In May I spoke about ways to approach leave taking, a topic that is on our mind at present because our much-loved Revd Sue Wise is soon to retire. The prompt for doing so was Jesus’ statement that his disciples would do greater things once he had ascended to his Father. Our Old Testament passage today (2 Kings 2:1-14) gives us another way of thinking about and preparing for leave taking.
Elisha asked to inherit a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, when he knew Elijah was to be taken from him to ascend to God in heaven. Elijah said that, although a difficult ask, Elisha’s request would be granted if Elisha saw Elijah at the point of his leaving.
We can ask for something similar in relation to Sue’s retirement. We have all benefited from Sue’s ministry over the 11 years that she has been in the parish and can inherit from her a double portion of her spirit as she leaves us.
That involves looking at the person she is that the gifts and interests she has shared in order that we learn from these and continue to use ourselves those things that she has shared with us.
Wellbeing has been a major focus of Sue’s ministry, whether utilising and sharing learning, skills and approaches from Acorn Christian Healing Foundation’s listening and pastoral attentiveness training or leading a number of Kintsugi Hope Wellbeing Groups. The former helped people grow in compassionate, attentive care through a combination of listening, healing, and reconciliation. The latter create a safe and supportive space where, through a structured yet flexible programme, people can accept themselves, understand their value and worth, and grow towards a more resilient and hopeful future.
Care for creation has been another of Sue’s particular interests and enthusiasms. Under her direction all of our churches have obtained the Eco-Church Silver award with this meaning that we have together looked at: Worship and teaching; Buildings and energy; Land and nature; Community and global engagement; and Lifestyle. She has also ensured that we understand creation-care in the context of the Five Marks of Mission where TREASURE involves striving to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth. This fifth mark of mission articulates the ecological dimension of mission, widening the circle of responsibility to its furthest extent. This mark reflects a mature theological understanding that God’s redemptive plan is cosmic in scope. It calls human beings to their divinely appointed role as stewards of the earth, presenting environmental care not as a secular agenda but as an integral component of faithfulness to the Creator God.
Additionally, Sue has helped us embed this understanding within the church calendar. We now keep Creationtide, when churches and congregations are called to pay special attention to the responsibility of humanity for the Earth and for all that lives upon it and take part in Churches Count on Nature, when Wickford Wildlife Association identify wildlife in our churchyards.
These are two of Sue’s many interests and areas of ministry where she has invested time with commitment and imagination. There are many others. We need to look at what she has been and done if we are to inherit a double portion of her spirit.
Jesus said that his followers would do greater things by doing more and different things than he could do within his own ministry. This is how we approach leave taking by doing more of the same in the spirit of the one who has gone. Elijah promised a double portion of his spirit to Elisha if he saw Elijah as he left. We can have a double portion of Sue’s spirit if we all take what we have learnt from her and apply in our own lives and ministries. Then the impact of her ministry will be doubled.
We will miss Sue greatly when she leaves but we will honour her time among us best if we take what she has shared with us and use it in new ways within our parish. May it be so for each one of us. Amen.
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Iona - Beyond These Shores.
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