I remember the summer of 1972. I was 13 at the time, and it was the first time we travelled outside of the UK. We had an opportunity to exchange homes with a Mennonite pastor in Amsterdam for a vacation, and we took off, all five of the family, in our 1970 Morris Traveller (license plate SCS 108J) for nearly three weeks of adventure.
Somewhere up in the attic there lies a box containing the journal I faithfully kept each night (well, nearly each night) of the travels we took in the Netherlands, the sights and people we met, and the impressions they made on me.
Now I am preparing to enter the land of journals again, and this time is a first time for me to “blog” ~ to journal in cyberspace and describe the stories, experiences, and impressions of a sabbatical period of breaking up the pattern of my life and ministry in BC to experience reflection, education, partnership in mission, and renewal in Central America and the West Indies.
I write at the point of departure for our visit to Belize, where, along with Sandy, and two of our family, James and TJ, we will be guests of the Diocese of Belize, and where I will be working as priest-in-charge of the parish of St. Paul, Corozal Town, on the northern tip of Belize, close to the Mexican border.
Our days in the orientation program were packed from morning to night with intense activities, skilled resource people, and intercultural skill development opportunities. It was a very fruitful time, and I would certainly recommend it to others.
Somewhere up in the attic there lies a box containing the journal I faithfully kept each night (well, nearly each night) of the travels we took in the Netherlands, the sights and people we met, and the impressions they made on me.
Now I am preparing to enter the land of journals again, and this time is a first time for me to “blog” ~ to journal in cyberspace and describe the stories, experiences, and impressions of a sabbatical period of breaking up the pattern of my life and ministry in BC to experience reflection, education, partnership in mission, and renewal in Central America and the West Indies.
I write at the point of departure for our visit to Belize, where, along with Sandy, and two of our family, James and TJ, we will be guests of the Diocese of Belize, and where I will be working as priest-in-charge of the parish of St. Paul, Corozal Town, on the northern tip of Belize, close to the Mexican border.
Clare and Iain (the two in the center of the family Christmas picture) are remaining here in Canada for school and work.
Our story begins several years ago, when I first began putting together a plan for the elements of a sabbatical program in conversation with our Bishop, James Cowan, and with my parish council.
I contacted Clementina Thomas, who staffs the partnership programs in the national office, to ask about including an element of mission partnership in my program, and I was delighted to discover that the Partnership Office was drafting a new program, similar in spirit to the theological students’ internship program (TSIIP – link) and designed for clergy going on sabbatical. I was destined to be the guinea-pig for Continuing Education in Global Ministry (I guess this will become CEGM one day, if the guinea-pig survives the testing!).
Our picture from Church House in Toronto has the Anglican students and interns who were part of the ecumenical orientation: in the back row next to us are Will Ferrey (Diocese of BC, travelling to Sri Lanka), Robert Camara (Diocese of Montreal, travelling to Brazil), and in the front row are Kerry Brennan (Dicese of Ottawa, travelling to Jerusalem), along with Clementina Thomas on the right, the staff member who organizes and administers Global Partnership ministries and programs.
Our story begins several years ago, when I first began putting together a plan for the elements of a sabbatical program in conversation with our Bishop, James Cowan, and with my parish council.
I contacted Clementina Thomas, who staffs the partnership programs in the national office, to ask about including an element of mission partnership in my program, and I was delighted to discover that the Partnership Office was drafting a new program, similar in spirit to the theological students’ internship program (TSIIP – link) and designed for clergy going on sabbatical. I was destined to be the guinea-pig for Continuing Education in Global Ministry (I guess this will become CEGM one day, if the guinea-pig survives the testing!).
Our picture from Church House in Toronto has the Anglican students and interns who were part of the ecumenical orientation: in the back row next to us are Will Ferrey (Diocese of BC, travelling to Sri Lanka), Robert Camara (Diocese of Montreal, travelling to Brazil), and in the front row are Kerry Brennan (Dicese of Ottawa, travelling to Jerusalem), along with Clementina Thomas on the right, the staff member who organizes and administers Global Partnership ministries and programs.
Now I might have decided for a mission or sabbatical to hop on a plane and help a parish somewhere far away to build a school or a hall. And that is one undoubtedly one very noble form of mission in today’s global village. But CEGM is a little different. And construction skills are, shall we say, a growth area for me, where I might be more of an intrusion than a helper in a short-term situation.
My first observation of difference for this program is how comprehensive it is. It contains both a national Anglican perspective and an ecumenical experience of preparation and orientation, to be followed by debriefing and reflection later.
This has meant return travel from BC to Toronto for a two-week session in January, followed by our trip to the Central America and the West Indies, Jan 31-May 08, and after our return, a further trip to Toronto in the Fall.
Secondly, it contains a unique mixture of sabbatical concepts, that is, it is both a rest from regular patterns and routines of ministry, and it is a planned educational experience, and it is a participation in the wider mission and communion of the church.
My first observation of difference for this program is how comprehensive it is. It contains both a national Anglican perspective and an ecumenical experience of preparation and orientation, to be followed by debriefing and reflection later.
This has meant return travel from BC to Toronto for a two-week session in January, followed by our trip to the Central America and the West Indies, Jan 31-May 08, and after our return, a further trip to Toronto in the Fall.
Secondly, it contains a unique mixture of sabbatical concepts, that is, it is both a rest from regular patterns and routines of ministry, and it is a planned educational experience, and it is a participation in the wider mission and communion of the church.
Our days in the orientation program were packed from morning to night with intense activities, skilled resource people, and intercultural skill development opportunities. It was a very fruitful time, and I would certainly recommend it to others.
Let me pick just one anecdote for now. We had a visit from a First Nation elder, Pauline Shirt, a Cree and Ojibway speaker who honours both her aboriginal ways and her United Church heritage. As she prayed a blessing for us on our travels, she said a blue jay came to her in her vision. She explained to us afterward that in her traditions, the blue jay is known as the “gossiper”, who travels to tell the message of the arrival of guests. Our hosts all around the world were being alerted on the spiritual airwaves to our arrival, and were already making preparation for us!
I invite you to travel with us on the electronic airwaves over the coming months. I'll aim for weekly updates.
Andrew :)
