference
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April
The Rev. Mark Parker | April 8, 2017
The Rev. Bill Hefti | April 13, 1985*
The Rev. Gail Cafferata | April 14, 2002
The Rev. Canon Kent McNair | April 19, 1982
The Rev. Linda Maloney | April 23, 2003
The Rev. Paul Colbert | April 24, 2003
The Rev. John Harris | April 24, 2005
The Rev. Randy Knutson | April 25, 2015
The Rev. James Knutsen | April 27, 1991
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March
The Rev. Jesse Vaughan | March 2, 1974
The Rev. Sonya Reichel | March 3, 2017
The Rev. Richard Von Grabow | March 3, 2002*
The Rev. Maryly Adair | March 12, 2004
The Rev. Bayani Rico | March 17, 1974
The Rev. David Owren| March 18, 2005
The Rev. Dr. John Bingham | March 18,1972
The Rev. Seth Kellermann | March 24, 2007
The Rev. Mack Olson | March 24, 2012
The Rev. Bob Phillippi | March 25, 1973
The Rev. Brian Rebholtzi | March 26, 2012
The Rev. David Cohen | March 28, 2015
*Diaconal Ordination
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