Personnel Transition

A NOTE FROM RECTOR JEANNE LEINBACH

Dear Parish Family, Transition news is bittersweet. I’m sorry to share that Rev. Brandon’s last Sunday at St. Paul’s will be April 7. As much as I will miss Brandon, I am happy for him and Bob. A wonderful opportunity has come along for Brandon in Boston, which allows them to live near family. Please see Brandon’s letter following.

Brandon joined the Staff in January 2021. Certainly, joining the Staff in the midst of COVID, was challenging! Brandon persevered in getting to know the people and ministries of St. Paul’s. Brandon has shared so many gifts with St. Paul’s from liturgy planning to preaching, from pastoral care to ministry development. He designed several new worship services, including our first Pride Eucharist. He lovingly cared for so many families while they were grieving the loss of loved ones. With Brandon’s guidance, St. Paul’s embarked on a new Refugee Resettlement ministry. He brought new life to our Loaves and Fishes Ministry. He jumped in to Confirmation last Spring after Rev. John left, and has enjoyed developing relationships with the youth and their families. In addition to his ministry at St. Paul’s, Brandon has served as a Trustee of St. Luke’s and on the Board for Open Doors Academy. He will be missed.

Please join us on April 7 for a combined worship service at 10 a.m. with a reception following to celebrate Brandon and wish him the best on his next phase of ministry.

Peace,

Jeanne+

A NOTE FROM REV. BRANDON ASHCRAFT

Dear People of St. Paul’s, In a spirit of both joy and sadness, I write to share the news that I have been called to serve as Priest for Outreach at Trinity Church Boston, a transition that comes after an extended period of prayerful discernment.

In the Church, we speak often in the language of “vocation” to describe a particular way of living out the universal vocation of love we all share as followers of Jesus. As you know, it was during my time at St. Paul’s that I said yes to the vocation of marriage – a milestone that you celebrated with me, as you welcomed Bob with open arms! This life transition considers both my vocations as a spouse and as a priest. The move to Boston brings us closer to Bob’s sister and her partner and two children. While Bob and I are not called to the vocation of parenthood, we delight in being uncles to Francis and Oliver and have longed for some time to be nearer to them. Additionally, Boston has multiple affordable direct flights to Dallas-Fort Worth, allowing me to continue participating in my father’s care.

Trinity Church is a historic parish on Boston’s Copley Square. My ministry there will focus on outreach and justice – ministries that emerge from Trinity’s life, commitments, and aspirations as Beloved Community. With oversight for Welcome ministries, I’ll also have the joy of laboring alongside colleagues and parishioners to extend the hospitality of Christ to all visitors and newcomers, ensuring that everyone who visits Trinity Church feels known and loved.

I am mindful that this transition may be unexpected, and that it comes on the heels of other recent departures of associate clergy. These transitions are always difficult, even as they invite us to renew our trust in God’s providence. I am grateful to be with you through the remainder of Lent and Holy Week and look forward to the April 7 celebration of our shared ministry. You will remain in my prayers during this time of transition, as I hope I will be in yours.

My heartfelt gratitude to Jeanne, our Rector, whose unwavering encouragement and support of my ministry has been an incredible gift. She has made an observation in the past, that I now know to be true: St. Paul’s has a unique vocation of forming new priests, which is a gift to the Church. I arrived at St. Paul’s having been a priest for a little more than a year. You are the community that supported me as I found my preaching voice. St. Paul’s is where I found my confidence as a liturgist and delighted in discovering how much I love teaching and nurturing young disciples. St. Paul’s is where I learned to be a pastor, as you entrusted me to companion you through grief, joy, and everything in between.

For these gifts, I will forever be profoundly grateful.

Peace,

Brandon+