A hands on ministry of some description...

ministry |ˈminəstrē|

noun ( pl. -tries)

1 [usu. in sing. ] the work or vocation of a minister of religion : he is training for the ministry.

• the period of tenure of a minister of religion.

• the spiritual work or service of any Christian or a group of Christians, esp. evangelism : a ministry of Christian healing.

Upon becoming a postulant the Bishop charges you with a few things one of which is to write a rule of life. Prayer discipline, attendance at worship, financial support of the Church and a hands on ministry of some description.

The last part there is the one that is really making me think, which may be what +Cate had in mind. I imagine this to be more than just serving as a Lay Eucharistic Minister or a Lector.

But just what should I be doing that is worth while at this point in my journey?

As read more about Saint Francis and Desmond Tutu, I really admire the way that they both truly love God’s creation and live what they believe (BTW I had been trying to use both tenses, not working, Francis’ teaching are still viable enough that I feel I can use present tense legitimately).

Where do I find a useful ministry for me and for God’s people?

We can accomplish anything if God’s love is present in our hearts, but to what is God calling me?

With time and financial constraints how do I make a valid contribution to God’s people?

I appreciate the missionaries who go forth and preach the Gospel, but I feel that in today’s world you need to show Christ’s love for people rather than just talking about it. In my mind soup and a clean pair of socks of a homeless person are a much better testament of the love we need to have for our neighbor. If that is my calling in this situation is it better to volunteer my time, through say Wheeler Mission or to start something myself? If I begin something then I can certainly take it with me, but an established organization would offer a lot of support.

There is no easy and there shouldn’t be. Ministry at all levels is a commitment and a gift from God. It takes a thoughtful and discerning heart to serve God’s will and people.

I had wanted to include my rule of life in my first Ember Day letter to +Cate, but it may not quite be ready by then. It will all come to fruition in God’s time.

To love God’s people for the sake of love is key, but to show that love to people who need to see it is invaluable…

Harry Potter versus Deuteronomy...

So last week at work when I said that I was going to see Harry Potter over the weekend; a coworker said that I was condoning the ways of Satan by watching the movie and/ or reading the books. What ensued was a rather interesting theological conversation in a rather unlikely environment. My coworker isn’t religious, but his wife is a very strict Seventh-day Adventist so he decided to play devil’s advocate to see how I would react.

His/ his wife’s argument is that HP and it’s wizardry is against the laws of the Bible and thus the work of Satan, sent in popular form to desensitize people to Satan’s lure. He quoted Deuteronomy 18: 10-14 to make his point. And by quoted I mean he did a Google search to find a website that would give him the scripture he needed to validate his opinion. I didn’t get drawn into this very deeply; there is plenty of citable law from the O.T. that isn’t applicable to today. Levirate marriage, Deuteronomy 25:5, don’t plant two types of seed in your vineyard Deut. 22:8-10, selling your daughter into slavery Exodus 21:7, don’t touch the skin of an unclean animal Lev. 11:7, don’t wear clothing made from two types of material Lev.19:19, working on the Sabbath should result in death Exodus 35:2 (and yes I am aware that I am lifting some of this blatantly from an episode of West Wing, that doesn’t make it any less applicable).

So their combined ability to quote/ google an obscure law from the O.T. doesn’t make me question whether or not I should enjoy the HP series as much as I do. The thing that really gets me thinking is that in a few years time people will really truly value my opinion and my take on things. If someone asks me if it is OK for them to read HP to their children and I say yes or no, they could assume that that is God’s opinion and not just that of Fr. T.J.

The weight of that responsibility hit me hard, like a blow to the stomach.

And I am still trying to wrestle with that idea in my head. Not that I hadn’t thought about it before, but Bishop Cate in our meeting said that when she makes someone a Postulant, she does so with the intention of ordaining that person. Now it is hitting me that if things continue as they are that all the blessings but more imminently all the struggles that come along with the Priesthood are a very real likelihood.

I know that God throughout the Bible and time has called people who are seemingly unqualified, but right now I am just feeling unqualified. Which is silly, I have dealt with this issue before and I know that God calls those people he wants, those people who through grace and faith alone are made no longer wanting. Still though the impending weight of that responsibility is sitting squarely on my chest. And yet again I am working through feeling not quite up to God’s plan for me.

