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This afternoon, at our diocesan convention, we announced that two of our beloved Western Michigan colleagues, the Rev. Canon Valerie Ambrose and the Rev. Canon Anne Hallmark, plan to retire on May 31st. 2023. They both have served our diocese and dioceses diligently for the last five years as Canon Missioner of their respective regions.
Additionally, the Rev. Canon Alan James has discerned a desire to conclude his interim role with the Southern Region of Western Michigan and to seek a permanent position closer to home. He is looking forward to ending his weekly commutes from Chicago and serving in the same state as his wife and family. The timeline for this transition is less definitive but will take place in 2023.
The announcement was streamed live. Click here to watch the video; the announcement begins at 46:58.
In the next several months, closer to their departure, we will have the opportunity to celebrate our friends with appropriate pomp and circumstance. Stay tuned for more on that.
As we look ahead, the Joint Standing Committees have affirmed my desire to reorganize ourselves in consideration of our Season of Practice. While we will determine specific geographic delineations in more comprehensive conversation and discernment with our people, we imagine four regions across both dioceses, extending the availability of my office and providing a framework for collective and cooperative ministry across our congregations.
In the next several weeks, we will begin a nationwide search for three new Regional Canons, who will join with the Rev. Canon Dr. Tracie Little in serving these two dioceses in this capacity. I expect these roles to have regional responsibilities and specialized expertise they will share with our wider body. The positions will be posted to churchwide job boards in mid-November, and shared with our dioceses – we will invite you to pass the description along to those in your networks that may be interested in joining us in this beautiful peninsula. The deadline to apply will be January 31, 2023.
Please join me in offering our sincere gratitude to our colleagues – Val, Anne, and Alan – for the many years they’ve served our people. We’re not letting you go just yet!
Yours in Christ,
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