Wait....how did we get here? Part I

Discernment

That's how we got here.  Many have asked over the past few weeks how does one become a priest in the Episcopal church? Well, that is a superb question.  I want to walk you through my journey.  Everyone who goes through this discernment process experiences something different.  There are base rules, but each diocese may have a process that looks a little different, all trying to answer this question, "what is this person called to do?".  So buckle in and come along the with me down discernment drive.

Leave me alone!

It's weird.  It's nagging.  You can't satisfy it any other way.  You try running away from it, but it follows you.  It pulls you in closer to the sacraments and to the liturgy.  It won't leave you alone even though you scream for it to loosen its grip; it's constant grip.  So what is it?  At this point most aren't sure, some are sure and some are sure, but don't want to be.  I was the latter.  Over ten years of fighting with myself, a former faith tradition and God, it became unbearable.

Who, what, when, where and why

I asked questions.  Not of my priest at the parish Matthew and I attend, Father Jesse, but a priest someone introduced us to, Father Michael.  Questions around what seminary did he go to.  How does it all work in the Episcopal church, you know, becoming a priest? He gave me his story and told me to talk with Fr. Jesse.  Well, that's easier said than done.  Scared, confused, unsure and did I mention scared; that's what was playing through my mind.  Fr. Jesse was great and started me off on the path of discernment by reading Living on the Border of the Holy: Renewing the Priesthood of All.  I'll be honest, I hated the book.  The author had superb points, but he took three trips around the Sun to get there.  He needed to land the plan.  During this time I had some theological questions, and he referred me to a textbook titled, Introduction to Theology by Owen Thomas and Ellen Wondra and there I found what I was looking for.  It lays out what the priesthood is, the theology behind ministry and ordination.  Altogether it was one trip around the Sun and we landed.  Fr. Jesse and I met a few times over the course of a few months, talking through the books and how I was feeling.  He was open, honest and didn't shy away from asking tough questions.  It was uncomfortable in the beginning but looking back now; I am glad he and soon others did.  Finally, at the end of one session, he asked, "So, you ready to go see the Bishop?".  Why in the world would anyone answer yes to that question is beyond me. He followed it up with, "I think you are ready." Was I ready?  I'm not sure anyone ever is and it isn't because one goes to see the Bishop, but because you know you are now walking and not crawling down this holy path. Within a week we had a date scheduled.

Next week...Part II-There is a process and The Talk