Split duties

[Shane R]

The church I attend when I'm not on my circuit asked me to consult with the transition committee a week or two ago. So I went over there and spent an hour and fifteen minutes talking to their committee about the issues they wanted to discuss. Mainly, Pr. Al is 83 or 84 years old and has some neurological issues, among other health concerns. He intended to retire last summer and the bishop told him to stay on. But there's been a couple of times in the last 6 months that he has been unable to finish the service and they've had to make some provisions for him like having a chair for him to sit on while he distributes the communion. They don't want to just replace the guy but he's past the point of even running on fumes and he knows it too.

Anyhow, they approached me about possibly doing all of the preaching so Al can just read the liturgy. I am amenable to that arrangement. Naturally, it has to work through council for 2 months or whatever the procedural process is. I told them I had a lot of experience essentially being the junior minister, as I operated in that situation for 4 years back in Virginia. It's amusing to me though because Fr. Paul had an exactly opposite arrangement: he wanted to preach every week -he did grudgingly give me 1 Sunday a month- but he didn't care to say the liturgy except on the big festivals like Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, and Trinity Sunday.

So the topic I was raising is for those parishes which have multiple ministers. How do they share the service(s)?

 

[seeking.IAM]

What I have seen is under much different circumstances where everyone is healthy so I don't know if it will apply. Our procedure is to alternate Sundays of who is doing the liturgy and who is preaching. In your situation, I reckon it could be harder for one with significant age and health problems to prepare and deliver a sermon than to read liturgy and distribute communion. Prayers for everyone.

 

[RileyG]

(posting in fellowship)

In my denomination, there is a significant decrease in clergy, so they prioritize based on numbers and needs.

I don't know how they do it in Protestant communities. Is it based on the needs of the parish? Or city?

God's love be with you all!

Peace!

 

[Shane R]

(posting in fellowship)

In my denomination, there is a significant decrease in clergy, so they prioritize based on numbers and needs.

I don't know how they do it in Protestant communities. Is it based on the needs of the parish? Or city?

God's love be with you all!

Peace!

That's a frustrating thing to me Riley. I've seen the Roman Catholic diocese of Columbus close viable parishes (sometimes as many as 150-200 weekly ASA) because no clergy wanted to go out there. I would go to one of them (it's 8 miles from my house) and say Mass if they could get past the propaganda about Holy Orders (mine are actually grudgingly acknowledged by Rome in the same way as the PNCC or SSPX). Most mainline US protestant churches are also woefully short of clergy. That's how I've built a circuit of Lutheran churches and a Presbyterian church.

There are many who believe that the major denominations are actively trying to undermine rural parishes so that they can liquidate the property. Because the Episcopalians and Lutherans, as a denomination, generally own the property these days. The Methodists who left were given an option to buy there's out at exorbitant prices. I don't know what the Presbyterians do. I prefer to serve country churches. I do a couple that are in town but they are small towns.

 

[RileyG]

That's a frustrating thing to me Riley. I've seen the Roman Catholic diocese of Columbus close viable parishes (sometimes as many as 150-200 weekly ASA) because no clergy wanted to go out there. I would go to one of them (it's 8 miles from my house) and say Mass if they could get past the propaganda about Holy Orders (mine are actually grudgingly acknowledged by Rome in the same way as the PNCC or SSPX). Most mainline US protestant churches are also woefully short of clergy. That's how I've built a circuit of Lutheran churches and a Presbyterian church.

There are many who believe that the major denominations are actively trying to undermine rural parishes so that they can liquidate the property. Because the Episcopalians and Lutherans, as a denomination, generally own the property these days. The Methodists who left were given an option to buy there's out at exorbitant prices. I don't know what the Presbyterians do. I prefer to serve country churches. I do a couple that are in town but they are small towns.

If it's ok to ask, are you saying you are an ordained Old Catholic priest? I know the PNCC is is union with the Old Catholic Church and some Anglican denominations.

As a layman, I can see how frustrating it can be! It can be quite upsetting to the faithful who have been around for generations.

Peace

 

[Shane R]

If it's ok to ask, are you saying you are an ordained Old Catholic priest? I know the PNCC is is union with the Old Catholic Church and some Anglican denominations.

As a layman, I can see how frustrating it can be! It can be quite upsetting to the faithful who have been around for generations.

Peace

I've never been an Old Catholic but my ordaining bishop had that succession.

 

[RileyG]

I've never been an Old Catholic but my ordaining bishop had that succession.

Ah, gotcha!

Peace

 

[Paidiske]

The answer to your question is, it depends a lot on what the people concerned actually want.

For example, where I am, we have a minimum of four services each Sunday; we try - by mutual agreement - to limit how many of us have to write a sermon each week, so one or two of us might do all the preaching at those services, but we share the presiding around more evenly.

In your case, though, it sounds as if the other guy's health is going to be a major limiiting factor. What does he want - and feel able - to do?