St. Lawrence Lounge (Vocations, lay-ministries, and discernment)

Since there are several people here at STR that are discerning a call to Holy Orders, or lay ministries, I've decided to create a St. LAwrence Lounge.

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"There is one true Church, the really ancient Church into which are enrolled those who are righteous according to God's ordinance.... In essence, in idea, in origin, in preeminence we say that the ancient Catholic Church is the only Church." - Clement of Alexandria, Stromata

I guess I'll start a conversation.

Hey, Fr. Rick, when did you decide to become a priest?

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"There is one true Church, the really ancient Church into which are enrolled those who are righteous according to God's ordinance.... In essence, in idea, in origin, in preeminence we say that the ancient Catholic Church is the only Church." - Clement of Alexandria, Stromata

Just peeking in for a minute to reserve a chair & a cuppa tea- I'm extremely busy today, I'm going out of town tomorrow for a family emergency, but as many of y'all know, I'm among the group here who are working on discernment.

would you like a window seat, or a fireside seat?

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"There is one true Church, the really ancient Church into which are enrolled those who are righteous according to God's ordinance.... In essence, in idea, in origin, in preeminence we say that the ancient Catholic Church is the only Church." - Clement of Alexandria, Stromata

Just wondering, Ave Maria, are you considering an ordained ministry, or a lay ministry?

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"There is one true Church, the really ancient Church into which are enrolled those who are righteous according to God's ordinance.... In essence, in idea, in origin, in preeminence we say that the ancient Catholic Church is the only Church." - Clement of Alexandria, Stromata

Ordained. It's something I've been running from for years - and I'm finally facing up to it. I've felt a tug towards the priesthood since I was in 3rd or 4th grade, and the tugging just keeps getting stronger and more clear. (I'll be glad to go into a bit more detail if anyone is interested, once things settle down a bit.)

The few friends and relatives who I've shared with this have been very supportive and affirming - my own mother actually raised the issue with me, before I spoke with her.

I moved to a new state recently, though, and I'm in a new parish, and I've been reluctant to speak to my rector about this until I'd had a chance to get to know him a bit. Soon as I'm back in town, I'll be calling to set up an appointment.

How about yourself?

I'm thinking priesthood as well, though there is something about being a deacon and working primarily in Christian Education and Youth for a while is something that is working in the back of my mind. But, I am sure that the eventual goal of that calling is the priesthood.

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"There is one true Church, the really ancient Church into which are enrolled those who are righteous according to God's ordinance.... In essence, in idea, in origin, in preeminence we say that the ancient Catholic Church is the only Church." - Clement of Alexandria, Stromata

How common is it in the various Anglican and Old Catholic traditions to be a bi-vocational priest or deacon? In other words, how many priests have a secular job in addition to their priesthood?

It's not uncommon for nonCatholic ministers in smaller churches to have jobs outside the church.

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I know of a priest who is both a priest and a stockbroker.

Fr. John Danforth is the priest that did the funeral for President Reagen. He was also a US Senator and UN ambassador.

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"There is one true Church, the really ancient Church into which are enrolled those who are righteous according to God's ordinance.... In essence, in idea, in origin, in preeminence we say that the ancient Catholic Church is the only Church." - Clement of Alexandria, Stromata

I've known a couple worker-priests. They carry a lot of credibility, because of their experience in the "real world".