In Spite Of Myself

[poliphilo]

The guy from church with the sensitive problem came round yesterday morning. I had hoped I'd have something to tell him, but I didn't- so I embarked on another round of calling ecclesiastical bods and speaking to secretaries and answerphones- and getting more and more irate- and (hopefully) not letting it show.

There was a time when the clergy were easy to get hold of. There was a big house within walking distance and you went and knocked on the door and....But I'm being unreasonable. There just aren't that many clergy these days- and those there are are run off their feet. It's not their fault.

Eventually- but by now it was late afternoon and the young man had gone- they started ringing me back. Nice people, helpful people- and I was able to arrange a meeting for this Sunday.

This is so weird. I'm not even really a Christian and here I am beavering away on the Church's behalf like a righteous gentile or something. And this stuff I'm involved in now isn't kid's stuff. It has the potential to draw me in deep.

I'm thinking of calling this journal A Priest In Spite of Himself.

Comments

[queen-in-autumn.livejournal.com]

I may be wrong, but don't most priestly consecrations include the idea that although a person can resign from "active duty" they never stop being a priest?

If you were drawn to being a priest previously -- especially in more than one religious setting -- then that calling is probably a very deep part of you, one that transcends the specifics of any one community's official roles and expectations.

You can get burned out on serving the role, but the charism doesn't leave you.

Or at least that's my theory. ;-)

[Edited/moved to take this out of someone else's comment thread.]

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

This is entirely true. Priesthood is indelible. I'm still an ordained minister of the Church of England- and I don't believe any earthly authority can rub that out. It says somewhere in a book or computer file that I'm not to be employed in active ministry, but that doesn't affect my essential status.

I also continue to be a Wiccan high priest.