However, over the past several months there has been a decline in patronage of the golf course. The result of this decline means that Stagecoach Greens is unable to continue their support at the present level. This means it is necessary that we reduce our expenses, which will result in Braid losing one of the Co-Director positions. 

For a number of reasons, Rebecca and I, along with the Braid board, decided that I would be the one to move on. As a result, I have accepted a position at an Episcopal Church in San Francisco to be their interim pastor while they search for a full-time senior pastor. The church is St. James Episcopal located in the Inner Richmond neighborhood. 

The good news in this transition is that I will NOT be leaving Braid totally. I have arranged with St. James to work for the church four days per week, which allows me the opportunity to work for/with Braid for one day per week. This will allow Braid to have a potential space for events and programming. Being in SF will allow us to organize more volunteer events and dinners, and this summer we will start having monthly volunteer meet-ups at Stagecoach Greens. 

This arrangement has been approved by the Braid board and the board of St. James and will last for a period from 14 to 18 months, depending upon their search for a permanent pastor. 

During this time, the Braid board will be expanding and restructuring. This newly configured board will work to ensure that we have the necessary funding to staff Braid appropriately. Rebecca and our part-time administrator Carol cannot carry this organization alone. We must ensure that Braid can continue to support our wonderful volunteers, so that they in turn are able to continue to support our phenomenal youth and their families. 

In the coming weeks we will keep you informed about how the transitions are developing. But, we know that this transition, like all transitions within Braid, opens the door to new growth and opportunities to expand our mission to those who are in great need. And we do so with the confidence of knowing that the network that is you, the Braid community, is present with your compassion, and creativity, and wisdom, and imagination, and faithfulness. 

I am grateful to be able to remain a part of the day-to-day operations of Braid and a part of the Braid community that we have all worked hard to build. I look forward to seeing what new opportunities for our volunteers and youth will arise from this new chapter.