May 21, 2021
Dear Friends,
At a special Vestry meeting on Thursday, May 20th, I announced to the Vestry that I would be stepping away from full time parish ministry at the end of this year on December 31, 2021. I came to this decision after a great deal of prayer and conversation with my wife Emily, Bishop Brown, the Wardens and members of the Vestry. As the parish celebrates its 25th anniversary I am reminded of the opening verse from the third chapter of the Book of Ecclesiastes 3:1 “For Everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven”. The parish is beginning a new season of ministry in looking toward the next twenty-five years. I also feel that I am entering a new season as I look forward to retirement in the fall of 2022.
At the end of this year, I will have completed twelve years as your Priest and Rector, a time that has been full of many blessings, and from which I leave with a deep and abiding love for this parish and the many friends Emily, and I have made and cherish. These twelve years have been the most wonderful years of my thirty years of ordained ministry. The last year and a half has been hard on all of us as we have navigated the consequences of a global pandemic and the resulting impact on our mission and vision. Without the help, love and support of my staff, Diane-Louise Casson, David Christopher, and the many volunteers, who have and will continue the work of this church mission, this period would have been more than difficult.
Now, I feel that this is an appropriate time for me to step down as your Priest and Rector in order to allow a transition to begin that will lead to the call of the next Rector of the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew.
I will hold SsAM close to my heart in prayer as you plan and discern your future. I am excited by the potential for SsAM’s future. I eagerly look forward to the new, re-imagined way SsAM will fulfill its mission and vision in the Wilmington community.
I love you all and will forever hold the many wonderful memories of our ministry together in my heart.
Peace,
The Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr.
Rector
Click here to see the recent posts from Father David.
Letter from Rachel Gaskell, Senior Warden
May 21, 2021
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Last night, Father David notified the Vestry of his decision to retire as the Priest and Rector of SsAM, effective the end of this year. He shared his journey towards reaching this decision, and we listened with heavy hearts and a deep love for him.
First and foremost, we support Father David. We are grateful for his 12 years of ministry and leadership. In those 12 years have been a lifetime of experiences we’ve shared. Births, marriages and goodbyes to loved ones. We have seen voices rise that have given weight to long silenced injustices. Hurricanes and earthquakes that paralyzed regions and countries, but also galvanized volunteers and birthed new activists. Politicians who sowed the seeds of division, and glass ceilings shattered by a new generation of leaders. All this we have experienced together as a community under Father David’s leadership.
More information will be shared in the weeks and months to come, which will help to shed light on what we can expect. This will include celebrations of Father David as well as the approaching transition next year.
Please join me in helping to celebrate Father David and wishing him and Emily your support.
Kind regards,
Rachel Gaskell
Sr. Warden
