This sabbatical will focus on the ministry of writing -- as spiritual practice, as kerygma, as an instrument for the building up of the church, and as a gift to be used for God’s glory. The central question: How can the Christian, and the pastor in particular, be a writer as an expression of faith and vocation? I have long felt called to write. Somehow, the press of pastoral ministry has managed to include some sort of writing almost every day while still not permitting sustained attention to writing as either craft or vocation. The sabbatical will be a time of separating from that which prevents such engagement, and using the time away to practice faith, sharpen skills, and explore new territory for reflection. Activities will include time spent in sustained spiritual retreat, conferences on writing in a variety of forms, attention to habits of writing that will continue after the sabbatical, and intentional research and activities engaging the current state of the larger church -- specifically mainline denominations -- as audiences to be engaged with a fresh written word. The product will be renewed commitment to writing as part of my vocational ministry and, perhaps, material suitable for publication.