Welcoming Our New Priest-in-Charge

Rev. Alex Leach

Announcing Rev. Alex Leach as Priest in Charge for St. Luke’s!

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Woodland is pleased to announce the appointment of The Rev. Alex Leach as Priest in Charge. The discernment of the Priest in Charge position has been a mutual process of the Vestry, our Bishop Megan and Rev. Leach and his family. All three groups came to an unanimous decision.

Rev. Leach has been appointed to an initial term of two years as Priest in Charge. There will be a mutual ministry review with the Bishop’s office after the first and second years. If all three entities agree to move forward after two years, then Alex is eligible to be called as our rector.

Many may recall Alex’s previous service with St. Luke’s as deacon.

Our beloved Interim Rector, The Rev. Carren Sheldon, will be departing for her new Call in Astoria, Oregon after Sunday, May 9. Watch for announcements regarding our good bye celebration for Rev. Carren. Join us to wish her well in her new adventure!

Alex’s first Sunday Celebration with St. Luke’s will be Sunday, June 6. We will be arranging for supply priests for the services in between Rev. Carren’s departure and Rev. Alex’s first Sunday, June 6.

A Letter to St. Luke’s from Rev. Leach

To the Community of St. Luke’s,

It is with great joy that I have said yes to the Vestry’s invitation to be your next Priest-In-Charge. I know we served together not that long ago, and it was sad when I had to leave, and so what a surprise and joy that God has called us back together in ministry. I trust that the Holy Spirit has some terrific things planned for us in the years ahead.

Some may be wondering “what is a priest in charge?” and “how is that different from a rector?” There are a lot of answers to those questions, but for our situation in particular, what that means is that I will be serving with you for 2 years with the full authority as Rector, but without the same open-ended commitment. This time will be a time of mutually exploring together what our relationship can and will look like, and whether your vestry and I have discerned God’s call accurately. If the relationship is fruitful and confirms our mutual discernment, then the Vestry at the end of that period will have the option of calling me as your Rector.

The other pressing question, I am sure, is when will my time with you start. The plan is for my ministry to begin with you May 31st. In the meantime, it is important for you as a community to say goodbye to your interim Rector Carren Sheldon. It is important for you all to have time to say a good goodbye. As well as I need time to say goodbye to the congregation of St. Martin’s in Davis.

Much more will unfold in time, but hopefully this letter finds you well and answers some of the most pressing questions. I am very excited to begin this new chapter of ministry with you. I am hopeful about where the Spirit will lead us together. And I know that Jesus is in your midst, forming you as a community into the Body of Christ in Woodland, and that Christ shall continue to be our Good Shepherd.

In peace, joy, and love,

Rev. Alex Leach+