Rev. Alanna Sullivan Leaving MemChurch for Deanship at Wellesley College

Dear Memorial Church community,

It is with both deep gratitude and sadness that I write to tell you I will be leaving the Memorial Church at the end of this academic year. I recently accepted an offer to become the Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life at Wellesley College. I am excited for this new opportunity, and also sad to be saying goodbye to this community. What a joy and privilege it has been to serve you.

This new opportunity at Wellesley has grown out of so much of what I have loved doing in our congregation. This feels like an affirmation and continuation of my work at Memorial Church, not a departure from it.

When I interviewed to become the Ministry Fellow thirteen years ago, Jonathan Walton, Pusey Minister at the time, spoke of the Memorial Church as a space of grace in the center of Harvard Yard,  a place where people are welcomed, affirmed, and accepted—not because of their accolades or accomplishments or awards, but because they are simply a beloved child of God. As soon as I heard that, I knew that I wanted to be a part of that project. And now, thirteen years later, we are still finding ways to encounter God’s love by learning about our own belovedness and witnessing the belovedness in one another, and hopefully going out to share that love with the wider world that is in so need of it.

And I have witnessed this in so many ways—from the intergenerational relationships and caregiving, to the loving community of the church school, to the pursuit of learning and questions of the Faith and Life Forum, to the intentionality and diligence of the Grants Committee, to the transcendent music making of the choir, to the laughter that I hear wafting from the Student Oasis. To me, it is so clear why we need communities like this one —and, dear church, you are so ready to serve and love this world, because you already are! What I also admire about you is how you honor the rich tradition and history of this place while remaining open to the Holy Spirit's promptings to see new directions you are beckoned to pursue.

My primary message to you, dear church, is enormous gratitude. We have lived through so much together—tumultuous political times, a global pandemic, and the university being targeted. Many of these challenges continue on. And I have full faith in your ability to hold one another for what lies ahead. You also have held me through personal transitions from being ordained to becoming married and to parenthood. I cannot thank you enough for making the Memorial Church such a fantastic place to serve, grow, and thrive. Whoever comes to pastor here will be very fortunate to serve such a healthy, vibrant congregation.

I look forward to the opportunity to celebrate our collective ministry and to offer gratitude to all of you this coming Sunday. I, however, will not be leaving Harvard for another month. My last day at the Memorial Church will be June 12. There will be time to say goodbye in the weeks ahead. Blessings to all in this upcoming transition and in all the transformative ministry you have ahead.

With deep appreciation,

The Rev. Alanna Sullivan
Assistant Minister and Director of Administration
The Memorial Church of Harvard University