Greetings, Foundry Beloved!
On January 1, 2023, I will fly to the Holy Land to co-lead a tour with about 100 women — several of them Foundry women! When I return from that trip, I’ll step into the Health and Spiritual Growth/Renewal Leave offered by the Foundry SPRC/Board. I will be away from January 15–June 15, 2023.
Many of you have asked how I will spend the time. Broadly speaking, my focus is on holistic healing for body, mind, and spirit. My goal is to return to Foundry in June physically healthy, energized, focused, creatively inspired, and spiritually filled. I will be at home for part of the time and will travel intermittently either alone, with Anthony, or to meet with friends and family. Potential travel includes the desert Southwest, the beach, Oregon, Texas, and India. None of my travel and healing therapy plans are firm yet. When home, I’ll attend to medical appointments, exercise, watch movies, and when weather gets warmer, work in my garden. I’ve curated a shelf of books for this time, some of which I’ll finally have time to read.
I am also planning to fast from all social media for the five months I am away. SPRC is clear that I need to completely remove myself from responsibilities at Foundry during the leave to fully receive the renewal my body and soul craves. Social media is too difficult to manage without slipping back into “church mode.”
As was mentioned in Amanda’s letter a couple of weeks ago, I am not leaving Foundry, nor is there any problem at Foundry that has led to my stepping away. I love Foundry and want to bring my best self to Foundry for years to come. I love you all and will miss you. But I’ll be back before you know it. I’ve learned that time flies by!
Also mentioned in the letter is that Rev. David Argo, retired Elder in our Annual Conference, will be serving as Acting Senior Pastor in my absence. In January, you’ll receive a communication sharing more about David and his role while at Foundry. But I want to share that I have asked him to begin work that I, together with the Foundry Board, have envisioned for 2023.
As we continue to move into a new season as Foundry Church — post-pandemic and with the 2024 General Conference on the horizon — a new strategic vision and plan is needed. This will broadly be developed by answering three questions: Who are our neighbors? Who are we? What is God calling us to be and to do?
David will provide leadership to get this work started and will particularly focus on the first question and process development for the second. The hope is that by the time I return, a framework will be in place for me to begin house meetings/listening sessions to gather feedback on the second question.
It is my deep hope that, in my absence, you will remain engaged, supportive of the mission of Foundry, present in worship, and extending care and grace to one another. This can be a time of renewal not only for me but for Foundry. I will be praying for you every day.
In faith, hope, and love,
ginger+
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Ginger E. Gaines-Cirelli
Senior Pastor
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