Below is the announcement that I made at the service in Adare on Sunday, 21 August 2022, announcing my upcoming retirement as Rector and from active ministry.
Before we sing our final hymn, I have another announcement.
To everything there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under heaven.
The time has come for me to retire.
No, I am not strictly speaking “retirement age.” The normal retirement age for priests in the Church of Ireland is 68, and I am 64. But after much thought and prayer, and discussion with Kirk and the Bishop, I have decided that it is time for me to step aside and to turn the position of Rector over to someone else. I personally hope it is someone younger than me, but that is not for me to decide. That is up to the Parish Nominators, the Bishop, and especially God Almighty.
Bishop Michael Burrows knows that I am making this announcement this evening. He asked that I give three months notice, which is somewhat customary, so my last Sunday is 20 November, which is the last Sunday before Advent, so a fitting time to end.
Please know that I have greatly enjoyed serving among you. I have learned a lot about ministry by being here. You all have been good to Kirk and me. I am retiring simply because I believe it is time to do so. I am not seeking another position. I am retiring from active ministry, and moving on to whatever the Lord might have in store for me next.
At our Vestry meeting on Tuesday night, we will talk more about next steps. But let me say a few things tonight because these questions might arise.
You should know that there are a number of vacancies in the Diocese, and vacancies are not easy to fill these days. However, you have several advantages. You are a good group of parishes. You have good Parish Nominators (in case you have forgotten, they are Kieron, Meriel, Sylvia, and Luke). And you have a Rectory that is in good shape and is fairly well furnished. Furnishings would not be an advantage in all circumstances, but after talking with the Bishop, I understand that it is an advantage in some.
Kirk and I are actually planning to move out of the Rectory fairly soon. We have put down a security deposit on a house in the area and hope to move in mid-September. The Bishop advised me to have a place to go to the day after my final Sunday. A suitable place came up now and we took it. Our moving early allows you and us some flexibility. It gives you time to assess the Rectory and do any work that might need to be done before I actually leave as Rector.
You should also know that even though we are renting a house in the area, once I leave as Rector, after 20 November, I cannot be available for funerals, weddings, baptisms, or any other pastoral or liturgical work. I can come back to these parishes in any kind of official capacity as a priest only at the invitation of the next Incumbent, and not at all in the first year. These are the rules I am used to, and I believe they are wise.
You probably want to know if we are returning to Hawaii or to the US. We do not know. We will probably make a trip during the winter to Hawaii to get a sense of what it is like there, since we did not get to go in June. For now, we are taking things one step at a time.
I’m sure there will be more questions. For now, just know that I have greatly enjoyed being here. Kirk and I believed when we came here eight years ago that this is what the Lord was calling us to do. We still believe that was true, and we are grateful for the many blessings that have come our way here, and we now believe the Lord is calling us to move on.
Let us now sing our final hymn, #537, “O God, our help in ages past.”