Father Bowhay Sabbatical Leave
Information on Father Chris Bowhay's Sabbatical Leave
From April 28 to August 10, 2025, Fr. Chris will be on sabbatical—a time for rest, renewal, and spiritual growth after nine years of service at St. Peter’s and 32 years in ordained ministry. This page has questions, information, and timelines related to this event.
Overview
For almost ten years, Father Chris has faithfully served our congregation, providing spiritual leadership, pastoral care, and unwavering dedication to our community. In recognition of his service and in alignment with the Episcopal Church’s commitment to clergy renewal, the Sabbatical Committee enthusiastically supports the plans he has shared about his renewal period. We are mindful that this is his first sabbatical in his career, that it will last for three months, and the next sabbatical is not expected to take place until 2031.
Sabbatical Details
Father Chris’s sabbatical includes a pilgrimage on Spain’s famous trail, El Camino de Santiago, one of the world’s most popular spiritual journeys. Pilgrims travel from across Europe, taking unique routes that end at the cathedral in Santiago where the body of St. James the Greater, brother to St. John the Beloved, is said to be buried. This journey is deeply spiritual, providing an opportunity for personal reflection, connection with history, and an immersive experience of faith. Along the way, Father Chris will visit important religious and historical sites, engage with fellow pilgrims, and participate in guided reflections. He is expected to walk approximately fifteen miles per day during this pilgrimage.
Additionally, Father Chris will join Living Church Pilgrims in Turkey, where he and Sally will visit significant Christian heritage sites on the 1,700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed. This includes time in Kayseri, an ancient city rich with Christian history, where early Christian communities once thrived. He will explore historical churches, monasteries, and sites associated with the early Church. In Istanbul, Father Chris will visit landmarks such as the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Church of St. Savior in Chora, deepening his understanding of how God the Holy Spirit moves in the Church across time, from the past until now.
The sabbatical will also include reflection and relaxation in Spain, France, and Turkey, providing time for spiritual renewal, rest, and study. Father Chris also plans to spend time with family in California where he will also pursue several personal creative projects.
Father Chris will be welcomed back in mid-August, and we will celebrate his return with a welcome-home dinner at the church. This event will provide an opportunity for the congregation to hear about his experiences, see photographs from his travels, and listen to a narration from Father Chris about the spiritual and personal growth he gained during his sabbatical.
As the date comes closer for this Journey, I ask for your prayers for me, for my family, for our Vestry, and for our congregation that this upcoming event will present itself as an opportunity for renewal for our entire parish family, an experience of seeing life itself as a Pilgrimage. As the 14th century St. Bridget of Sweden said, “All the way to God is God, for He said, ‘I am the Way (John 14:6).’”
What is a sabbatical?
A sabbatical is not a vacation. It’s a time of intentional rest, reflection, and spiritual renewal rooted in the Biblical concept of “Sabbath,” meaning “to rest” or “to cease.” During this time, Fr. Chris will step away from his daily ministry duties to reflect, recharge, and pursue personal growth, ensuring he returns refreshed and ready to lead with renewed vision.
Why is this important?
Ministry is both spiritually and emotionally demanding. A sabbatical helps prevent burnout, allowing clergy to return with fresh perspectives, deeper spiritual focus, and new ideas. It also offers the congregation an opportunity to step into greater leadership roles, explore new ways of serving, and strengthen our shared mission.
How we're preparing.
A Sabbatical Committee, led by Dr. Bob Thompson, has been meeting regularly to ensure a smooth transition. The team is working closely with the Vestry and church leaders to maintain uninterrupted worship, pastoral care, and ministry programs. They are also exploring how this time can strengthen lay leadership and deepen the congregation’s engagement in the church’s mission.
Did you know?
According to the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee, clergy earn two weeks of sabbatical leave per year of service, becoming eligible after six years. Despite serving as an ordained minister for 32 years, this will be Fr. Chris’ first sabbatical—and also the first sabbatical ever taken by a priest at St. Peter’s.
