Loading...The Rev. Meghan Holland, the diocese's newest priest, is undertaking-developing perhaps is a better word-a new ministry to help her beloved All Saints become, as it is for kids, the place for adults in the western half of Kentucky to go to retreat from the everyday pace.
Ordained to the priesthood on June 17, she is developing the new diocesan position as she develops adult programming for All Saints, the diocese's conference center located on Rough River lake near Leitchfield. Not only will she be the center's program planner and promoter, she will help it assess the needs and opportunities for use of the conference center, she said. She will be working with parishes and diocesan organizations, but she also wants to look for clients from other groups and corporations in the area, not just religious organizations.
Holland is serving as assistant to the rector at Grace Church, Paducah, three quarters of her time, concentrating on young adult ministries, web and social media outreach, and the Godly Play program. One fourth of her time will be devoted to All Saints."
Commenting on the new diocesan position and Holland's appointment, the Rev. Canon Joan Smith noted that "All Saints Center is at a fork in the road. It mainly provided facilities for some years. It's now time to generate programs. This is offering the next level of ministry at All Saints. ... Bishop White discerned in working with Meghan toward ordination that she is a person who has an ability to articulate ideas and help people formulate their own plans and follow through."
Holland will be working mainly from her office at Grace, but she said she expects to be onsite at All Saints for several events.
"The biggest part of my job is program development," she said, "so I will be guiding our patrons through the process of planning programs." That will include, she said, helping clients establish goals and timelines for planning an event, locating people such as retreat leaders to help with the event, determining what facilities are needed, and assisting with promoting the event. "I'm anxious to work collaboratively with other people in the diocese. I'm anxious to hear other people's ideas of what they have always wanted to see, a retreat they've always wanted to be held at All Saints," she said.
No events have been set as yet (the ink is hardly dry on her job description), but she said she is already hearing ideas for retreats, including one for the upcoming program year on compassion. "There is a lot of energy around contemplative retreats, maybe even a silent retreat," she said. There has been some talk as well about bring in well known theologians for retreats. "I'm not sure how feasible that is the first year, but it may be something to look for in the future."
Once an All Saints' camper and counselor, Holland said she served at the camp as a clergy person this summer. "It's different, but it's still so much fun. I absolutely love All Saints. I love what it has grown into. Of course, the conference center wasn't around when I was a kid. So the fact that All Saints isn't just for summer camp anymore is so exciting. It's such a beautiful area. The more people that get to experience our little piece of the world, the better."
