Blog Post

How do we end/leave our ministry lives?

Rev. Deborah Streeter at the shore

By Rev. Deborah Streeter

As I prepare to move east to an independent living place in the Albany New York area, near my son and his family, I have pondered and prayed about letting go of my ministry persona and life. For 15 years I have belonged to two churches here on the central coast, La Selva Community UCC where I officially hold my ministerial standing, and Pacific Grove Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, where I most often worship, in both settings as Minister of Blue Theology, connecting faith communities and ocean issues. Many NCNC churches have taken part in our programs, adult retreats/pilgrimages and youth group mission trips. We’ve made spiritual visits to the Aquarium and Elkhorn Slough, done beach cleanups, citizen science on climate change and invertebrates, done “Marine Stations of the Cross” as we walked from our church to the Aquarium, written poetry prayers, and simply walked, like Jesus, by the sea. A blessing of this ministry, which I founded, and coined the phrase Blue Theology, is that it continues beyond my retirement, the Pacific Grove church is all in to keep welcoming groups for a week or weekend, check out Bluetheology.com.

So after 40 years of ministry here in the Northern California Nevada Conference, parish ministry at five churches, Associate Conference Minister for Santa Clara Association, editor of the late lamented conference newspaper The Pacific, hospital chaplain, campus minister, I am hanging up my – what? And letting it go.

This fall, at both churches, La Selva and Pacific Grove, I shared a brief, end of service ceremony, where I was released from my covenant relationship. I cried through them both. Three symbolic acts: taking off my stoles (I have some sweet Blue Theology stoles with sea stars and orcas and sharks and tuna) and placing them on the altar – I am no longer the shepherd of this ministry, I give these stoles to you, keep doing the ministry. Being without a stole -profound. Next: gathering of the waters, a traditional environmental service I have done many times, inviting people to bring water from their neighborhood, pour together into my blessed blue bowl, sometimes we then process and pour it back into the ocean, the gift revived, received. This time we comingled water from the blessed Pacific Ocean and my soon to be new wet home, the Hudson Valley, my son sent me some Hudson River water. Together poured out, comingled and blessed. I hope to find some kind of volunteer work with river keepers, River Theology. And finally, a congregational blessing and laying on of hands, touch and wonder of what lies ahead.

(On my several terms on Section B of the Committee in Ministry I have heard the challenges ministers and congregations face as they part, say goodbye, getting out of there, leaving cleanly, setting boundaries. Let’s do that better….)

Then I will throw myself a goodbye party in Carmel Feb 1 – Let me know if you want to come and take part in a simple gathering and opportunity to write on easels reflections re three questions: what blessings have you and I shared, what do you wish for me in my new life, and teach me how to say goodbye. So much gratitude for shared ministry in our conference. Now it is time to go, release, take off the mantle, goodbye. Deborahstreeter27@gmail.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts