Wait...How did we get here? Part II

The Process

It really isn't a secret how one becomes a priest in the Episcopal church.  They aren't whisked away from public life, molded and shaped and sent back out to do the work of God.  Discernment is an open process; never meant to be private. Each diocese has a little bit of a different process, but I will share with you what the Diocese of Arkansas does.

1. Aspirant- This is where we all start.  We aspire to one day be a priest or a deacon.  This is where the discernment of a call begins.  Last week and this week I will focus much of my posting about this part.  Conversations are countless, you convene and are convened by committees and one will do so much soul searching during this time that when it is all said and done, you will know more about yourself than you ever thought possible. This part is so important.  This is where tough questions are asked and searched and asked again.  This is where most of the hard work will be completed. 
2. Postulant-After all of the above is completed, then you apply to become a postulant.  For Arkansas, postulancy is granted by the Bishop after he or she reviews your entire discernment process feedback. Once granted, then comes the really fun part: education.  Here the Bishop will discuss with you the different options available and what he or she thinks would be best.  Once this is decided on, the postulant visits and applies at a seminary or enrolls into the IONA program if they are bi-vocational.  Once accepted you begin your formation.  During this time you are still in discernment and you will continue to meet with the Commission on Ministry. 
3. Candidacy- Towards the end of your education postulants apply for candidacy for Holy Orders for decan.  According to the cannons of the church, you first must be ordained a deacon before being ordained as a priest.  
4. Ordination- Like I stated above, first a deacon and then a priest. This is where the rubber meets the road.  You've discerned, you've studied and now you go into the world as an exemplar of grace.  

Now, all of this may look simple, but it isn't. There are so many steps that I've glossed over and left out.  To be honest, I once thought the process was cumbersome and a little much, but as time has gone on, I have learned that this process helps to ensure that people are actually called to ministry.  It helps build patience and helps you seek and hold on to the same grace that each of us is called to show. 

You can visit the link below to see more details about Arkansas' process.

https://episcopalarkansas.org/ordination/ 

The Talk
Now back to where we were. In the last post, I discussed my early discernment with my parish priest and now we come to the big talk, the talk that most who go through this process dreads.

The day had come for Fr. Jesse and me to take a trip to the diocesan office in Little Rock.  I'm not going to lie, I was scared.  Scared of the unknown and scared about meeting the Bishop.  Going through this process leaves you in a vulnerable place already but then having to go see the man or the woman in the miter just adds to the anxiety.  You have no idea what they are going to ask, even though your priest might go over some of the things that could be covered.  The trip to Little Rock is about two hours long.  We chatted all the way down there talking about life, parish activities and where things could be improved.  We finally arrived at the office and went in.  Immediately we were called into the Bishop's office. I don't know what I was expecting when I walked in; maybe a swinging light? Maybe a rapid-fire line of questions? A high bench as if the Bishop was a judge and I on trial? Whatever it was that I had built up in my head, it was the opposite. We sat down and the conversation began.  After a few minutes, my anxiety started to settle down and I stopped feeling like I was going to pass out.  We wrapped up the questions and discussion with next steps.  The Bishop gave permission to form a discernment committee to continue the discovery process of a possible call. 

With a sigh of relief that this part was over, we left and went for pizza.  I should say this: a talk with your Bishop is not meant to be like an interrogation.  They truly want to discover who you are and help you answer these mystical questions about that nagging feeling.  It's hard sometimes to remember that they too were once in the same position and understand how you might be feeling. 


Next week....People Who Love You Enough to Tell You the Truth