I believe I am hard-wired for service. Even at those moments when my spirit feels spent and I become despondent, I am amazed that I am energized when engaged in pastoral service. I thrive most in an environment where I am engaged in ministry of service with and among the people of God.

For a good part of my thirty years of ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church I have served as diocesan staff: as Latino/Hispanic Missioner, as developer and founder of an alternative theological education project for Latino/Hispanic ministry and as Archdeacon (regional executive) on the bishop's staff.

In the past ten years I have returned to parish ministry - serving a Latino/Hispanic mission for five years; then three stints as an interim minister. I believe I have another good five-seven years of active full-time pastoral work ahead of me. However, I need time to revive my spirit; and the distance and resources to support a discernment process.

Some specifics I want to address:

1. Do I return to involvement with Latino/Hispanic ministry? What aspects would I want to relate to?

2. Should I pursue a multi-cultural setting where my bilingual skills can serve a congregation that has decided to take on that challenge?

3. Should I continue my engagement with interim ministry work? Or might the Spirit of God call me to some other challenge?

I need the distance and space. And, at this stage of my life, I need the opportunity to engage my family in these explorations.