Rev.
Ann C. Fox
(508) 992-7081
UFairhaven@aol.com
Unitarian Universalist
Society of Fairhaven
About The Reverend Ann C. Fox
The Reverend Ann C. Fox came to Unitarian Memorial Church in July, 2001, after a two-year interim ministry in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. She entered the ministry after careers in teaching secondary English, technical writing in the software industry, and motherhood (ongoing, she says). She has undergraduate and graduate degrees in literature and education, respectively, from The City College of the City University of New York. She attended seminary at Boston University School of Theology. She is a native of the United Kingdom and is a naturalized American citizen. She has lived primarily in New York, California, and most recently in Massachusetts.
Rev. Fox’s early religious orientation was influenced by her upbringing in the Church of England (called the “Episcopal” tradition in the United States). Nowadays, like many members of this congregation, Rev. Fox’s personal theological beliefs are grounded in Judeo-Christian thought but informed and influenced by world religions, enlightened teachings of living spiritual teachers as well as secular writers, art, literature, music, science, the earth, and the universe!
Now in the seventh year of her ministry with us, Rev. Fox has written the following letter to our congregation as she goes on a four-month sabbatical. (With her permission, the text of the letter has been slightly altered for the purposes of this website.)
A Pre-Sabbatical Message from the Minster
This is my seventh year of ministry with you. We have grown together personally and matured in spirit. Together we have experienced global and national tragedies; the most significant being the destruction of the World Trade Center; in the ensuing weeks and months we came together and were mutually comforted and strengthened. But our lives were also marked by the cycle of life in the many births, coming of age services, graduations, marriages, celebration of life services, and the traditional seasonal celebrations.
In the hallway of the Parish House hang framed Vision, Mission, and Covenant statements that we forged together in a workshop. These can guide us to create a communal life we can be proud of and that nurtures our spiritual lives. We have also grown in our pastoral, worship, communication, organization, and financial structures. We are poised to become a mid-sized church.
Ministry is a special kind of life, the kind that, like a subterranean reservoir needs to be replenished if it is to offer ongoing enrichment to others. The purpose of a sabbatical is to provide a minister with rest, relaxation, and renewal so that he or she may return with a full reservoir. I will be on sabbatical for four months, January 1 through April 30, 2008. I plan to take full advantage of being completely free of ministry responsibilities with the knowledge that competent congregation members and staff will continue life perfectly well in my absence, and confident that all worship services are planned and pastoral care covered with the help of our Worship Associates and Pastoral Associates. The Reverend Dan Harper of First Unitarian, New Bedford has graciously agreed to respond to pastoral crises.
My sabbatical begins in January 2008 with a few weeks of reflection on peace. In mid-January, I will go to New Zealand as a “peace pilgrim:” of sorts to speak about peace to Unitarian congregations there, who have welcomed me warmly in email messages. When I return, I will spend some time in a monastery and have left some open time for any interesting opportunities that the Universe may offer.
Everyone in our congregation has received a sabbatical handbook, which was created to document how congregational life will continue during my time away. Notice that all the Worship services are already planned with our Worship Associates doing a few services. Many of my colleagues have entered into a sabbatical pool with me so that we will not have to pay for very many pulpit guests. Please read through this Sabbatical Handbook and notice that many of your questions will already have been answered. The Committee on Ministry have been very helpful in creating this handbook and they can answer your questions.
In this period, I expect that we will all change and grow, as it should be for people engaged in a creative life. Thank you for calling me, accepting my ministry, and being humble, yet lively and strong to meet our mutual needs in congregational life. I will think of you from time to time and look forward to returning the first week of May 2008 to continue our shared ministry!
Blessings to you all, Ann