Rector’s Sabbatical 2025

From September 29, 2025 through January 2, 2026, our Rector, The Rev. Anne Marie Richards, will be on sabbatical. As we prepare for her departure, let’s address some frequently asked questions!

What is a sabbatical? The word sabbatical has its roots in the biblical concept of Sabbath (“to rest” or “to cease”). The Sabbath is sacred time, during which God’s people rest from labor — not only for the sake of rejuvenation, but for the sake of deepening our experience of God’s active presence in our lives. The Sabbath is meant to be time with God, and without distractions. Sabbatical, likewise, is a time for clergy and other church professionals to concentrate on some aspect of their life, ministry, prayer life, spiritual discipline, or study away from the responsibilities of parish life. Sabbatical has many of the same aims of a good vacation - rest, relaxation, recreation, rejuvenation. More than that, though, it is a period when one’s attention is differently focused, particularly in regards to prayer and the building and maintaining of healthy relationships outside the parish. And, although only one person will actually be on sabbatical, the experience of sabbatical time is an opportunity for the entire congregation as well, as the community also experiences a change of vocational focus while a key leader is not present. As church members perform some of the duties usually held by the absent staff person, they gain a new insight into the workings of the congregation. In this way, the sabbatical can be a period of deepening spirituality for the whole congregation.

Do all clergy go on sabbatical? Most clergy who have been serving the same congregation for at least five years take a sabbatical, and the details of when and for what length of time such leave will be granted are spelled out in the Letter of Agreement. Anne Marie+ is actually taking her first sabbatical, despite having served over 20 years as a priest. Why the delay? Timing! Every time a clergy person takes a new call, the clock resets to zero, and they must “earn” the time away all over again. And, the reality of parish life, and life in general, is that even though one is due for a sabbatical, the particular happenings in the parish (or in the staff person’s life) may make being away for an extended period of time impossible. Whenever one gets around to taking a sabbatical, research shows that clergy and congregations are strengthened by these times apart.

What about other staff members? The Vestry can decide to offer any employee a sabbatical leave. Typically the benefit is reserved for full-time, professional staff with program responsibility, but there is nothing in church policy which would prohibit a parish from extending sabbatical leave to any employee.

How long will our Rector be gone? Anne Marie+ will being taking 12 weeks of sabbatical leave and two weeks of unused vacation from this year, meaning she will be away from Emmanuel from September 29, 2025 to January 2, 2026. Her leave-taking Sunday will be September 28, and she will return Sunday, January 4, 2026.

What will Anne Marie+ be doing on sabbatical? Anne Marie’s+ time away will begin with a quick visit with her son and his husband while they are traveling in Denmark, followed by a two week French language immersion program in Nice, France. She and Brook will meet up in Paris at the conclusion of her course and they’ll have some time together to explore the City of Lights, a place they know and love. (Plus Anne Marie+ will get to practice her French!) They’ll eventually make their way to Southampton, UK, where they will board the Queen Mary 2 and sail back to the States, landing in New York on October 31. November and December will be devoted to visits with family and friends and enjoying all the things that “normal” people do on weekends. Anne Marie+ and Brook have 11 nieces and nephews (plus nearly as many of their spouses/partners), 16 great-nieces and nephews, and even one great-great niece, spread out from Belfast, Northern Ireland, to Colorado Springs, Colorado, and up and down the Eastern Seaboard. The generations are growing and changing with each passing day, and Anne Marie’s+ plan is to reconnect with as many of these beloved folks as possible. And, amongst everything else, Anne Marie+ will experience Thanksgiving and Christmas without any liturgical responsibilities for the first time in 20+ years.

Will Brook and Max still be involved at Emmanuel? Yes and no. If they are off traveling with Anne Marie+ they won’t be around the parish, but if she’s taking a solo trip you are likely to see them in church, at Bible Study, and in all their normal hangouts.

Who will cover Anne Marie’s+ responsibilities during this time? While Anne Marie+ is gone, the Vestry will assume fiscal and programmatic leadership of the congregation, led most ably by Senior Warden Erin Ray as the point person. Chris Lane, Emmanuel’s Director of Music, will lead the staff, overseeing daily operations, and will collaborate and coordinate with Erin. All the other ministries of the church will be led by all the people who already take charge of the various programs and groups.

What about Sundays, special liturgies, and pastoral care? Emmanuel will be served by visiting priests while Anne Marie+ is away. Clergy will preach and preside at Sunday and other services, and will be on-call for pastoral needs. While we don’t have a complete roster just yet, we can share with you the following confirmed coverage:
Sunday, October 5 The Rev. Canon Travis Smith, Canon for Pastoral Care and Wellness, Diocese of Maryland
Sundays, October 12 The Rev. Lucretia Mann
through November 9
Sundays November 16 TBD
through November 30
Sundays, December 7 The Rev. Ariane Rice
through December 28
(including Christmas services)

Who pays for the sabbatical? The sabbatical is considered part of our clergy’s total compensation package, and their salary and benefits are accounted for in the parish budget. In addition, the Vestry included funds for additional clergy coverage in the 2025 budget. Anne Marie+ will pay for her travel and other expenses directly.

Can I still email, text, or call Anne Marie+ when she is on sabbatical? In order for Anne Marie+ to fully engage sabbatical, in general she won’t be in communication with members of Emmanuel while she is gone. Pastoral concerns and funerals will be covered by on-call clergy. Anne Marie+ and Chris will plan programming for October, November, and December before Anne Marie+’s departure. (Yes, including the Stewardship Campaign and all the special Advent and Christmas services!) That being said, Anne Marie+ lives in the city, shops at local stores, and loves all the food and culture Baltimore offers, so you’re likely to see her around town. When you do, say hello, greet one another, and have a good catch-up, just don’t ask her if the Brent Room is available two weeks from now. ;)

What if I have further questions about the sabbatical? What if I have a great idea for something new Emmanuel could do this fall? Ministry does not stop, the work of the Gospel does not pause, while your priest is on sabbatical. Try new things, learn new ways, build up the community! And just imagine how much joy we’ll all share when Anne Marie+ returns to the parish and sees all that has gone on in her absence. Remember, you can reach out to a member of the staff, to our Wardens, or to anyone on the Vestry.