Job Description

[poliphilo]

The work of a priest- any priest in any religion- is to stand at the edge of the world and point. She is there to remind everybody else that there is an edge. She is a sign. And that's why she wears distinctive clothes and lives apart.

Anything else she does- social work, political work, anything that implicates her in the business of the world- is an add-on and a distraction.

Comments

[oakmouse]

"Thou art a priest forever, unto the order of Melchizadek." My ordination didn't include that line, but my consecration did. And yes, definitely, it isn't something you do --- it's something you are. It doesn't go away. It's just a question of how you're serving now.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

"Its just a question of how you're serving now".

And that's what this post is about, really. I no longer belong to any organisation or community, but I'm still a priest. So what does that mean exactly? What am I supposed to do?

[oakmouse]

Good question. What do *you* want to do? How do you, personally, define priesthood and service? I say that not to put you on the spot (it doesn't matter whether you tell me the answers) but because I've encountered many clergyfolk who didn't really settle comfortably into their priesthood until they worked that out and put it into practice. Do you *want* an organization or community? Do you want a congregation? Do you want to be a contemplative, and/or serve the divine directly in some fashion? There's no need, after all, to stick to the present Christian model of priestly function if it gives you hives or even if it merely fails to satisfy you; there are lots of choices to select from among, and some of them are very interesting indeed.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I walked away from priesthood twice. I thought that was the end of the story. But apparently it isn't. I don't know what happens next. Now that I've raised the issue, publicly, like this, my first instinct is to run and hide- like Jonah.

[oakmouse]

Running and hiding has its validity. You may need a quiet period to let this bubble and stew.