A Healthy Departure
Rev. Caela Simmons Wood, KO Conference President
December brings important transitions to our Conference. We welcome the Rev. Lorraine Ceniceros to her ministry with us as we prepare to fully release Dr. Edith Guffey from her responsibilities with us. The Conference Council is delighted that Edith and Lorraine will have this month of December to overlap and we wanted to share some important details about the transition. Edith’s last day working with the Conference will be December 31, 2021 and Lorraine will continue on as our new Conference Minister on January 1, 2022.
Healthy boundaries are a vital part of any ministry, and your Conference leadership has been working to flesh out what those boundaries will look like for Edith and us in 2022 and beyond. Edith will move into her retirement trusting that the Spirit will continue to move among us here in the KO Conference - thanks be to God. And we each have our role to play in making this transition as smooth as possible - making space for Lorraine to begin her new ministry among us as we live into our shared future together.
The Conference Council, in consultation with Edith, the pastors of Plymouth (where Edith is currently a member), and the Committee on Ministry, have worked together to develop guidelines for a healthy departure. To the best of her ability, while continuing to live, worship, and hold her membership in the KO Conference, Edith will observe a no-contact boundary with all authorized ministers in KO, and all members of KO Congregations, for at least two years. You may be wondering, “What exactly will that look like? How will that work?” We invite you to read the full retirement guidelines posted on our website. If you have questions after reading this document, please reach out to Rev. Gage Church who co-chairs Committee on Ministry (A).
As authorized ministers and church members, the very best way we can support both our outgoing and incoming Conference Ministers is to give Edith space after her ministry with us ends. After December 31, resist the urge to reach out to her. “Snooze” her or “unfollow” her on your Facebook feed, at least for the next two years. Don’t call, email, text, or write to her after her retirement, even if you think it’s just to share a note of thanks or encouragement. These small contacts make it harder for a pastor to create space and move on.
Change can be difficult and exciting. We are likely all having many emotions as we think about saying goodbye to Edith and welcoming Lorraine. We give thanks for Edith’s ministry among us and we look forward to our new ministry alongside Lorraine.