Perhaps my ability to see my shortcomings and know that I need God’s help is what it really takes to be an honest steward of God’s creation. If my thoughts are rooted in a love for God and a love for God’s people, then I think that I may be doing OK.

Even if watching HP has now become something that I must defend…

My thoughts on Seminary of the Southwest...

So a few months ago I jotted down a bunch of things to keep in mind while I was visiting seminaries. After a few days at home this is how Seminary of the Southwest stacks up against those…

Spirituality (Celtic, Taize, Emergent): Students have a Taize service in the Black room, One of the professors is big into the emergent church, community initiated services allow room for lots of personal exploration and growth.

High/ Low Church: Chapel doesn’t allow super high church but they do break out the thurible a couple times a year. My impression was that it would be a very broad church education. The liturgics professor was awesome and I will learn a lot from him.

Chapel: Totally outside the box and intimate and awesome all at the same time. Not at all what I would expect, but the way that the huge windows invite the outside world into the service is amazing. The curved wall draws your attention to the altar and the cross outside. Stained glass hanging lights are beautiful and the organ permeates the space. Not open 24 hours but sacristy/ small chapel are always open.

Academics: The mock classroom was great; the co-teaching model was really neat. The professors really seemed to have a passion and great love for their subject and students. Faculty is highly distinguished; chair of 1982 hymnal committee, poet laureate of Nicaragua, PhD homiletics professor, Episcopal liturgics professor, NT professor helped annotate the New Oxford Bible and writer in residence is Greg Garrett. Class schedule works around chapel schedule in a flawless way. CPE in summer and lots of field education. Chance to take summer long Hebrew class at the Presbyterian seminary, as well as other classes that they offer.

City: Austin… almost enough said. Fabulous city, great food, great people and awesome music.

Financial Aid: JB said we would qualify for right around 100%... enough said.

Open Idea Exchange/ Outside of the Box: Totally. The Conversation Covenant allows for this in all settings. I had a lot of good conversations while I was down there; current students were constantly talking about all sorts of things.

Housing: No seminary housing for married w/o children. Plenty of housing near campus and the Presbyterian seminary does have some housing available.

Study Abroad: There are grants and time available to make this happen.

Interfaith: They do work closely with Presbyterian seminary. Not sure how integrated they are with other faiths.

Worship: We got to attend choral Evensong, Morning Prayer and community Eucharist; all were really great. The chapel rotates through Rite I, Rite II, EOW, and community initiated services that students/ faculty suggest. The music from the choir and the community fills the chapel; the acoustics are superb. There is some real visual power in the way that the communion rail wraps around the altar. Chairs instead of pews so that the focus of the worship can be changed to accommodate the type of service. There are two Spanish and two sung services a week, as well as the community Eucharist every Thursday. Three services a day that blends well into the class schedule. I really loved the services.

Community Feel: Huge. Instant. Constant. There was no escaping community while we were there and it was wonderful. Annie had a good time with the spouses group and we both really fit in with student body and faculty.

Annie Work: Austin is a good-sized city with lots of options for her; she shouldn’t have a lot of difficulty finding a job.

A Chance to Be Me: I fully believe that at SSW I would be asked to be nothing more than the best me that I can be. I would be challenged and pushed, but in the end me is exactly the kind of priest that they would produce.

Financial Situation: Strong, no question of selling off property to survive. All the professors are in endowed positions that will not be cut.

Gym: None on campus, but students have access to the Presbyterian seminary’s gym, as well as student rates for UT gym.

Access to Outside Libraries: UT and Presbyterian seminary as well as inter-library loan.

Field Education: CPE summer between Junior and Middler years and four semesters of field education. There are around 30 Episcopal churches in the area at which I could do field education.

Preaching Faculty: Micah is awesome, as he helped teach the mock classroom as I working out my sermon in my head as he taught. Super engaging and really interesting guy.

Spousal Integration: Seems to be really good, the spouses seemed to know as much as any of the students about what was going on around campus. There is a good working support group and they seemed to be genuinely close.

So all in all is was a great experience. We really enjoyed our time down there and truly felt at home. I think that SSW spoke to both of us and I kind of fell in love. God may have directed us to the right seminary first.

New blog...

So I have tried in the past to be a good blogger, I have frequently failed, but I will now make another stab at it. The title of the blog is the title of an old Irish drinking song that I love. My hope is to keep you updated on my journey in the Church and in life.

Peace and Love... T.J.