Rev. Dr. Marc Ian Stewart
Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
I have never liked count-down clocks. When I was on the high school ski team as a ninth-grader in Maine, the countdown at the start of a race was a time I would get all nervous about the gates ahead. But now in my retirement timeline, it is a countdown of months, weeks, and days rather than fractions of seconds. A countdown app on my smartphone now reminds me of how much time left as your Conference Minister. Anything more than micro-seconds is too long to get nervous about it, so I am going to enjoy this last year with you, and here is how:
1. I look forward to visiting each of our 26 churches, perhaps to preach as invited, but also to represent the blessings of who our churches are together as the Montana – N. Wyoming Conference United Church of Christ.
2. I will be available to the Board of Directors in their work of discerning where this Conference is called to head in the future.
3. I will clean out my computer hard drives and continue our administrative record keeping adaptation to electronic files.
4. I will, of course, continue to prioritize the search and call process of working with our churches that are looking for new pastors
5. I will be clearing out my office at 2016 Alderson Avenue, Billings, MT, and deciding what will happen with books and papers that span the almost 40-years of my authorized ministry.
6. I will maintain our national UCC connections and partner ministry connections while preparing them for the change in representation that will happen upon my retirement.
7. While one is never sure what pastoral ministries will unfold, we are giving another try at doing a clergy retreat and I will be leading a “Seasoned Adult” outdoor ministries retreat in June.
The 14-month advanced notice, as I gave to the Board of Directors back in January, is far longer than the 90 days minimum required by my letter of agreement. Waiting until 90-days before March 23, 2023 to announce my retirement might have been like setting a micro-seconds stopwatch. There is so much to unfold in finding our way. Your Board of Directors needs time to work towards this Conference’s future. I also need this time to manage the change. I pray this will be a graced time in our ministries that has the type of room for Spirit to shape and mold for what God intends happen in our futures.
Proverbs 16:9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.
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