Dear Friends,

I am writing to let you know that it is with great sadness that I am announcing my resignation as senior pastor of MCCSF. It has been my joy and my honor to serve with you in ministry since you chose me as your leader on November 4, 2007, and I know this announcement may come as a surprise. Please know first and foremost that I have wrestled tremendously with this decision, nearly as much as I have prayed about it. There is nothing in me that is making this choice lightly; in fact, I am doing so only because I strongly believe it is what God is calling me to do, and because I believe it is the best thing for the church.

For nearly three years now we have journeyed through many highs and lows as spiritual community. We have worked incredibly hard to bring this church back from the brink we were on in 2007. From moving back to 150 Eureka, to screening "Jihad for Love," from marching and getting arrested together in the streets for marriage equality, to providing books and food and holiday gifts for the most vulnerable in our midst, I am truly proud of everything we have been able to do in the midst of huge challenges.

And yet, there is more that needs to be done. Attendance at our worship services has been in decline throughout this year. Financial giving is also in decline, at a rate that indicates more is going on than our country's current struggles with unemployment and economic difficulties. I believe at this point that I have given the very best that I have to give to MCCSF, and that this congregation is in need of something else that is not within my ability or my calling to give. For me to stay any longer would be to do damage to this church that I have loved and served for so many years of my life.

Please know that I am not taking this action because I have given up on MCCSF, but because I believe resigning is what God would have me do. Just as I felt so strongly called to apply for this position in 2007, I am feeling just as called now by God to let go. I believe this church needs to find a new leader who has the ability to further support the congregation's growth and who can take it to its next level. I have sincerely come to know that the most loving act of commitment and devotion to you that I can give at this time is to get out of the way so that God can get on with helping you journey to that new place. Toward this goal, my last Sunday with you will be September 19th.

Just as I have always believed in your queer spiritual power, I believe with all of my heart that you have within you all that you will need going forward. Members of the clergy, music directors, and other staff members will always come and go. But all of you who make up the congregation and the community of MCCSF, you are the enduring part of this amazing church.

Right now you have a strong, wise, visionary, and courageous Board of Directors, and Board of Directors of our foundation. I am deeply grateful to each one of them and am so honored to have served with them. They have been nothing but incredibly supportive of me and my ministry, and I commend them to you now and ask you to fully support them. They deserve and they need your support and your trust.

I am just as grateful to all the lay leaders here - the many ministers of MCCSF. This year in particular, our 40th anniversary, has shown that we are blessed with so many gifted, generous people in our congregation: the individuals on our 40th Anniversary Committee, the Many Lights team, the Congregational Care and Life teams, our ushers and worship leaders and so many others work so tirelessly for this church. They need and deserve your support and trust as well, and they need more people to join them in their commitment.

When I began this journey with you almost three years ago, this was not how I had envisioned I would be saying goodbye one day. But I know that my plans are not always God's plans, and I have no doubt that God does indeed have a plan for this church. I am not exactly sure about what God's designs are for me at this point, however. I still feel called to parish ministry, and sooner or later I will probably be serving as an MCC pastor once again, although at this time I do not know where that will be. Time will tell, and in the meantime, I will be praying for you and for me, that all that we experienced and learned together will make us ever more compassionate, more determined, and more faithful ministers of God's love in all that we do.

For all the countless ways you have blessed me and saved my life ever since I arrived as an intern back in 1995, I thank you with all of my being. This church will always be a part of me, and it is my deepest prayer now that I will be able to take the very best of MCCSF with me in all that I do. I hope that you will take the best of what I have shared here, and go forward with it to grow, to bless one another, and to bless our world. May you always know the most abundant blessings of God, Goddess, and the Eternal Spirit.

With faith, hope, and love,
Lea

From the MCCSF Board of Directors:

It is with great sadness that the Board of Directors of MCCSF accepts the resignation of Rev. Dr. Lea Brown. As Lea takes this difficult step, we are taking the necessary steps to care for our community. The Board of Directors will be meeting with the Elders of our denomination to review our options.

We will keep you informed as we work through this process. Please look for announcements in the following sources: from the pulpit, in eConnections, in our weekly worship bulletin, and on the bulletin board in the hallway at 150 Eureka. Please join with us in continuing to support our beloved community.

MCCSF Board of Directors