A star shall come out of Jacob…” (Numbers 24:17b)

At 6:10 am in the morning yesterday, I was outside of our townhouse in Chester County, waiting to personally present the guys who collect our trash once every week with a holiday cash bonus. Across the street and shining above the rooflines, suddenly a light went streaking through the sky…in the east (!). Ok, in the southeast, actually, but this is a Christmas story. ‘A shooting star, unlike any I’ve ever witnessed before. (Joan sees them all the time, but she often sees things I don’t see.) ‘Low in the sky, moving laterally, with a brilliantly sparkling tail. For two seconds at pre-dawn, the Universe was speaking to me. The future – my future – was under control.

I’m not big on seeking “signs” from God, but on the day after news was announced privately to the EPA cabinet – and on the day before that it was to be announced publicly by the bishop – I needed some validation. It is not without sadness that I share my decision (truly, my decision) to not continue in my fulltime appointment as Superintendent of the North District after June 30 of next year. It has been a remarkable run since December of 2017, when my appointment to the cabinet was announced and the “new” North District was developing its identity…an incredible honor to serve among you in this capacity!…but after four years of repeatedly traversing nine different counties of Pennsylvania and doing my best to resource 108 local United Methodist churches while balancing my family life, well…it’s time for me to step aside.

It’s Time. That was the title of my final sermon at Hopewell UMC after twenty-one years as lead pastor – an unfathomable blessing, to this day! – but now God has crowned that joy with this season as Superintendent among you in the North. This ministry journey has been far more than I deserve, and not easy to walk away from – trust me, as I say that – and please understand: I surely hope to continue in some meaningful, less-than-fulltime role in the Conference….but as far as Superintendency goes, I know that it’s time, once again.

We’ve got much to accomplish in these next six months and plenty of occasions for Good-Byes. This has not been an easy decision, but I am resolved and at peace. The future – my future….YOUR future….is under control. Heaven and nature sing.

~ Steve