Rev. Tony to Take Sabbatical

Dear Members and Friends of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Meriden,

We, the Board of Trustees, are writing to you to announce that Rev. Tony Lorenzen will be on sabbatical for three months from June 2 through September 13.  Sabbatical time is accrued by ministers at the rate of one month per year of service to a congregation.  July 2025 marks six years Rev. Tony has served our congregation.  He is only taking three months of sabbatical instead of 4,5, or 6 due to the current political situation in the country, and he is timing the sabbatical to have the least impact on the life of the congregation as July and August are a bit slower with fewer congregational events.  

Rev. Tony was ordained in 2007 and has never had sabbatical leave because until a few years ago, only congregations with called, settled full-time ministers were required to offer sabbatical and Rev. Tony has served many interims and part-time ministries (as he does now with our congregation and UU Congregation of Danbury) during his 18-year ministerial career.   Don’t worry about him not returning because part of the sabbatical arrangement is that the congregation will not dismiss the minister (except for unethical or criminal conduct) and the minister will not retire or resign for one full year following the end of the sabbatical.

Ministers use sabbatical time for rest, renewal, study, and special projects.  Rev. Tony will be working on increasing his online ministry and ministry of public theologian and preparing to engage a more visible and energetic public role as a voice for justice and equity in our community and in Connecticut.  

Should you have a pastoral emergency please contact the Board, and we will connect you to the minister who is providing sabbatical coverage.  We will publish a schedule of which board member to contact throughout the summer.  This information will be published weekly in the newsletter as well. 

We heartily endorse this time of sabbatical and study and hope you join us in supporting this time of rejuvenation for Rev. Tony.  

In a spirit of solidarity and community,

The UU Church in Meriden Board of Trustees