Staff Retirement and Transition
February 11, 2026
Dear Saint Stephen's Community,
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth,” writes Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians (3:6), reminding the community that while many labor faithfully, it is God who brings life and growth. When it comes to the Threshold Center, we might say that the Rev. Mary Bea Sullivan planted, our community has watered, and God has given the growth.
What has taken place at the corner of Crosshaven and Overton has been nothing short of remarkable. Through the Threshold Center, people from across our parish and the wider Birmingham community have found connection, practiced spiritual disciplines that foster resilience, and discovered space to pause, reflect, and grow. I could not be more grateful for Mary Bea’s vision, leadership, and faithful perseverance, nor for the support of Saint Stephen’s in nurturing this work from dream to reality.
Last fall, Mary Bea and her husband, the Rev. Dr. Malcolm Marler, shared with our parish the tender and holy journey they are walking following Malcolm’s diagnosis. In that season, Mary Bea and I began reflecting together on what it means to live intentionally and faithfully in the present moment. For her and for Malcolm, that discernment has led to Mary Bea’s decision to retire from her role as Executive Director of the Threshold Center, allowing her to focus fully on this next chapter of their life together. I hold deep respect for the faith, courage, and integrity with which she is navigating this transition.
Mary Bea will conclude her responsibilities as a staff member of Saint Stephen’s and as Executive Director of the Threshold Center at the end of April. We will celebrate her ministry and give thanks for her leadership on April 26 at 10:15 a.m. in the Parish Hall. While retiring from active administration, Mary Bea will continue as part of the Threshold Center’s core faculty, leading periodic retreats and teaching, and she and Malcolm will remain as Priest Associates (volunteer clergy who assist occasionally in liturgical and pastoral ministry) while they are in Birmingham.
I am also delighted to share that we have hired Susanna Whitsett as the next Executive Director of the Threshold Center. Susanna has led the development of Founder’s Place, a respite program at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, and brings a lifetime of experience in building programs rooted in compassion, hospitality, and thoughtful care. She is deeply aligned with the mission of the Threshold Center, and I am confident she is well suited to lead this ministry into its next season. Susanna will begin her work in June. I am grateful to Tyler Jones, Catherine Meehan, Allison Deering, Katherine Owens, and Melody Eagan for their care and wisdom in helping guide this transition.
This moment is not an ending, but a faithful turning. The Threshold Center is strong, its mission is clear, and its future is bright. As a community, we will continue to water what has been so lovingly planted, trusting—as we always do—that God will provide the growth.
Faithfully,
The Rev. John B. Burruss
A Message from the Rev. Mary Bea Sullivan
Dear Saint Stephen’s family,
I am profoundly grateful for your encouragement and support, which have helped bring to fruition our shared dream of the Threshold Center. It has been my honor not only to shepherd this dream, but also to serve as a pastor to you. Because of the deep connections we share, it has been difficult for me to discern that, at the end of April, I will retire from parish ministry at Saint Stephen’s and step down as Director of the Threshold Center, transitioning to serving as Core Faculty at the Threshold Center and as Priest Associate at Saint Stephen’s.
The work we have done together has exceeded my hopes and expectations—fabulous programming, a meaningful presence in the community, a stunningly beautiful renovation, budding collaboration partnerships, and yet this is just the beginning.
Given the incredible growth of interest in, and programs at the Threshold Center I believe the community would be best served by a full-time director. It is my desire to have more flexibility for time with my family, and so it feels important for me to step aside. This is amazing—the Threshold Center is thriving because of our collaborative efforts and your sacrificial and unwavering support. I am profoundly grateful to John Burruss for the energy he has invested in this project and his guidance. Saint Stephen’s vestry and parish have been inspiringly generous.
Although it is difficult to accede the leadership role, I am grateful for your generosity, our shared chapter, and the work we will continue to do together. Also, Malcolm and I are excited about exploring new adventures together. We have felt your love and support and give thanks for you. Sometime within the next year, we are planning to move back to North Carolina, closer to my family. With God’s grace, our hearts can hold it all—sadness and gratitude and apprehension and excitement.
A wise group of souls has discerned that Susanna Whitsett will follow me as the director of the Threshold Center. I am thrilled that she will be leading the mission. And I am confident that working with the dedicated and gifted Threshold Center Advisory Circle members, Babs Knowles, volunteers, donors, participants, and faculty, Susanna will continue to build on this solid foundation—tending to the dream in ways now unimaginable.
There a number of meaningful program offerings still to come this spring and summer, and plans are underway for the fall and beyond.
This is not yet “goodbye.” My hope is that we will continue to work and learn and grow and care for one another these next few months as we witness and participate in that which the Spirit is unfolding. Thank you for the honor of serving God and the community in this most meaningful way. You will always remain deep in my heart and prayers.
Gratefully yours,
Mary Bea