It is a trying time to be an Episcopalian and a Priest of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. This branch of the Body of Christ is twisting itself into knots. We are losing the sense of We believe in one God. Some parts of the Body are being very pushy and clambering for what they want and somewhat arrogantly.
It is very interesting how down through the years the Church has focused on issues and not on our Lord. Issues can only be dealt with by focusing first on Christ Jesus. All too often we stand around stomping our feet like little children demanding the attention of everyone, Now it is often the case that a lot of us have contributed a great deal to the nature of the Stomper's complaint.
I remember quite clearly how I felt when the the first group of women were ordained to the Priesthood. I was angry and I had to figure out what was the cause of my anger. In my eyes, they took Holy Orders as a Right! When I was ordained in 1962, I could not go anywhere within the Church and say "I have the right to be ordained because I want to be ordained." The Church, the community of Faith decided whether or not I could or would fulfill my desire to serve our Lord either as priest or layperson.
What got me more upset at the time was the way the women were treated by God's servants in Holy Orders. It gave me the shivers some of the things that were said about them at the time and it turned my stomach. At the time many of the women who were ordained attended the Finger Lakes Conferences at Utica, New York. Being mindful that in and through our Baptisms we all are to represent Christ; Theologically I could find no real reason to say that a woman can not represent our Lord as a presbyter any less then myself. So I had to resolve my anger and theological thinking and evolve it all into being a lover of souls as He is the lover of souls.
I started attending the Finger Lake Conferences in late June during the late 1970's. What I learned was that there were good and bad women priests, just as there are amongst my brothers. Some of my newly discovered Sister Presbyters were sound and moving preachers, pastors and teachers. At the same time I opined that some were in Holy Orders to solve life problems, just as I have seen among the brethren. Strangely, this old conservative was elected by all those "liberals" to serve as president of the Conference, which I did for some years.
The point is that being able to serve our Lord in one particular way, so it would seem to me, is not something to be demanded, yet not out of hand excluded. As a matter of reason and love ought not be coldly handed down from some high and mighty arrogance, yet open with checks and balances as to how and when a particular service or minstry is given by the community within the bounds of what it means to be One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. I opine that means to share the Faith with all people and for all people, at all times and in all places. Yet, we need to be mindful that to serve means in some measure to surrender and submit to the greater mission of revealing how our Lord loves each and every one of us as we are and not as we are yet called to be.
Fr. Col+
4 June 2007
allimar@optonline.net
