At Bethany House of Prayer you will find a deeply nurturing space for contemplation and renewal in a busy world. While our roots are with the Episcopal Church, we welcome all, from various faith traditions and none, who seek to deepen their spiritual life and engage in the world with integrity.

Dear Bethany House Community,

Here on the very cusp of my beginning as the Transition Director at Bethany House, I write to introduce myself to you. Just outside my front door in Truro, the daffodils are beginning to poke their green swords above the ground. They signal a new season in Creation’s natural cycle of life. And just so, I have the privilege of joining the life of this wonderful community as together we enter a new season in Bethany House’s life. Just as Lent itself is a time of reflection on what has been, so as to prepare for the new life that God offers through Easter, so we together will have the opportunity to reflect on where Bethany House has been in its rich past so as to prepare for what the Holy Spirit will offer this community in the months and years ahead. Perhaps She is saying to us, in the words of Isaiah 43:19, “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” It will be a joy for me to imagine and begin to perceive together with you what the Holy Spirit is up to in the life of Bethany House.

A bit about my background. I have served in various ministries and places over more than forty years of ordained life. As a parish priest and college chaplain in MD. As a Shalem Institute-trained spiritual director and retreat leader. As an interim priest in parishes in NJ, NY, and PA. And for more than fifteen years, in various capacities, as a priest on the staff at Trinity Church, Copley Square in Boston, finally finishing my ministry there as their Interim Rector and Vicar in the years 2017-2021.

Over the years, it has also been my particular joy to have been part of the life of Bethany House in various ways – as a co-director with Mary Meader of Bethany’s training program for spiritual directors, and as a co-leader of various retreats and practicum days for colleagues and others. I have also had the privilege of getting to know the Sisters through being a regular monthly celebrant of weekday Eucharist with them.

Bethany’s Board of Directors have called me to be the Transition Director for the next six months. Between now and Labor Day I imagine we have several important tasks. 

•  First, to listen and communicate clearly with one another about what has gone well, and what has gone not so well, in Bethany’s past. To listen to one another’s dreams for Bethany’s future mission and ministries. And within that listening to welcome the breath of the Holy Spirit, as She celebrates with us the good, seeks to heal any disappointments and hurts, and works to open us to the dreams the Divine has for Bethany’s future. 

• Second, to attend to matters of structure and staffing, and the roles of the various constituencies in the Bethany House community. To clarify how those dynamic communities within Bethany’s life might best interact and support one another. 

•  Third, through our work together to help Bethany House – and especially the Search Committee for the next Executive Director – to envision what sort of leadership Bethany needs for the exciting future that is aborning for its mission and ministries.

I will be making monthly reports to the Bethany community on the work we are doing, and what is emerging from our work together. I assure you that I will want to be in conversation with you at every step throughout these next six months as together we work with the Holy Spirit to help bring into being the Bethany House that is to be.

Please know that you all will be in my daily prayers, and I hope I will be in yours. May the Holy One of blessing be with us in all that lies ahead!

Bill Rich
Transition Director