Farewells

I thank my God for every remembrance of you, always in every one of my prayers for all of you, praying with joy for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:3-5

I think that many of you may have heard my news that I have given my resignation to the Personnel Committee from my position as Stated Clerk for Administration effective May 15, 2023, pending the dissolution of the relationship at the April 25, 2023 Presbytery meeting. If you have not yet registered for the meeting, I hope you will take a moment to do that here.

After several months of prayer and discernment work, my husband and I have made the decision to move back to the Southeast to be closer to family. We are expecting our second child in September and want to be closer to our parents. We are members of the sandwich generation caring for family members at the beginning of life and through the health challenges of aging.

I have a deep sense of gratitude to our Presbytery. The Presbytery that cared for me throughout my ordination process. The Presbytery that took responsibility for my ordination and celebrated with me. The Presbytery that has welcomed me as a leader and then Stated Clerk in a season of tremendous change and loss. Thank you for the gifts of prayer, shared wisdom, and love that you have given to me.

I rejoice in the work that we have done together. Work to respond to the need to change how we gather and how we know one another in and through the COVID pandemic. Work to support our congregations and leaders making difficult decisions and reimagining their mission. Work to learn how to listen and respond to changing needs. Our work has been filled and sustained by God’s Spirit and God has done great things.

Over the next month, I will be saying farewell to this work. I hope to leave our leaders with as many resources as possible, so that the transition will be as smooth as possible. I hope that you will continuously lift up our Presbytery staff and leaders in prayer as transitions always push us and present unforeseen challenges. And one other request: please look at the Temporary Administrator job description in the newsletter and share it with your networks if you know someone who would be a good fit for this work that we have been engaged in together.

My dear siblings, I will miss you all. I leave you knowing that God will continue this good work in you all and in our Presbytery. Thank you for being partners in ministry with me. I will be excited to hear more from our new home!

Grace and peace,

Ally