I am thrilled to share my plans for my upcoming sabbatical, set to take place September 1-December 1, 2021. I have titled my sabbatical time “An Exploration of the Celtic Art of Blessing and Conversational Leadership Through the Works of David Whyte, John O’Donohue, and the Corrymeela Community.”

Celtic theology has a unique and rich history that makes it particularly appealing to our United Church of Gainesville faith practices. Rooted in the landscape, influenced by earth’s elements, and honest in its approach to the human experience and our search for hope amid hardship, Celtic theology is a beautiful grounding for any pastor in a church so invested in an open practice of belief and understanding about God.  I plan to travel to various locations around the United Kingdom that have particular relevance to such an earth-based theology. 

I hope to:

• Visit the Isle of Iona, the first location and primary launching spot for St. Columba, the priest first credited with making Christianity accessible to the tribal, Druidic peoples of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
• Visit various locations around the west and southern coast of Ireland–the homelands and places of inspiration to the writers John O’Donohue and David Whyte. These include County Clare, the Cliffs of Moher, The Burren, the Aran Islands, and Cork. 
• Visit the Corrymeela Community in Northern Ireland to study the practice of how disparate communities can find paths towards reconciliation through storytelling.
• Make at least one pilgrimage of the Ways of St. Andrews or the West Highlands Way.
• Explore the rich history of Edinburgh, Dublin, and London.

I will also study how communities that have endured tremendous hardship and distrust can forge a future path together based on hope, trust, and reconciliation. In Ireland, the Troubles they have experienced through their Northern/Southern, English/Irish, Catholic/Protestant differences draw an interesting correlation to the racial reconciliation calls to action we hear today. There is great value in exploring the success and challenges they have had in Ireland, where skin tone can’t bias the generational distrust and hatred that has confronted them. Through places like the Corrymeela Community and the storytelling experiences facilitated by Padraig O’Tuama, I hope to learn how to provide practical tools to aid us in our work to build a more beloved community here.

Upon my return, I will lead two small groups on the poetry of David Whyte and art of blessing by John O’Donohue. I will share my learnings on reconciliation and conversational leadership with our Racial Justice committee and use them in our ongoing work in the community. I will lead at least one seminar to share my experience. I will undoubtedly preach on my learnings regularly.  

Our timeline is as follows:

September 1-20 Rest, prepare and celebrate. 

September 20-30 Travel to Edinburgh, Scotland, to begin a pilgrimage of either the West

Highland Way or the Way of St. Andrew

October 1-5 Tracy, Stella, and Remy arrive in Edinburgh, exploring for five days.

October 6 Travel to Glasgow

October 7-10 Travel to Iona

October 10-14 Travel to Dublin, Belfast, and the Corrymeela Community

October 14-19 Travel to the west and southern Ireland, visiting the Barrens, the Cliffs of

Moher, Cork, etc. 

October 19-24 Travel to London to explore

Early November Return to Gainesville to read, write and rest

December 1 Return to work at UCG.

NOTE: At the moment, due to the pandemic, this itinerary may not be possible. We hope that travel restrictions will ease and that the UK’s mandatory 10-day quarantine will be lifted. If not, I may have to reconsider our travel plans, but my focus will remain on my original theme and study.

I have strong leaders in place for all of my boards and committees. With specific point people assigned to our specific ministries for each board and committee. Talia and Bromleigh will serve as liaisons for my committees as needed, but a great group of seasoned volunteers will largely staff them. 

I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have this opportunity for rest, study and rejuvenation. I promise the time will be spent well. I’ll be in touch (however known) and will continue to hold you, my beloved UCG in my thoughts and prayers while I’m gone. Please do the same for my family and me!

Andy Bachmann