Greetings, Carmen, Jean-Paul, and the members of the St. Columba’s Bishop’s Committee,

Thank you very much for the time together this last Sunday. I found our conversation wonderfully affirming of the direction that St. Columba’s is taking and personally rewarding for me. 

I write to confirm what we discussed at our meeting.  At that time, I let you know that I intend to appoint The Rev. Meghan Mullarkey as Vicar of St. Columba’s as of May 29, 2023, a date chosen in that The Rev. Canon Alissa Newton will be officially leaving the congregation as of The Feast of Pentecost on Sunday May 28, 2023.

I’ve come to this after much reflection and discussion with others (including Meghan+ and Alissa+) and has been guided by two strong convictions: 

The first conviction is that Meghan has the gifts and experience needed to be the Vicar at St. Columba’s. Alissa and the leadership at St. Columba’s have done a superior job in forming and supporting her for exactly this role. For that, I am both personally grateful and wildly enthusiastic about the next phase of life at St. Columba’s.

My second conviction is that the Diocese of Olympia, its leaders and its congregations, have great need of Alissa in her role as Canon for Congregational Development and Leadership at this time. Life for other leaders and other congregations has and continues to be very challenging in the light of the pandemic. The broader Diocese needs Alissa’s presence, attention and focus now more than ever before, some of which will include her own visitations to other congregations on Sundays.

As we discussed (and experienced) in our meeting, transitions like these are full of many emotions: joy and excitement about new opportunities for learning and discovery as well as the sadness that always accompanies the ending of warm and significant relationships. I expect that both you as leaders and that the congregation as a whole will need time to process this news.

In the meantime, I urge you to celebrate Alissa’s ministry among you on her last Sunday. I only wish I could be with you that day to experience again the warm, spacious, and heartfelt way of being that is St. Columba’s alone!

With every good wish to you.

In Christ, 

+Melissa