It has been a great year for PiE and looking forward to 2017 we’re also entering a season of change.

Jessie is taking a parental leave starting in February and going until September – and PiE is excited to announce that Tamara Shantz will be stepping in to replace her on a temporary basis during that time, starting at the beginning of January. If you know Tamara, you know she’s awesome, and a perfect person to step into continuing PiE’s work. We welcome Tamara as she joins in the ministry of PiE!

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Also, I am also making public that I have resigned from my role at PiE effective at the end of the 2016 calendar year. Although I am sad to leave, I know that the timing is right. I’m very proud of what Jessica & I have done over the last 2 ½ years in starting this work, and PiE has evolved and emerged in a way neither of us could have imagined. It’s now time for me to pass off this baton so that others can take PiE to the next step, whatever that may be!

I remain very excited about the work about Pastors in Exile, and as it continues to explore and define its identity and work, I know that it will continue to have a very important role to play in our broader K-W community and our churches.

I also want to say that it has been an incredible privilege to work with Jessie over these past couple of years. Both of us were led into this work almost by accident, and we formed a somewhat unlikely partnership coming from quite different church and spiritual cultures. But I believe that God called us into this work together, and we have complemented each other very well. I can’t say enough what a blessing it has been to work together.

Thank you to all of you who have contributed to the work of Pastors in Exile, who’ve read our blog posts, and who have come to our events, and had patience with us as we tried to figure out our place. I encourage you to continue to dream about what PiE can be, and how we can continue ask deep questions about who the church is called to be today and beyond. Keep asking good questions, and continue to be brave in seeking God out – especially in the unexpected places.

I also encourage you to come to a birthday party for PiE on December 4th @ 3pm at the Queen Street Commons Cafe in downtown Kitchener! It’ll be a great time to listen to some great music, share some stories, and eat some good pie as we reflect on the work PiE has done and will continue to do!

As for me, I’m not entirely sure what the next step is. For now, I am working as a temporary research assistant with the Centre for Community Based Research until April, and am continuing my studies at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary.

I’m trusting in God’s wisdom, and feel a deep sense of peace & openness about the future even as I’m not really sure what new opportunities and challenges it holds.

Thank you for letting me have the privilege of serving you some PiE these past few years! 🙂