What's next?
You’ll hear more from Fr. Chris, Dr. Thompson, and other church leaders in the coming months about specific plans. We also welcome your questions and feedback as we prepare for this important time in the life of St. Peter’s.
Visiting clergy biographies
The Rev. Charles Dunnavant was ordained in 1988 in the Diocese of Tennessee. A native Tennessean, Pulaski was his home. After three years at the University of the South and ordination, he moved to Fayetteville, TN, and served there at St. Mary Magdalene Church. In 1995, he was called by the late Bishop Herlong to start a new church in Brentwood, The Church of the Good Shepherd. He served there for twenty-three years prior to retirement in 2018. He and his family live in Nolensville just outside of Brentwood.
The Rev. Monna Mayhall is an Episcopal priest currently serving as the Associate Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Franklin, where she has been for 20 years. She received her B.A. from Birmingham-Southern College. After working as an accountant for many years, Monna went back to school and received her Masters in Divinity from The School of Theology in Sewanee, Tennessee. She currently serves as co-chair on the Beloved Community: Commission for Racial Reconciliation for the Diocese of Tennessee; Daughters of the King Chaplain for St. Paul’s Chapter; and member of Unite Williamson (community initiative). Monna and her husband, Doug, have a son ,Jackson, and Copper (a stay-at-home dog). Monna enjoys the outdoors, music, and reading.
The Rev. Justin Taliaferro was born and raised in Texas and is a life-long Houston Astros fan. He met his wife, Corrie, while they were both living and working in Houston. They have one son, William, who is 13 years old. In 2015, the family moved to Nashville where they were members of St. Bartholomew’s for several years. Prior to following a call to ministry, Justin spent sixteen years working in manufacturing and supply chain roles that included project management, plant operations management, and supply chain analytics. He received his MDiv from Nashotah House, where he also served as Sacristan for three years. Ordained as a priest in the Diocese of Tennessee, Justin serves as Priest-in-Charge at Church of the Messiah, Pulaski, and is also currently serving a term on the Standing Committee.
The Rev. Richard Kew was born and raised in England, was made deacon in 1969, and ordained to the priesthood at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, in 1970. In 1976 the Kew family moved to the U.S. for a few years, which has now stretched to nearly fifty. Richard has served parishes and ministries in Massachusetts and Upstate New York, moved to the Diocese of Tennessee in 1985 and served in various capacities with an interlude back in England where Richard was Development Director at Ridley Hall Theological Seminary, Cambridge. The Kews returned to their home in Williamson County in 2015 and since then Richard has been an Associate Priest at St. George’s Episcopal Church, Nashville. Richard’s wife, Rosemary, was on the faculty at Middle Tennessee State University for twenty years, and at the time of her death in 2024 was President of the Daughters of the King at St. George’s. Richard has two grown daughters, Olivia and Lindy, and four grandchildren, all living in Williamson County.
The Rev. Jason Terhune joined the staff at St. George’s in the summer of 2024. Prior to accepting his call to serve at St. George’s, he was Senior Director of Operations at Nashotah House Theological Seminary where he benefitted from Dean Garwood Anderson’s leadership. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Jason received his Bachelor’s degree from University of Memphis. He became a Master Plumber while in college and later worked in Industrial Sales and Management. For the first ten years of their marriage, he and his wife ,Rebecca, church-planted as lay people in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. They have served in ministry together for more than thirty years. The Terhune family moved to Columbia in 2005 and were soon confirmed at St. Peter’s. Jason and Rebecca both attended Nashotah House and discerned calls to ministry in the Episcopal Church. Rebecca serves as a Deacon in the Episcopal Church. Jason was ordained in the Diocese of Tennessee by Bishop John Bauerschmidt, and he served as Rector at St. Mary Magdalene in Fayetteville prior to his ministry at Nashotah House. Jason and Rebecca have three adult sons and a grandson.