From your Associate Minister of Religious Education

The Board of Trustees has authorized a sabbatical for me from October, 2017, through February, 2018. The Children and Youth Education (CYRE) Committee, the Adult Religious Education (ARE) Committee, and the Committee on Ministry were all consulted before this sabbatical was authorized. The months of October through February were specifically chosen so that there will be minimal disruption to the various programs I support.

In about a month, the Board will appoint a Sabbatical Committee. The members of the Sabbatical Committee will be available to answer any questions you might have about the sabbatical, and one member of the committee will be a young person so that children and teens will also have someone who can answer any questions they might have.

The Board expects to hire a part-time staff person to provide program support for the five months of the sabbatical. The job description for this staff person is still being worked out, but I expect that that staff person would be present on Sunday mornings and evenings to supervise programs and support volunteers. Hong Bui, the Religious Education Assistant, will continue with her same duties through the sabbatical.

Amy Morgenstern, our senior minister, will supervise the part-time staff person, and support the program as needed while I’m on sabbatical. Of course Amy will continue to be available for pastoral care and counseling.

I’ll have more information about the sabbatical for you next month.

See you soon,
Dan Harper