Wendy Ordination
 
Dear St. Stephen's Congregation,
 
It is with very mixed feelings that we announce that Wendy Cliff, our Interim Associate Rector, will be moving on when her contract is complete in June.  
 
Her letter to us directly follows this message.
 
We will miss Wendy's preaching, her pastoral care, her leadership in reforming and supervising the family ministries, her careful stewardship of our outreach programs and so much more.  And most of all we will miss her kindness, caring, and love.  Only Wendy and her God can discern what is right for her in her contribution to the church, and we honor her decision.  But it is all right that her leaving will be a little sad.
 
Wendy will be with us until June 19th when she will preach.  Start planning now for a block-buster send-off.
 
With love to you all,
 
Malcolm Manson, Interim Rector
Malcolm Signature  
 
 
 
 
 
Teri Pollitt, Senior Warden
Teri Pollitt  

A Letter from the Reverend Wendy D. Cliff - Palm Sunday 2016

Palm Sunday, March 20, 2016

Dear Malcolm, the Vestry and People of St. Stephen's,
 
It is with a combination of sadness and deep gratitude that I inform you that I will not be renewing my contract with St. Stephen's.  Sadness because I will be leaving St. Stephen's at the end of my contract on June 19th, and gratitude because of the tremendous support and generosity you have shown me in this past year.   

From the very beginning of my call to ordained ministry, through seminary, and then upon graduation, I have consistently been drawn to new models of being church.  As much as I love traditional parish ministry, my former marketing background causes me to always wonder about those people who aren't attracted to the current model and I'm eager to find a way to reach them.  It's also why I love pastoral care, in particular interfaith chaplaincy.
   
Before graduating from seminary, I made a commitment to serve part-time at Braid Mission.  When Rob Gieselmann approached me about taking Shari's position, I was clear with him and the vestry that this year would be a year of discernment for me.  I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful parish in which to serve during my first year of ordained life.  As much as I have loved leading worship and developing and supporting the various ministries at St. Stephen's, through much prayer and discernment, I know I am still called to design new worshiping communities.

Given how Braid has grown and evolved over the past year, the skills I now need to focus on relate to designing liturgy and providing pastoral care to seniors.  For this reason, I have accepted the part-time position as the Chaplain at the San Francisco Towers, the retirement community in San Francisco operated by Episcopal Senior Communities.

Serving as the Interim Associate Rector has been an incredible privilege and a joy.  I am pleased with the work I was able to do, helping the congregation transition from Rob and Shari's leadership to the new Rector's.  I look forward to meeting whoever is called as Rector and will work closely with him or her to provide continuity and support.  My prayers will be with you in this time of transition and please know that I will dearly miss all of you.  

Yours in Christ,
Wendy+
The Rev. Wendy D. Cliff

A letter of response from Senior Warden Teri Pollitt to Wendy
 
Dear Wendy:

Where did the last year go?  I just looked back at my 2015 calendar and it has only been a year since Rob and I had coffee with you in late March.  I remember asking you after we heard Rob's news if you really wanted to pursue the Interim Associate Rector position knowing he was leaving and our Interim Rector was unknown.  "Of course", you said and I knew then that great things were coming to St. Stephen's in the form of the Reverend Wendy Cliff!

Talk about baptism by fire, your first assignment was Camp Create which you handled so gracefully and professionally.  Your other summer project engaged a small group of dedicated parishioners to formally review and revitalize the Family Ministry program at St. Stephen's in order to begin the school year with renewed commitment to our children and youth.  Another challenge, you handled with grace.

Have I mentioned your preaching?  I remember Richard Schaper, who attended your graduation ceremony, excitedly sharing the news that you had been recognized with the "preaching award" for your graduating class at CDSP.   He even gave me the program with that line circled!  And now, we have a lasting Wendy moment every Sunday when we turn towards the back doors during the dismissal ready to spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus.  And did I mention the inspiring Good Friday meditation?

St. Stephen's prides itself on the amazing breadth of outreach ministries that our dedicated parishioners support and this was another area where your administrative skills shone during the past year.  You worked closely with Vestry liaisons and other parishioners, as well as meeting with agency representatives to renew our commitment in this important aspect of our parish life.

I can't begin to count the number of times parishioners have come up to me during the past year and told me they certainly hoped you would be staying when we called our next Rector.  I would smile but I knew this was your year of discernment and, in my heart, I probably knew you would be called to the city to further your work with the Braid Mission, especially after seeing you with Rebecca and Chris at our forum.  And now you will take your expertise in outreach and pastoral care to Braid and the Towers.

On behalf of the Vestry and the members of St. Stephen's, thank you so much for your time, talent and ministry to our parish during the past year.  We'll be watching you from afar as you pursue your work with the Braid Mission.

Warmly,
Teri Pollitt
 
 
 
Teri Pollitt
Senior Warden


A letter of response from The Venerable Malcolm Manson to Wendy

Dear Wendy,

It comes as no surprise that I received your letter with mixed feelings.  Your service here has been exemplary, and we thank you.  Your plans for your future in the church are more than admirable, and we honor you and them.  Your appointment at the Towers seems just right as a balance with the Braid Ministry work, and we congratulate you.

Over the (many) years, I have worked with people who are supremely well-organized, and I have worked with people whose love of God and his people overflows around them.  Very few have both of these attributes, and you are certainly one of them.  I have enjoyed our partnership immensely and learned much from you.
We have two full months to enjoy before June 19.  I look forward to them with much enthusiasm.

With every blessing,

Malcolm Signature





Malcolm Manson
Interim Rector

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