Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

At Bishop Philip's invitation, I will be taking a Sabbatical this Summer.

As this is unexpected (both to you all and to me), I thought it would be helpful to explain how it has come about.

Sarah and I met with Bishop Geoff (Acting Bishop of Southampton) on 5th February. Bishop Geoff came to see Open House as well as to see us both. He found me weary, if I am honest: three serious challenges the previous week had taken their toll, particularly after an Autumn with lots of staffing changes and other pressures before a busy Christmas.

We then met with Bishop Philip on 29th February. Having listened to us both, he strongly recommended that I take a sabbatical this Summer. Bishop Philip wondered, after the pandemic and post-pandemic period, whether I had a lot left in the tank.

Both the pandemic and the constant change of the post-pandemic period over the previous two years are clearly factors. Of course, the pandemic itself was traumatic for all of us in lots of ways. For me, aside from the demands of learning to lead in really uncertain times, with constant pivoting necessary against the background of changing regulations, the biggest challenge was the redundancies we had to make within the staff team as the pandemic impacted the church's income. Making close colleagues redundant was simply very hard.

While that process was ongoing, a number of things also hit us as a family during lockdown: within six weeks, we nearly lost my Mum to a brain haemorrhage (twice), watched our dog Pippin have a litter of stillborn puppies and woke to find a fire in our garage in the small hours of the night, the fire brigade arriving just before it reached the house itself. These things happening at home took its toll on us.

All of this taken together has probably left me drained and less resilient than normal. Having discussed it with Sarah, I reluctantly accepted that Bishop Philip is probably right and that I needed to take the break that was being offered.

Sarah and I then discussed Bishop Philip's suggestion with Phil and Rachele (as churchwardens) and Kelly (as my most senior colleague) early the following week. Having discussed the timing, we thought that after the APCM was the most appropriate date, allowing enough time and space to prepare and plan appropriately (which we have been doing in the interim). The plan is for my sabbatical to start on Saturday 4th May and for me to return to work on Monday 12th August (enabling me to return when church life is as quiet as it gets). Aside from our Summer holiday, Sarah will remain in Southampton working as Highfield's Associate Vicar.

Kelly, Phil, Rachele, Sarah and I have worked through lots of detail over the last few weeks about how the sabbatical will work. PCC discussed those plans on Monday 8th April (its first meeting after we'd seen Bishop Philip). With a smaller team and new team members (and gaps) in operations, we recognise that we are going to have to prioritise and be realistic about what we plan to do this term.

Please pray for the team (churchwardens, staff and standing committee) as they lead the church in my absence (and for the church as well, of course). I am fully aware that my taking a sabbatical adds to the pressure on others, some of whom have lived through many of the same stresses themselves, and I am so grateful to them for supporting me being away even though it will be costly for them personally.

Please pray for Sarah: as stepping away from work probably means being away from Highfield and Southampton as much as we can afford, Sarah and I are trying to figure out how to do that while she remains at work. We are not used to being apart and this will be a challenge.

And please pray for me: I'm still getting my head around needing the break, and what to do with it (aside from resting and recreating). Please pray that the detail of the plans comes into focus. And, above all else, please pray that I can make the fullest use of the sabbatical and discern God's purpose in its timing.

Every Blessing,
Mike  

Vicar of Highfield Church

13th April 2024