“She’s given so much, to so many”
Campus Minister Heather Thomson to retire in August
By the time she leaves her position as Campus Minister in August, the Reverend Heather Thomson will have served in that role for 27 years. Over that time she has touched the lives of thousands of students and staff members at the two institutions she serves, while also being a significant part of the greater Lennoxville Community. Although Thomson says that she plans to remain nearby in her retirement, those who have worked closely with her over the years say they can already feel the bittersweet tides of change rolling in.
“It’s sad, but we’re so happy for her,” shared Sarah Heath, current Director of the Saint Mark’s Chapel choir. “She’s given so much, to so many. You can’t take that away from people. It sounds cheesy, but her work lives on in all of us.”
Heath described the outgoing campus minister as someone who is accessible and available, no matter what.
“Working with Heather isn’t work,” the choir director said. “She is just always open to everyone’s ideas and never judgemental; you always feel welcome to express your opinion. If you disagree with her, that’s okay.”
Retired Champlain College Professor Mary Purkey, who has worked extensively with Thomson through the Bishop’s/champlain Refugee Student Sponsorship Committee over the years,
spoke of the minister not just as a coworker, but as a close and trusted friend.
“I can’t remember any disagreements,” Purkey said, tracing the friendship back to a meeting regarding sponsorship in the Mcgreer Building in 1992. “We didn’t really know each other very well at the time, but our eyes met across the table and we knew that we shared a perspective without saying anything.”
Like Heath, Purkey praised Thomson’s openness to different perspectives and said that it was one of the great strengths she brought to the campus minister position.
“There was never any feeling that you had to share her beliefs to have her care or her respect,” the retired professor said. “She’s just about as completely nonjudgemental a person as anyone I’ve ever met.”
Although she suggested her friend and coworker sometimes had trouble saying no when asked to do things, Purkey noted that the quality meant that Thomson never shirked her duties or complained about a difficult or mundane task. She added that the experience of working on refugee student sponsorship together has had a deeply impactful and transformative impact on both of their lives.
For Tom Matthews, a member of the chapel choir, Thomson has been an important community leader.
“She doesn’t do everything, but she makes sure everything is done,” Matthews said, sharing that he felt like the minister did a good job of delegating without losing touch with the people to whom she assigned roles. “She’s an excellent leader,” he added.
Matthews said that Thomson always made the chapel community feel like family.
Both Matthews and Heath pointed out that this past Sunday, June 11, was Thomson’s last regular Sunday service and, as a result, it became a bit of a celebration of her time with the community.
“She got a standing ovation after her homily,” Heath said, “the clapping just went on and on and on.”
According to Thomson, the Sunday service was just one of several emotional farewells she has been receiving from different parts of the local community.
“There are so many lovely memories,” the campus minister said, noting that it is hard to pin down one particular highlight out of 27 years of work. “Of course there were big moments; my work with the sponsorship group has been very, very dear to my heart, but it’s the daily contact with students and the privilege of them sharing their lives and their stories. That, to me, is the most important thing and what I will carry with me.”
Knowing how close her ties have become to the campus communities she works with, Thomson said that she is preparing herself for a difficult transition; remaining physically close while distancing herself from the work she has done as campus minister so as to not step in the toes of her successor.
“People are a little surprised by that, saying things like “oh, but you’ll still be involved in the refugee sponsorship committee,” but no, I won’t,” the minister said. “That’s not fair to a new person on a whole bunch of levels.”
While pointing out that she will still be out and about at the grocery store, local plays and concerts, or home basketball games, Thomson said that she feels it is important for her to take a step back in retirement.
“To be honest I’m going to need a little rest,” the campus minister said. “The job is very intense.”
While sharing that the work has been fulfilling and fun, Thomson also said that it is a “very full-time” job. She kept a realistic view of her future, saying that she’s likely get involved with new projects before long, but added that’s she’s not actively looking for new ideas right now.
“I’m someone who really enjoys being engaged in the community; will it be a volunteer opportunity? Will it be paid, part-time work?” she speculated. “Being a person of faith, I really believe that when the right opportunity comes along, God will open the door and there it will be. I’m not out looking for anything right now, but something will find me.”
In the meantime Thomson said that she plans to enjoy life with her family, many of whom are close by.
“It’s a bittersweet time, but I know that I’ve made the right decision,” Thomson said, explaining that the choice came after a long process of thought and reflection.