“What do I call you?” the bank teller asked as we conducted a routine financial transaction—a question prompted by the collar I was wearing. “I am an Anglican priest. Sometimes we are called Father and sometimes simply by first name. Whichever you please is fine.” A Title is an Identity with Jesus Christ What I…
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers…
In just a few days time I will leave for my annual Covenant Group Meeting. There are a few more than a dozen of us, give or take, that have been meeting for nearly three decades. We were all Episcopal priests and rectors of multi-staff congregations. We came from different cities across the US and Canada;…
Wearing the Collar
In my diocese, there are no policies, rubrics, or clear guidelines on when and where a priest must wear the clerical collar. A troika of local custom (what your fellow priests do), common sense (church services but not church picnics), and personal preference informs that choice. For a new priest, there is a trial-and-error feel…
That’s Not the Gospel
Priests spend a considerable amount of time in hospitals, visiting the sick and praying with and for them. Some of those we visit are young and generally very healthy; they are expected to make quick and full recoveries. They almost always do. Praying for them is “easy” because our prayers for healing are often answered,…
Why the Parish?
It surprises many people entering Anglicanism from other Christian traditions that we use the term ‘parish’. They had always referred to their church as simply “church” or “congregation,” but now they hear the word “parish.” What is a parish? How is it different, and why? Let’s lay out two understandings of what defines a parish. The first is a canonical designation, or how…
Are You Called to Ordained Ministry?
My work involves assisting people in what we call the discernment process, which asks, “Am I called to Ordained Ministry?” People often want to know a good way to discern an answer to this question. I’ve adapted some material that I’ve written for use in our diocese. This may be helpful. This article doesn’t deal…
Why Plant Churches Part 2: Worship
What Does a Church Do? There are many ideas prevalent today on what a church should do. Some will say that the church exists for social action, while others say it exists to proclaim the gospel or to worship. All of those are true. However, the church is, by her nature, a worshipping body before…
The Needy Pastor
One of the best pieces of advice I have ever received also left me damaged and wounded, but only for a time. “You come off as needy,” he said, “and people can smell it.” Yes, we all have needs, and none of us is self-sufficient. After the defensiveness wore off, I realized that person was referring…
Where is God when Bad Things Happen?
The rise of persecution against Christians in the Middle East reminds us that we live in a world full of pain and suffering. Amid a bad economy, natural disasters, and the growing risk of international terrorism, people seek real answers to tough questions. Many people feel alone and unable to handle the many problems that…
