I propose a 12-week sabbatical from my duties as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina to renew my vows to be both a visionary and an ordinary for the people and churches of this region. To fire up and clarify my vision, I will spend much of my time in the restful, restorative practice of writing, using the story of my own on-going conversion to Christ as a starting point. Through writing workshops and time away, I will engage in what is, for me, a deeply spiritual discipline of daily putting pen to paper. To strengthen my effectiveness in providing order to our Church as I prepare to lead our diocese in implementing our new strategic plan, I will attend the Harvard School of Business course, “Strategic Perspectives for Nonprofit Management”. To root all of this time in a rhythm of prayer I will retreat to the Society of St. John the Evangelist Monastery where my own confessor resides. Finally, I will spend much of this quiet time with my wife, Jo, and some of it with our two grown children, while giving myself the gift of peaceful recreation through golf and walks.